/ Alsy / 28 August 2007 /

Morgan in the driving seat - Alister Morgan on why Chelsea are the best-placed English team to mount a real challenge on the Champions League this season

The Premiership is the world's richest league and, with representatives in the last three finals, is making its presence felt at the top table of European football. Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal would all be disappointed if they didn't reach the quarter-finals this season and it shouldn't be too long before two English clubs face-off in a final.

Arsenal's (20) price to win this year reflects their 'hit and miss' record in recent knockout stages. In '04 they lost to 3-2 Chelsea in the quarter-finals, '05 lost 3-2 to Bayern Munich in the first knockout round before losing to PSV 2-1 in the first knockout round last year. They made the final in 2006 and are not too far off Europe's elite but need to find a 'killer' pairing up front to deliver goals.

Van Persie and Fabregas are fast becoming Arsenal legends but too many fans fool themselves that Henry will not be missed. To be fair, the fans know that their real talisman is Wenger. If he extends his contract then expect great things but not this season.

Manchester United (7.8) fans expect to win the Champions League every season but in truth they rarely mount a serious challenge. Ferguson knows how to win domestic titles but seems no closer to re-discovering a winning formula in Europe. I could not back a team that produces wonderful attacking football but, when it matters most, have a defence as secure as UK border controls.

In '03 they lost 6-5 to Madrid in the quarter-finals and 3-2 to Mourinho's Porto in the first knockout round in '04. It was Milan again 2-0 a year later in the quarters before coming bottom of their group (featuring Villareal, Benfica and Lille) in '06.

Last year they did reach the semi-finals before letting in five goals to Milan over two legs. Being eliminated by Milan and Madrid happens to the best but the point is that you have to beat the best to win this trophy.

A key indicator for recent winners is that star players perform when defeat is looming. Roy Keane's '99 semi-final performance against Juventus is still discussed in hushed tones but the current crop of United stars rarely justify their inflated wages and coloured boots against Europe's elite.

Liverpool (13.5) has come a long way in recent years and they shocked themselves and the rest of world football with their victory in 2005. Defeating Juventus, Chelsea and Milan required much more than luck and they've built on their success... unfortunately a little too late to beat Milan again in last year's final.

Torres, Babel and Voronin add attacking options to a miserly defence while Benitez remains one of the shrewdest coaches in Europe. Their odds look very tempting for a club that knows how to navigate Europe football. In '05 they only conceded three goals in the knockout stages (a total of six games home and away) leading to the final and repeated the feat last year while Manchester conceded eight. I think Liverpool will do well again this year but I'd back another English team to win the prize this year. Assuming someone else knocks out Liverpool I suspect Chelsea will secure the richest prize in European football.

Chelsea (7.4) is a side designed for European dominance with Ballack and Shevchenko supposed to add the finishing touches to Mourinho's football juggernaut... we all know how that turned out. New signings Pizarro and Malouda will ensure that Mourinho will not have to rely on ageing talent this year while Sidwell, Belletti, Alex and the versatile Ben-Haim provide cover in all the right places.

Cech, Essien, Carvalho, Terry and Malouda would start in any team in Europe while Drogba remains the best out-and-out striker in the world. If they do have a weakness Rafa Benitez seems the only one in Europe who knows what it is.

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