Champions League Qualifiers Preview

by Bodog Sports | Aug 11 2008

So Sunday’s season opener, for the Premier League teams at least, was a bit of a drab affair truth be told. What did we learn about Man Utd? Not a lot really. Other than a fresh face is desperately needed to liven up the side – especially while Ronaldo rests his arrogant bones.

As the Champions League qualifiers get under way this week, can Arsenal and Liverpool give us a better idea of how this year’s Premier League title challenge is going to transpire? Both sides face away (Aug 13) and then home fixtures (Aug 30), with the winners going through to the group stages to join the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd.


FC Twente v Arsenal

Arsene Wenger’s side have been scoring goals for fun in pre-season so they will be really fired up for this clash, to book their slot in the Champions League proper early on. And what better way to kick their season off than a fixture against everyone’s favourite circus performer Steve McLaren, new boss at Dutch over-performers FC Twente.

Looking at McLaren’s team sheet Arsenal will hardly be quaking in their boots – their biggest ‘names’ include former squad players at Middlesbrough and Everton, Luke Wilkshire and Bjarni Vidarsson respectively, and sometimes Dutch international Theo Janssen.

on FC Twente v Arsenal

Despite the lack of names FC Twente managed to end the season in fourth place and defeated Ajax in a play off for the second Champions League slot (behind PSV who automatically qualified by winning the league). Those crazy Dutch – sensibly they’ve decided to change that format this season so second place quite rightly means Champions League football. Wenger will be happy it didn’t change last season, as Ajax gave his team a run for their money last week.

Expect to see a bit of youth in the Arsenal set up, not just in this fixture but throughout the season ahead. Jack Wilshire and Carlos Vela (a hot prospect who’s had great loan spells in Spain) have been particularly impressive this summer, as has Nicklas Bendtner – could this be his season to fill that Dennis Bergkamp-shaped hole alongside Adebayor?

Prediction: A 1-0 away win in Holland, followed by a significant score line at the Emirates in a couple of weeks wouldn’t be a surprise, as Arsenal glide through.

on Arsenal to score double figures over the two legs against FC Twente


Standard Liege v Liverpool



Despite a relatively quiet summer transfer window so far, Rafa Benitez seems to have been at the heart of a lot of speculation – notably regarding the £20m purchase of Robbie Keane and the ongoing disputes over a failed bid for Gareth Barry.

On the pitch Liverpool haven’t put a foot wrong, remaining undefeated throughout pre-season. Despite the big money move Keane has yet to net for the Reds, and infact it’s youngster David Ngog (signed for an undisclosed sum from Paris St Germain) and Andriy Voronin who take goal scoring form into this first meaningful match.

on Standard Liege v Liverpool

Benitez faces relatively easy opponents in Standard Liege who, despite winning the Belgian league last season have a squad of practical unknowns outside their home country.

Liverpool fans will probably only be familiar with American defender, Oguchi Onyewu, who had an unsuccessful loan spell at Newcastle a year or so ago. In attacker Milan Jovanovic they have the current Belgian player of the year (despite being Serbian) – Liverpool must surely be quaking in their boots…

Prediction: An easy win away and at home for Liverpool – if ever Keane were to break his duck it would be in this couple of fixtures.

on who will score more goals out of Robbie Keane and Fernando Torres