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Champions League

Champions League Preview: Gunners won't spare McClaren and Reds will romp home at Anfield

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Mike Norman doesn't fancy Steve McClaren's chances of causing a big shock and, despite a poor first leg, Liverpool's passage to the group stage should be standard stuff too.

Impossible. That's the word I would use to describe the chances of either FC Twente or Standard Liege causing an upset in the Champions League against Arsenal and Liverpool on Wednesday evening.

Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, FC Twente can be backed at [50.0] to qualify to the group stages and at [19.5] to record a victory on the night at the Emirates Stadium. Goals from William Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor gave Arsenal a comfortable lead a fortnight ago, and not surprisingly they are just [1.01] to qualify from the tie and [1.24] to win the second leg on Wednesday. The draw can be backed at [6.6].

Steve McClaren will draw inspiration from the Gunners stuttering start to the new season, but his Dutch side will still need a monumental result if they are to cause one of the biggest shocks in Champions League history. FC Twente are trading at just [1.08] not to keep a clean sheet, and if they do concede they will have to score at least three times against Arsenal to have any chance of progressing. For the record, it's been 66 competitive matches since Arsene Wenger's men last conceded three goals at home.

I get the feeling that Wenger is desperate for a convincing victory and this will be reflected in his team selection. He can ill-afford to play a much weakened team just to see the game through and I fully expect to see the likes of Adebayor, Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri involved at some stage. A correct score of 2-0 ([6.4]) and 3-0 ([7.8]) will be popular choices, but I'm more than happy to get matched at [4.7] about 'Any Unquoted' score, which covers me for any scoreline should either team score more than three goals.

Since the two sides last met, Arsenal have recorded a 1-0 victory over West Brom and suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss to Fulham, while FC Twente have had just one friendly game in which they lost 1-0 to Spanish side UD Almeria. These recent results suggest that 'Under 2.5 Goals' is the bet at [2.16], but I don't see the Gunners taking their foot off the pedal here and 'Over 2.5 Goals' is the way I'd play at [1.79] - in fact, I wouldn't put anyone off backing 'Over 3.5 Goals' at [3.1] or 'Over 4.5 Goals' at [6.2].

Other bets to profit from are 'Arsenal/Arsenal' in the 'Half Time/Full Time' market at around [1.7] and both '0-10 Minutes' ([4.7]) and '11-20 Minutes' ([5.3]) in the 'First Goal Odds' market.

Unlike Arsenal, Liverpool don't have a healthy cushion to take into their game against Belgium champions Standard Liege, in fact, they are lucky to be going into this second leg tie on level terms. However, it would still be a huge shock if Liverpool fail to qualify and odds of just [1.13] say they will progress - Standard can be backed at [8.2] to qualify.

On the night, Liverpool are [1.2] to secure a victory at Anfield, Standard Liege can be backed at [20.0], whilst the draw is available at [7.6].

Since their last meeting, both sides have recorded two straight victories in their respective leagues, though in Standard's case it has been far plainer sailing. They cruised to victories against FCV Dender (3-1) and KVC Westerlo (3-0) with Congo international Dieumerci Mbokani (described as the new Didier Drogba by the Belgium media) scoring four times. Liverpool on the other hand have looked far from being at their best in recording late victories against Premiership rivals Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

Despite the evidence of the first leg, Liverpool and Standard Liege are miles apart in terms of quality. European nights at Anfield are usually worth a goal start anyway, and with Rafa Benitez surely set to start with a full strength team then you have to feel that Standard Liege's chance of an upset went when Pepe Reina saved a Dante Bonfim penalty in the first leg.

Liverpool are trading at [1.63] to record a clean sheet, Standard are available at [11.0] to do the same - these odds highlighting the enormity of the task for Laszlo Boloni's men.

I don't have a strong opinion in the correct score market as this game could easily finish 1-0 ([7.4]) or 2-0 ([6.4]) as it could 5-0 or higher ('Any Unquoted' score is available at [4.5]), depending on how Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane perform. They showed glimpses of a partnership developing against Boro and it could be just a matter of time before the goals start flowing. For much the same reason, the 'Over/Under 2.5 Goals' market is another to tread carefully in - 'Over' is [1.76], 'Under' is [2.22].

I do think Liverpool will lead from an early stage however, and therefore backing 'Liverpool/Liverpool' in the 'Half Time/Full Time' market seems a sensible option, though I will be holding out for a little better than the [1.65] currently available. [1.8] anyone?