The Champions League returns this week and it’s another important week for the four English sides in action.
A win at Atalanta would seal Man City’s passage into the knockout stages, while Chelsea will look to make it three wins from four with victory over Ajax.
Liverpool will look to put one foot in the last-16 with success at home to Genk, but it’s Spurs’ progress which looks the most vulnerable when they face Red Star Belgrade needing victory to cement their place behind group leaders Bayern Munich.
Our Champions League betting expert previews all the ties and gives you the best bets to look out for.
Liverpool v Genk
The Reds had lost their last four away group games before their 4-1 success in Belgium last time out.
In recent weeks they have been tested in the Premier League, but continue to come out on top and it is hard to see anything but a home win here, with Jurgen Klopp’s side 1/16 for victory, with the draw at 12/1 and a Genk victory available at 33/1.
Liverpool have won their last five home Champions League games, and boast a 100 per cent success rate against Belgian opposition on home soil.
The Reds defence has not been as watertight as it was last year though, so a bet on Liverpool to win and both teams to score looks appealing at 8/5.
Chelsea v Ajax
After an opening-day defeat to Valencia, the Blues progress looked in jeopardy, but back-to-back wins, including Michy Batshuayi’s late winner in Amsterdam last time out, see Chelsea looking pretty in top spot of Group H.
Frank Lampard has settled in nicely now at Stamford Bridge after a shaky start and has now lost just one of his last nine games in charge.
One area of their game which isn’t their strongest is the defence and the reverse fixture saw one of only three clean sheets picked up by the Blues throughout the season.
I can’t see anything but another home win on this occasion, and will again plump with the home win, plus both teams to score at 11/5.
Red Star Belgrade v Spurs
To say Spurs’ season has been eventful is an understatement, and with just two wins in their last seven games, it is fair to say there is plenty of upheaval at the New White Hart Lane.
A 5-0 win in the reverse fixture has been a rare glimmer of success for the Lilywhites.and they were without captain and striker Harry Kane at the weekend in their 1-1 draw with Everton and it remains to be seen whether he recovers from illness to return.
With or without him it will be difficult to pick up all three points in Serbia, and despite all this Pochettino’s side are 7/10 favourites.
I can see their struggles continuing on Wednesday, so back the draw at 29/10.
Atalanta v Man City
Pep Guardiola’s side certainly put the Italians to the sword last time out – with a 5-1 victory at the Etihad.
Like Liverpool, they had to show their Premier League title credentials last weekend by coming from behind to see off a resilient Southampton.
The Citizens also have three wins from three in the group stages, and a victory would seal their spot in the knockout stages.
I still feel they will have enough to pick up the win, but it will certainly be tougher in Italy, so a bet on both teams to score and Man City to win at 6/5.
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