Champions League: How will Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United fare?

The Premier League is enduring a barren run in Europe’s premier competition. Leicester City were England’s sole quarter-final representatives last season, while Manchester City (2016) and Chelsea (2014) are the only teams to have reached the semi-finals since the latter won in 2012.

And with summer spending toppling £1bn once more in England, the pressure is on to perform strongly in the Champions League.

Here’s a run-down of the challenges facing Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United this season, with a prediction of how they will fare to boot…

The Premier League champions will be expected to advance beyond their group, but a lot will depend on how they fare against Atletico Madrid. The Blues travel to Madrid to play in the first-ever European game at the Wanda Metropolitano on September 27, with the return meeting on Matchday 6 in December potentially deciding who finishes top.

But with Group B featuring Bayern Munich and PSG, Group D Juventus and Barcelona, and Group H Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, there could be little respite in the last 16 even if Antonio Conte’s side do come first.

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With Real and Dortmund to contend with in the groups, Tottenham will have to upset the odds if they want to play Champions League football after Christmas. Mauricio Pochettino’s men will also have to overcome their Wembley woes, and quickly, as they play host to Dortmund this Wednesday.

It will come down to taking points in Spain or Germany, without dropping too many at 'home'. Spurs could hardly have asked for a tougher task.

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A potentially dangerous group should be City’s for the taking. But that being said, they rarely make things easy for themselves in Europe. A hat-trick of tricky away trips means nothing short of three wins will suffice at the Etihad, but Pep Guardiola will be hoping to tame greater beasts at home as the competition progresses.

City are fourth with the bookies to go the distance – behind Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern Munich – and while they are far from the finished product, they remain English football’s brightest hope. History will tell us though, that doesn't mean they will necessarily venture the furthest…

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It’s a favourable group draw for Liverpool, but they must tackle trips to Russia and Slovenia – as well as two fixtures against their Europa League 2016 conquerors – if they are to come out unscathed.

Jurgen Klopp’s side should progress to the last 16, but then it’s about the luck of the draw. A date with one of Europe’s elite could see the Reds wave goodbye to the competition in early 2018.

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United will be overwhelming favourites to top this group, and rightly so. However, fans will remember their 2015/16 exit as they finished third behind Wolfsburg and PSV Eindhoven, and ahead of CSKA Moscow.

The Red Devils are a cut above the side they were two years ago, but are surely a few players short of becoming Champions League winners. Put a Jose Mourinho side into the knockout stages of a competition and anything is possible, but they could well get found out if the big boys come knocking.