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Champions League Betting: Backs to the Walcott job for Liverpool

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TQ expects Arsenal to have most of the ball tonight in part three of the trilogy but who does he expect to be in the next round?

There is no finer setting for a glorious European night of football than Anfield. On Tuesday night the famous ground will host the most eagerly awaited second leg clash of this year's Champions League quarter-finals. It is part three of the Arsenal-Liverpool trilogy and without a doubt the most crucial.

It is the business end of the season and the pressure of it all is beginning to show. Fans are getting nervous, players are getting tight and the managers are fit to burst. Arsene Wenger is usually the epitome of calm but on Saturday he was beside himself as his Arsenal team once again failed to take advantage of superior possession and chances against a much weakened Liverpool. In all three games between these two sides this year the game has followed that same pattern of Arsenal dominance but little to show for it. Wenger will be hoping that is all about to change on Tuesday evening.

All three encounters between them this season have ended in a 1-1 scoreline, giving a clear indicator that there isn't an awful lot to choose between the two units. The market for Tuesday night's game also reflects that with Liverpool just edging favouritism with home advantage. Although previous form must always be considered it is important that we remember that none of the other clashes have carried quite the same pressures and potential permutations. With the away goals rule in effect, both teams will be only too aware of how the game can hinge on that rule.

Early team news suggest that Benitez will put out the same team he did in the first leg, with Gerrard, Torres and Mascherano all coming back in after missing part two. For Arsenal the line-up is a little less certain as I am sure Wenger would love to play Gallas and Toure as centre halves but Hoyte was unconvincing at the weekend and he has so far refused to bring Eboue back into the right-back slot. Van Persie is in the squad but if not fit to start then you may see Walcott get a deserved start.

I have no real reason to expect this match to follow any other pattern than the previous ones in so much as that I think Arsenal will once again have most of the ball. It is what they do with it that will decide this tie. There is no doubt that this Liverpool side are far superior to the one that was scrabbling around for results in the first half of this season and you have to respect that they are a team in form. However, I just can't see how you can back a team that is so obviously reliant on the other side's inability to stick chances away. The recommendation has to be for an Arsenal win and I suggest if you do back the Gunners then it is best done as early as possible. Approaching kick-off I expect a wave of support for Arsenal, so get on whilst you can at [3.55].

With the tie in the balance and Liverpool not needing to press forward don't expect a flying start to the game. It will be a cagey opening quarter with neither team wishing to give the other much reason for encouragement early on. After considering the possible game patterns that may evolve from a goal for either team I can't justifiably see many goals in this game. If either team go one up then the other knows that they still only need one goal to force extra-time and thus will not need to be gung-ho about their approach. With this in mind I see plenty of reasons to back Under 2.5 Goals at current odds of [1.66].

The trend followers will undoubtedly be backing the scoreline of 1-1 after the three previous results. At [6.8] it is a little short and I see little value in it. You would be better advised to play the Match Odds market in-play and should one team go 1-0 up then back The Draw. It gives you other draw scorelines as well as meaning you don't commit to it unless there is at least one goal. That aside, the scoreline that most appeals to me is 0-2 and at current odds of [20.0] in the Correct Score market that is the bet for me.

Parts one and two may have passed without much incident in the way of discipline issues but this is a whole different situation. With so much at stake I can see a few tackles flying in and the Swedish referee Peter Fröjdfeldt may just wish to stamp his authority on such a big game, whilst also trying to impress his UEFA observers in a bid to get one of the semi-finals. The 9pts and Above option in the Bookings Odds market at [1.94] is an absolute must bet.

After over eight months of football we are now at a stage when it is down to just one game of football. For one of these teams their European campaign will be over late on Tuesday evening, for the other the dream lives on.