The last time Britain had SIX participants in the Champions League group stage, two Premier League sides played out the final… a memorable Moscow meeting

WINS for Liverpool and Celtic in their Champions League playoff games this week meant SIX British clubs entered the group stage of Europe's elite competition this term.

Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City all qualified automatically for the tournament thanks to their strong Premier League campaigns in 2016-17.

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Manchester United qualified thanks to their victory in the Europa League last season, beating Ajax in the final to clinch their spot back in the big time.

Meanwhile, the Reds and the Hoops were left to battle out a pair of tricky qualifiers to reach the all-important group stage.

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool put on an emphatic display to batter Bundesliga boys Hoffenheim 6-3 on aggregate, while Celtic came through a thrilling two legs 8-4.

Incredibly, it is the first time in TEN years that Britain saw six squads go into the main group stage draw.

Back in the 2007-08 season, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Celtic and Rangers took part in the competition.

That year, in case you'd forgotten, two Premier League clubs battled it out in the final in Moscow. Check out the full recap of that amazing campaign, below...

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JOY OF SIX - Group Stage

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JUST one of our six home heroes failed to make it through the first round, as Rangers finished third, behind Barcelona and Lyon in Group E.

Liverpool finished second in Group A, with an 8-0 drubbing of Besiktas along the way, while Chelsea topped Group B.

Celtic finished behind AC Milan in second in Group D, as Manchester United ran rampant through Group F to finish top.

Arsenal came in second in their group, finishing behind only Sevilla.

FIVE ALIVE - Last-16

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ANOTHER round, another sole casualty, another farewell to a Scottish giant.

Celtic fell short at the hands of Barcelona, despite a brave battle with Man United edging past stubborn Lyon to reach the last-eight.

Liverpool comprehensively beat Inter Milan in both legs, while Arsenal beat another Serie A side, in AC Milan.

Chelsea thumped Olympiakos to ensure HALF of the final eight teams were British...

FOUR-SOME - Quarter-Finals

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ENGLISH fans went into the last-eight full of hope, with four clubs on show.

Arsenal and Liverpool played out an all-Premier League affair, with the Anfield side coming through in a thrilling tie, 5-3 on aggregate, including a last-gasp 4-2 win in the seond-leg to avoid elimination.

Elsewhere, United beat Roma 3-0 on aggregate and Chelsea battled past Fenerbahce 3-2 on aggregate to put THREE home sides in the last four.

THREESY DOES IT - Semi-Finals

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INCREDIBLY, 75 per cent of the Champions League semi-finalists in 2007-08 came from England.

Liverpool and Chelsea played out an all-English showdown, the Reds' second in a row.

Meanwhile, Manchester United edged by Barcelona 1-0 to reach the final showdown in Moscow.

They were joined by Chelsea, who beat Liverpool 4-3 on aggregate - needing extra-time in the second-leg to reach the clash.

THEN THERE WERE TWO - Final

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IT'S one of the most famous, well-remembered Champions League finals in history... at least in Britain.

United took on Chelsea, with Cristiano Ronaldo getting the Red Devils off to a flying start.

Frank Lampard netted on the stroke of half-time to level proceedings... as they match went to extra-time and then penalties.

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The first two penalties from either side were netted before Ronaldo shockingly missed from 12 yards to hand the advantage to the Blues.

John Terry stepped up for Chelsea knowing if he converted his spot-kick, the trophy was theirs.

However, he slipped and whacked the post with his effort as United kept scoring in sudden death.

Finally it was over, at 6-5 on pens, as Nicolas Anelka saw his penalty saved by Edwin van der Sar, and United were crowned European champions.

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