The Real Madrid v Liverpool Champions League game promises to be a mouth-watering clash. Rafa Benitez’s side are doing ok, 5 points off the top of the Premier League while showing great signs of resilience and consistency. Real Madrid on the other hand are 10 points off leaders Barcelona in Spain, though they have hit some excellent form since Juande Ramos took over.

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Roma have not had the best of league campaigns but then again nor have Arsenal. However, I fully expect the Gunners to win this one. The Italian league is not what it once was and we’ve seen they struggle against the pace and fluency of Arsenal in the past in this competition.

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Inter are currently the best Italian side by a mile and will win the Serie A title comfortably once again this season. You can’t compare Italian football to the situation in Scotland where one of two teams always wins the title but Inter don’t currently have to extend themselves every week to remain the best. Manchester United on the other hand have to play at the top level week in, week out, so it may be hard for Inter to rise to this occasion.

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I expect Chelsea to beat Juventus in their Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge but not because of the arrival of Guus Hiddink. I would’ve fancied Chelsea to beat the Italians if Big Phil Scolari had still been in charge too. The Italian clubs are not as strong as they once were and are generally not as physically strong as the Premier League clubs who they don’t seem to be able to compete with.

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The Real Madrid v Liverpool Champions League game promises to be a mouth-watering clash. Rafa Benitez’s side are doing ok, 2 points off the top of the Premier League while showing great signs of resilience and consistency. Real Madrid on the other hand are 10 points off leaders Barcelona in Spain, though they have hit some excellent form since Juande Ramos took over.

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The New Football Pools Pundit John Barnes gives his views on the upcoming Uefa Cup matches invoving English clubs. 

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Tottenham face two tough away trips this week with a journey to the Ukraine next on the agenda. A long trip to face Shakhtar is the last thing Harry Redknapp needs at the moment and I honestly believe he’ll see this match as a hindrance.

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West Ham have proven themselves to be a very good side defensively but if they want to go up a level then they will need to find a prolific striker. After watching the game against Middlesbrough at Upton Park it was obvious to see that the likes of Diego Tristan and David Di Michele are not the answer. Carlton Cole has been on a decent scoring run but you wouldn’t necessarily guarantee that he’ll be banging them in, in a month’s time.

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Tottenham face two tough away trips this week with a journey to the Ukraine next on the agenda. A long trip to face Shakhtar is the last thing Harry Redknapp needs at the moment and I honestly believe he’ll see this match as a hindrance.

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I am chuffed that Eduardo’s return to the Arsenal first team culminated in two goals in the FA Cup replay win over Cardiff this week. After such a serious injury there were doubts raised about the lad, but he looked like he’d never been away. The huge question marks hanging over Eduardo were banished after that showing.

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