Liverpool News: Premier League legend and former Liverpool star Peter Crouch took his pick as the potential Champions League winner this season. But the legendary striker was not able to lock on to one team!
The round of the 16 stages of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League begins in less than 24 hours. The mega-clash between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, scheduled to kick off on 15th February would start the knockout rounds.
Liverpool themselves are set to play their knockout tie on the very next day. The Reds will be travelling to Milan to face the Serie A leaders Inter Milan in the knockout tie. The two teams have not faced each other recently hence, this would add more drama to the game.
Jurgen Klopp’s side was handed an early exit by Real Madrid in the 2020/21 edition. Hence the Reds would surely be hoping to bounce back as they look to take down Simone Inzaghi’s Inter Milan on Wednesday.
Liverpool News: What did Peter Crouch say?
The former Liverpool striker who currently works as a pundit recently talked about the Champions League. Peter Crouch predicted that Liverpool and Manchester City would be the favourites to win, as per the Mirror.
Peter Crouch said “I cannot see much past the Premier League clubs. Liverpool and Manchester City are my favourites and I’m struggling to split them in Europe.”
The former Liverpool striker added that this was an exciting time for English football. Crouch said that we have witnessed two “All-English” finals in the Champions League in three years. Hence, he believed that this feat could become a possibility once again.
Crouch would not discount Chelsea and added that the World Champions also had a good chance of defending their trophy. The striker turned pundit added that the Blues should easily win against Lille in the round of 16.
Outside of the English teams, Peter Crouch believed that Bayern Munich could be a real threat. The 2020 Champions League winners have been on song in the Bundesliga. Hence, they will have a good chance against Salzburg in the knockout stage.
Peter Crouch concluded by saying “Manchester United are the only ones I’m wavering on”. He ended the discussion by stating that Atletico Madrid would have a 50-50 chance against the Red Devils in current form.
Pick of the Champions League ties?
The Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain tie is easily the clash of the heavyweights. With history and recent bad blood, owing to the Mbappe transfer saga, we expect fireworks from this game.
Can Pep Guardiola finally win it?
The Manchester City manager has failed to win the Champions League since he last won it with Barcelona in 2011. He did lead the Sky Blues to the finals but failed to lift the trophy last season. Hence, it has to be seen if Pep Guardiola can rediscover his magic in 2022.
