How close are Liverpool to making the Champions League knockout stages?

Liverpool can book their place in the knockout stage with another win over Spanish champions Atletico Madrid. Jurgen Klopp’s side won 3-2 in Madrid a fortnight ago in a game they dominated from the off but they let Atleti back into it before Mo Salah grabbed his 2^nd goal of the game from the penalty spot. Former Reds striker Luis Suarez will be chomping at the bit, as it were, for a chance to show the Anfield faithful why he was once such a hero there.

Liverpool Performance 57-61

The Reds really looked a class above Atleti in the reverse fixture two weeks ago, and it was only them relaxing that allowed the Spanish champions to grab a goal back and then a shock equaliser. Liverpool endured a similar 90 minutes against Brighton on Saturday, when they let the Seagulls come back from 2-0 to draw 2-2 at Anfield. But more often that not Liverpool have been ruthless and clinical, as shown in the 5-0 win at Manchester United, and if they find that form tonight, they’ll be too good for their Spanish visitors. The Liverpool Performance index awards 25 points for a win, 15 for a goal, 10 each for a draw or a clean sheet and 3 for a corner. Points are taken off for cards, -5 for a yellow and -15 for a red.

Are Manchester City on their way to the Champions League last 16 too?

City are expecting another three points tonight against Club Brugge after beating the Belgians 5-1 away last time out. Pep’s men are currently 2^nd in A, a point behind PSG and three ahead of tonight’s opponents, so a repeat victory would more than likely leave them needing one point from the final two games to make the knockout stages. Since that dominant performance in Belgium, City’s form has tailed off, losing to West Ham on penalties in the EFL Cup before going down 2-0 to Crystal Palace in the Premier League at the weekend.

Performance Superiority MC/Bru (84-89)

Club Brugge were outclassed by City in the reverse fixture, but they would point out that other results show they’re better then they showed two weeks ago. They drew with PSG and won away at RB Leipzig to start their Champions League campaign, and that City reverse was one of only two defeats they’ve suffered in 17 games. We’ve seen some nibbling at various Club Brugge markets, and of course with spread betting, you can back a team to perform better than expected and still profit even if they lose, as long as they don’t lose as badly or worse than expected. The Performance Superiority market measure the difference in the Performance make-ups (remember, as above, the Performance index awards 25 points for a win, 15 for a goal, 10 each for a draw or a clean sheet and 3 for a corner. Points are taken off for cards, -5 for a yellow and -15 for a red).

Who’s playing in the T20 World Cup tomorrow morning?

With the hour having gone back, the early games at the T20 World Cup are now starting even earlier, at 10am, so we thought we’d have a look ahead to tomorrow’s crucial encounter between Australia  and Bangladesh. With England winning every game in Group 1, the other five teams are battling it out for the one remaining spot in the semi-finals. Bangladesh have lost all four games and are out of it, but the Aussies can move to 3 and 1, the same as second placed South Africa, before their final game against the West Indies on Saturday. South Africa face all conquering England in their final game, so Australia are still on track to make the final four.

Australia Sixes 5.9-6.5

The Aussies currently have a negative net run rate, and the possibility of that coming into play when this group is all done and that all-important second place is decided means not only do they need to win, they need to win well. Australia certainly have the big hitters in their line-up to post a big score or chase a target quickly and there could be fireworks in this game.