We all no doubt enjoy the Premier League, countless thousands of fans attend competitive – and sometimes not so competitive – match ups week in week out, and pay for expensive season tickets for the privilege. Then of course we have football’s armstair supporters, who pay for a pricey cable or satellite subscription every much in order to keep up to date on the performance of their favourite football team. But exciting as the Premier League may be, the ultimate test of a team’s quality extends well beyond domestic games and into international competitions, and the cream of the crop of those just has to be the UEFA Champions League.

 

 

Held each year the UEFA Champions League brings together the top football teams from several European Nations in a league format, followed by a knockout competition. Qualifying for the competition itself isn’t easy for teams due to fierce competition in knock out rounds to decide who makes the cut. To give an idea of the magnitude of the competition in the modern game, the 2012 – 13 final drew an unbelievable TV audience of more than 350 million viewers. It’s of course a favourite with betting markets too, as football fans put their money where their mouth is and bet on their team in Champions League to progress through the competition. Available bets are so varied nowadays, HT-FT markets, correct core, number of cards, and more besides!

 

 

The Champions League has been running from the 1950’s onwards, so there’s certainly enough data at this point to judge the men from the boys in terms of who routinely dismantles their competitors. The answer is actually quite straighforward in this case since Real Madrid are winners of the Champions League an impressive 12 times in total (and runners up 3 times – suggesting that if they make it to the final, you underestimate them at your peril!). They won the tournament 5 years in a row in the 1950’s and also won in 2017 – beat that! Next up is Milan with 7 wins and 4 runner up positions. Not too shabby!

 

 

Where do the English teams rank I hear you ask? Well Liverpool have really shown their quality over the decades by managing to pick up the trophy 5 times in total, including their memorable 3 – 3 draw against Milan in 2004 – 5 where Liverpool managed to evenually sneak the win on penalties. Still, it doesn’t matter how you do it, just as long as you do! Manchester United are three time winners too, last winning tthe Champions League back in 2008. The only English team to win the touranment since that time is Chelsea in 2012 – which was also the only time they’ve won the Champions next. Who will be the next English team to lift the trophy I wonder?

 

This weekend, Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion will meet up for a game that feels increasingly pointless. United are more or less secure in the UEFA Champions League spots, and it would take a miracle to avoid an Albion relegation. What do we expect, then?

 

Home News

 

The home team comes into this one with a bit of a spring in their step. The 3-2 comeback at the Etihad Stadium against Manchester City might just offer fresh impetus to a United team that looked out of sync with their manager.

 

The impressive return to form of Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba will play a key role in United getting something from this. While beating West Brom is hardly a major achievement in this season, United should have more than enough to dominate here without much issue.

 

Away News

 

West Brom come to Old Trafford with very little to play for. More or less already down, it would be hard to imagine anything other than a comprehensive United win. They simply lack the credentials to do the damage needed at Old Trafford. With the defence, usually so resolute, even looking so easy to breach now, there’s little to say about this West Brom side from a positive sense.

 

They lack in more or less every department, with a dour midfield and a patchy forward pairing who don’t seem to work together.

 

Verdict

 

It’s hard to call anything other than a United win in this one. West Brom are awful, and come into this one with a solitary draw in six. They have a shocking record this season, and would be utterly reliant on Craig Dawson and Ahmed Hegazi to do them a favour and keep out Lukaku and co. We can’t see it at this moment in time.

 

 

After an outrageous night at Anfield on Wednesday, Liverpool travel across Stanley Park to take on Everton. The Blues are desperate for a derby win, but consistently poor performances in the big games means confidence going into the Derby is brittle at best.

 

Home News

The Toffees come into this one needing to find some consistency – and fast. A massive injury list including James McCarthy, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Mason Holgate, Idrissa Gueye and Tom Davies leaves the Blues with a very light looking side.

The sheer volume of injuries will likely force them into a different kind of shape. While Gueye might make it the rest are more or less an excessive doubt. It makes the mental challenge of overcoming Liverpool a whole lot tougher when you factor in the need to make late changes. With so little in reserve, can Everton manage that?

 

Away News

Meanwhile, Liverpool are heavily sweating over the health of Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian is arguably the best player in the league this season, but a groin tweak could cause major issues for their season. The lack of Adam Lallana, Joel Matip, Ragnar Klavan and Joe Gomez means they are light in the middle and at the back, too.

We expect some major rotation from the Reds, with so many players out at present it makes sense. The likely absence of Emre Can and Mo Salah will make coming up with a team that can win the derby even harder for Jürgen Klopp.

 

Verdict

We think Liverpool will edge it. Everton will be up for it, especially at home. Sam Allardyce will be desperate for a major win before his likely departure in the summer, too. Liverpool, though, know a win here is vital and, despite potential rotation, should pick-up three points in the derby.

 

While today most people are used to full-backs being failed wingers – as Jamie Carragher once said, “nobody grows up wanting to be Gary Neville”. However, Cesar Azpilicueta has single-handedly helped to refute the notion that full-backs make poor defenders. For years, with Osasuna, Marseille and then Chelsea, he’s been one of the most consistently impressive defenders in the European game.

 

He’s a very strong, stout defender with a clear eye for precision in tackling, positioning and marking. While he’s a very impressive offensive player, too, his main qualities come from being reliable at the back and filling in when needed. Indeed, in his later years at Chelsea he’s often filled in at the right-hand side of a back three. His versatility, consistency and professionalism is only matched by his will to win and determination to always improve. Even when playing in new environments and out of position, he’s often handled himself and has been one of the consistent figures at Chelsea in a decade-long turnover for the Blues.

 

The Pamplona-born star plays like the famous sport from the city in which he hails from; he’s like a raging bull at times. While he could be better at crossing, he’s a very crisp passer of the ball, and is an excellent, aggressive tackler. Smart in the tackle and rarely caught out of position or using excessive force.

 

Like many modern defenders, he does much of his defending without touching the ball. A great shepherd of the opposition, he can force wide players and forwards into blind alleys while making sure they are unable to force him out of position.

 

A very clear reader of the game and a deeply consistent player, Azpilicueta is a reference point for modern full-backs who wish to change the negative perception of their position.

 

 

Speak to the wrong person, and you could be forgiven for thinking that Edinson Cavani isn’t a top-level forward. With an unfair reputation as someone who misses chances in big games and is only a flat-truck bully, Cavani holds a distinction of being among the finest players in the world.

 

A goal scorer of extreme repute and with tremendous variability to his finishing, Cavani is a player who seems to be discarded for simply never having played in the English top flight. An outstanding link man and a fine foil for Luis Suarez at international level, the big Uruguayan has always been among the best performers in Italy and France since he broke through.

 

He made his name in Italy with Palermo, where he was known as an erratic but effective forward. After three years in Sicily, he made the move to a growing Napoli side and in three years established himself as among the finest players in the clubs history.

 

A stunning record of 104 goals in 138 games for the Naples side seen him make a massive move to Paris Saint-Germain. At PSG, he’s a club legend. A winner of three league titles (soon to be four) and also a tremendous goal scorer, scoring 49 in 50 games in 2016-17, he’s the clubs all-time top goal scorer breaking the record set by ex-teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

 

With over 300 goals in his career so far, the Uruguayan has established himself in the pantheon of the elite forwards of the modern game. With an incredible attitude and hunger mixed with incredible technical excellence, Cavani stands among the very best forwards of the 21^st Century.