Good job the FA Cup doesn't count towards our European Power Rankings eh, Rio? Manchester United continue to top the pile of the continent's elite.

We take into account both domestic and European performances, plus the relative difficulty of each team's league, to find out who is the best team in Europe.

United stay on top, since domestic cups do not count in our rankings, while Arsenal stay second despite their disappointing draw against Wigan.

Internazionale tumble to fifth after their Champions League defeats to Liverpool, but stay above the Reds on the strength of their domestic form.

Barcelona's red-hot European performances contrast with dismal domestic form, yet they stay third ahead of Roma.

With four English sides in the Champions League it is no suprise to see Chelsea and Liverpool also in the top seven, while Everton are the pick of the UEFA Cup bunch - for the moment at least.

EUROPEAN POWER RANKINGS

1 (1) Manchester United - 23.93

2 (2) Arsenal - 22.88

3 (3) Barcelona - 22.50

4 (5) Roma - 21.37

5 (4) Internazionale - 21.23

6 (7) Chelsea - 20.74

7 (8) Liverpool - 20.66

8 (12) Porto - 19.80

9 (6) Everton - 19.43

10 (13) Bayern - 19.12

11 (16) Sevilla - 18.69

12 (9) Fenerbahce - 18.50

13 (10) Real Madrid - 18.36

14 (11) Milan - 17.96

15 (17) PSV Eindhoven - 17.66

16 (19) Fiorentina - 17.15

17 (15) Hamburg - 17.11

18 (-) Rangers - 16.84

19 (18) Olympiacos - 16.67

20 (-) Bayer Leverkusen - 16.47

HOW IT WORKS

Scores are based on points per game in domestic league and European games.

Domestic points per game are multiplied by the league coefficient - either 4, 4.5 or 5 - with teams in stronger leagues getting more credit.

Champions League (or Super Cup) victories are counted from the third qualifying round onward as three points for a win and multiplied by a coefficient of 5.

UEFA Cup victories are counted from the first round as three points for a win and mulitplied by a coefficient of 4.

Domestic and European totals are then added together. If a side has played in both Champions League and UEFA Cup, its European total is an average of the two scores.

League coefficients:

England, Spain, Italy = 5

Germany, Portugal, France = 4.5

Others = 4

Example: Manchester United

64 points from 28 Premier League games = 2.29 points per game.

Multiplied by league coefficient of five - 2.29 x 5 = 11.43

17 points from 7 Champions League games (including qualifying) = 2.43 points per game.

Multiplied by Champions League coefficient of five - 12.14

Total score = 11.43 + 12.14 = 23.57

Eurosport