Champions League Preview: Liverpool Host Rangers in Battle of Britain, Chelsea Face AC Milan and Bank on Erling Haaland to Run Riot
The Champions League returns with a bang this week with some truly mouthwatering ties in prospect. There are some massive clashes for the British teams involved and plenty to get excited about as the tournament’s group stages start to really pick up.
If you’ve placed a Champions League bet on who you think might end up holding the trophy aloft on the 10th of June in Istanbul, then you would now have a fair idea of how likely you are to win that bet.
Liverpool vs Rangers
Tuesday 4th October - 20:00
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side have not been firing on all cylinders this season, and the games are now coming thick and fast; and this clash against Glasgow giants Rangers is a good opportunity for the Anfield outfit to get back on track.
No doubt the atmosphere, as it always is on European nights on Merseyside, will be electric, and Liverpool need a win to push their chances of qualification, while Rangers will have to be at their very best to avoid defeat.
We’d back the following treble from BoyleSports, Mohamed Salah to net first, Liverpool to win and scoring over 3.5 goals; you’ll get a handy 15/2 on that series of events occurring, all of which are very plausible.
Chelsea vs AC Milan
Wednesday 5th October - 20:00
Graham Potter has made a decent start to life at Stamford Bridge, but it’s clear that the former Brighton man will need time to put his stamp on the Chelsea side he now manages, not least because the influx of summer signings were, of course, made by Thomas Tuchel who was then duly fired.
Serie A title holders AC Milan are in a decent run of form, though they did lose a crucial match with rivals Napoli just before the international break, and they will present a real test for Chelsea.
Having collected just one point from their first two games of the group stage, the Blues need a win, and anything else could prove fatal to their chances of qualification. We’d back AC Milan to emerge from this game victorious, and you can grab 17/4 on the Italian side with Grosvenor Sports.
Manchester City vs FC Copenhagen
Wednesday 5th October - 20:00
Though Erling Haaland has already started 11 games this season, there’s every chance that Pep Guardiola will once again start the Norwegian, even though he could do with a rest, and frankly, if he does, then FC Copenhagen’s defenders may well be in for a nightmare evening.
The 22-year-old has already scored 17 goals this season, including three hat-tricks, and we’d back him to continue in that vein against the Danish visitors.
Grosvenor Sports are offering 21/4 on the powerful forward, scoring at least three, and it’s a bet worth chasing.
Elsewhere…
Antonio Conte’s Tottenham side travel to Germany to face Eintracht Frankfurt, and the Italian will hope his team can bounce back from their North London derby humbling at Arsenal. It’s a tricky tie, and Spurs will want to come back with something.
In Group A, the clash between Napoli and Ajax looks tasty and given the attack-minded fluid football both teams partake in; it’s a great one for the neutral, and Liverpool fans will be hoping for a draw.
Inter Milan host Barcelona in a massive clash with both teams seeking to keep within touching distance of group leaders Bayern Munich. Real Madrid face Shakhtar Donetsk in what could be a potential upset.
Celtic travel to face RB Leipzig and will hope to come back from a point or more to keep up their slim hopes of qualifying from a tough group.
