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Six top pundits including Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry and Steven Gerrard have made their predictions for Champions League glory with Arsenal and Liverpool the last English clubs standing
(Image: Kristian Skeie - UEFA, UEFA via Getty Images)
As the European club season recommences following the international break, many will have their sights set on the climax of the Champions League.
Only two of the six English clubs advanced past the round of 16 and secured their spots in the quarter-finals, with Arsenal triumphing over Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool defeating Galatasaray.
In an unrestricted draw, pundits have offered a variety of predictions about who could potentially clinch the title. Three of the eight play-off victors — essentially, the lower-ranked teams from the round of 16 — remain in the competition and are very much contenders for the Champions League trophy.
James Findlater
One such team is Paris Saint-Germain, who claimed the title last season despite finishing a disappointing 15th in the league phase. They improved slightly to 11th this time around but managed to overcome Monaco and Chelsea to arrange a rematch with a Liverpool side they knocked out on penalties last year.
Real Madrid (9th) and Atletico Madrid (14th) are the other teams from outside the top eight in the league phase to progress, having defeated Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur respectively in the round of 16. Los Blancos are now set to face Bayern Munich, while Atleti are up against a Barcelona side who thrashed Newcastle 8-3 on aggregate.
The quarter-finals conclude with Arsenal facing Sporting CP in a rematch of a thrilling 2022/23 Europa League encounter which the Portuguese outfit clinched on penalties. The tie remains wide open, and Mirror Football has examined which experts are favouring whom.
Jamie Carragher had his say on the Champions League outlook(Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)
Jamie Carragher
The CBS Sports analyst didn't simply select a winner—he mapped out his predictions for the entire knockout phase ahead of the round of 16 second legs. His anticipated final features Paris Saint-Germain against Arsenal, mirroring last season's semi-final pairing, albeit with a contrasting result.
"Most people will say Bayern are a better team than PSG this season but that will not sway me. PSG will be in the final," Carragher stated, before tipping Arsenal to overcome Barcelona in the second semi-final and subsequently edge past PSG in Budapest's showpiece.
"That high line will cost Barcelona in the semi-final against Arsenal," he continued. "So a PSG-Arsenal final and then the winner will be... Arsenal will win the Champions League for the first time in their history.
Thierry Henry
Should Carragher's forecast prove accurate, two of Thierry Henry's previous clubs would collide in the semi-finals. The French footballing great appeared divided between Barcelona and Arsenal, while also hinting that Bayern Munich might emerge as the strongest contender. "[Barcelona] need to find that consistency and that balance if they want to win and be considered one of the hot favourites to win it – I still think they are," he remarked following Barca's first-leg stalemate with Newcastle in the round of 16. "But that balance sometimes that they don't have make me turn a tiny bit more to Bayern and Arsenal."
He praised Bayern's equilibrium after their dominant performances against Atalanta both home and away, suggesting they might emerge as the strongest contenders for the trophy. "You will see, whoever it is - it can be the winger inside, the striker like we saw with Nicolas Jackson on the right - [Bayern] know what they need to do, they press well, they're very difficult to beat at times," he noted.
Micah Richards
Similar to Carragher, ex-England and Manchester City defender Richards is throwing his weight behind Arsenal. The Gunners fell short against PSG last campaign but must regard themselves amongst the frontrunners after securing victories in all eight league phase fixtures.
"They're top of the Premier League and I think Arsenal are the favourites for the Champions League because I think it will suit them more than the domestic games," Richards commented on The Rest is Football. "In the Champions League the games might get a little bit more stretched whereas in the Premier League everyone is going to that low block against them." Richards offered his prediction in early March, ahead of the Gunners' Carabao Cup final showdown with City. Though they fell short at Wembley, it's yet to be determined whether that setback will knock their campaign off course.
Paul Merson
Ex-Arsenal favourite Merson has tempered his enthusiasm for the Gunners following their Carabao Cup final disappointment. While he refrained from throwing his full support behind any particular side, he doubts Mikel Arteta's men can overcome Barcelona should both reach the semi-finals.
"I look at Barcelona – who Arsenal are on course to play in the semi-finals – and Arsenal haven't got the pace to trouble Barcelona's high line," he told Sky Sports. "The forward players aren't electric – they're not like Anthony Elanga or Anthony Gordon who caused Barcelona problems in the last 16. I dread to think what Barcelona could do to Arsenal."
Owen Hargreaves
TNT Sports analyst Hargreaves initially championed his old side Bayern Munich, but swiftly altered his stance in favour of Barcelona.
"You know what, I'm going Barca," the ex-England midfielder declared. "I think with the draw, obviously it favours that side."
"[Lamine] Yamal, [Robert] Lewandowski, Raphinha, Pedri, [Frenkie] De Jong, the manager [Hansi Flick] has already won it, they play super aggressive. When it gets to those games, they will probably play a little bit deeper. Barca could beat anybody on their day."
Steven Gerrard
Gerrard, who clinched the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, isn't dismissing a repeat. Arne Slot's team haven't been the most persuasive in Europe, but the former midfielder reckons they have as good a shot as any.
"I think Bayern and Liverpool could be the ones people don't think can get there, but they can," he stated. "I would be inclined that way [PSG] as well, if they can get everyone on the pitch."
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