Shearer says: “Any of the four English sides can go on and win the Champions League.”
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Latest insights from our football ambassador and Premier League legend Alan Shearer
It is fantastic for the Premier League that all four teams have progressed into the quarter-final of the Champions League. When you go through the performances, all four were impressive in their own way.
Spurs went to Germany and beat Dortmund, United overturned a two goal deficit in Paris against PSG, Liverpool beat Bayern away from home and City put seven past Schalke in the second leg of their tie.
The performance of the week has to be Liverpool’s victory last night. To score three against Bayern in Germany is so impressive and it’s a statement to the rest of the teams in the competition that they are good enough to go all the way this year.
Manchester City blew away Schalke on Tuesday. When you look at the first leg, everything went against them as they were down to ten men and were trailing 2-1.
They managed to turn that around and then to score seven was just incredible. To score seven in any game is impressive but to do it in the Champions League is extra special and that’s why they are the favourites.
Any of the four English clubs are capable of winning.
However, Barcelona and Juventus are obviously huge threats due to the fact that they have Messi and Ronaldo in their teams. It’s such an open competition this year and it is brilliant to watch.
All four teams will be hoping they avoid Barcelona and Juventus.
If they could choose their opponents it would be either Ajax or Porto. There is every chance two of the English teams will draw each other which will make for a tasty contest.
One of the big reasons for Liverpool’s success this season has been Virgil van Dijk. He has to be in contention for the Player of the Season. He is a captain in his own right and is exactly what they were missing last year.
Back to the Premier League…
The top four races in the Premier League are really heating up now that Spurs have taken a fall.
It’s great that we have the title race between Manchester City and Liverpool, but there is also so much to play for the teams just below them in the table.
A few weeks ago Tottenham were going for the league but now they have a battle on their hands to finish in the top four. On the other hand, Manchester United looked out of the race back in December, but their form has improved massively since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over.
Obviously they were beaten by Arsenal last weekend but the Gunners are finding some form themselves and are very much still in the race.
At the bottom end of the table, Cardiff, Southampton and Burnley are in the relegation scrap. Huddersfield and Fulham are already gone so it looks to be one from three.
Southampton had a great win against Spurs last weekend and if we had to predict who would go down right now, We would put our money on Cardiff.
