Champions League

Tom Allen nailed the Liverpool win and Bayern have to look good taking two away goals back to Munich.

The last eight of the Champions League commences on Tuesday and it is odds-on that an English club lifts the famous trophy. Chelsea and Manchester United are in action on Wednesday but it is Liverpool who are first up twenty four hours previously and the 2005 Champions are strongly fancied to progress to the semi-finals. They take on PSV of Holland.

Despite getting the better of Arsenal in the first knockout round, when they were probably a shade fortunate, Rafa Benitez would have been delighted to have been paired with the Dutch champions. And the Spanish maestro will also take great heart from PSV’s recent troubles which has seen them all but surrender a large lead domestically, not aided by the loss of some key players. Defender Alex and the influential forward Arouna Kone will both be missing on Tuesday.

In contrast, the Reds couldn’t be in better form and I expect them to advance with something to spare.

Too short at around 1.40 to make the last four, I’ll be bold and go for Liverpool to take a first leg lead back to Anfield. The 2.50 in a place will suffice.

The other midweek recommendation is to oppose AC Milan. I remain thoroughly unconvinced by the Serie A side and having made a tidy profit by opposing them at home against Celtic, I’ll be in for more of the same when they host Bayern Munich.

Despite their troubles domestically, Bayern are still a force to be reckoned with in Europe and have one of the strongest starting XI’s in the tournament. Solid across the middle, where they will need to be to test the Italians, Bayern also still pose a threat to anybody going forward. Roy Makaay appears back in favour and, as one of the competitions leading marksman over the years, the ex-Deportivo hit man will be hoping to trouble Alessandro Nesta and his defensive chums.

I make Bayern, with the second leg to come in Germany, slight favourites to progress so instead of having a play in the match on Tuesday I’m going to side with them to qualify. The Germans are 2.10 in various places to make the last four and that for me rates as a very decent bet indeed. Milan’s lack of firepower could well come back to haunt them.