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Champions League

Champions League betting: Liverpool are a different proposition in Europe

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"Mystical" Mike Norman tells us why, when it comes to Champions League football, Liverpool show their true colours and how this should be more than good enough to overcome a struggling Arsenal

When I was at school I used to hate geography lessons. I never thought I was learning anything because of the way that Mr. Russell taught us. We used to arrive in class expecting to receive a lecture or be given a text book to read, but instead we had to watch Mr. Russell draw a picture on the blackboard. He would tell us to simply copy the picture and colour it in - this wasn't geography, it was art, and I wasn't learning a damned thing.

It was only a few years later that I realised that the lessons I'd received were unique, designed to be fun, and very informative. Looking back at the pictures that I'd drew I could see the point being made - it was staring me right in the face all the time and I passed my geography exam with flying colours.

Mr. Russell was a keen football fan, and if I were to ask him who he thought would win the Champions League he would probably draw me a simple picture. It would be a picture of a trophy, with red ribbons tied to it, being hoisted by a Scouse footballer or paraded on an open top bus that had the words 'Liverpool FC' wrote on it.

For years I've been opposing Liverpool (because of their domestic form) in the Champions League, yet just like Mr. Russell's pictures and geography lessons, it should have been obvious all along. Liverpool are a completely different proposition when it comes to European football and you oppose them at your peril.

I was against Liverpool in the last round, but they won both legs against Seria A's comfortable leaders Inter Milan, and I see no reason why they won't ease past Arsenal in their all English Quarter Final tie. Arsenal are the slight favourites to qualify at [1.92], while Liverpool are available at [2.08] - get on the Reds is my strong advice. Liverpool are now reaping the rewards of their early season rotation system and look to be far fresher than their North London rivals.

As regular readers will know, I've been a strong advocate of Arsenal and the way they have played their football this season, and there is no denying that they thoroughly deserve some silverware as a reward. But unfortunately they are not going to win the Premiership now, and I can't see them winning the Champions League either, despite them being in the top half of the market at [8.4]: Liverpool can be backed at [9.2] to win the tournament outright by the way.

As for Wednesday's game at the Emirates I think Liverpool will come away with the advantage - not necessarily in the form of a win, but probably in the form of a score draw. As you would expect, Arsenal are the slight favourites to win the game at odds of [2.34], with Liverpool being available at [4.0] and the draw (the most likely outcome in my opinion) at [3.2]. In the correct score market my personal preference is for a 1-1 scoreline (available at [7.2]), though I wouldn't put anyone off a 2-2 outcome at odds of [26].

My reasons for not siding with the Gunners on this occasion are straightforward - they are not the same team as they were six weeks ago. The turning point for me was Eduardo's horrific injury. Arsenal were flying and Adebayor was scoring at will going into that fixture against Birmingham, but as soon as Eduardo was crocked you could see the affect it had on the Arsenal players - their minds seemed elsewhere and they haven't been the same since. Is this a valid assessment - let me know your thoughts.

Bacary Sagna and Tomas Rosicky are both still absent for the Gunners though Emmanuel Adebayor should return to the starting line-up. Javier Mascherano is available again for Liverpool and he will replace Lucas in what I would imagine would be their only change from the weekend, but trying to second guess Rafa Benitez's team selection is like getting a bus to the moon - impossible!

Surprisingly this fixture is the first time Arsenal and Liverpool have met in European competition and I think we are in for an entertaining game, though whether it will be a goal fuelled game is debatable. I would be inclined to back 'Under 2.5 Goals' at [1.58] in the hope that my 1-1 prediction comes true: 'Over 2.5 Goals' is available at [2.7], while if you're cheering on the 2-2 scoreline you might be interested in 'Over 3.5 Goals' at [5.3].

As for a first goalscorer, you should easily get matched at [8.0] for Torres and [12] for Gerrard once the market takes shape and I think there's no need to over complicate things by looking elsewhere.