Pundits Predict Champions League Winner as Arsenal and Liverpool Chase Glory
As the European club season resumes after the international break, the business end of the Champions League is firmly in focus. Just eight teams remain in contention for the prestigious trophy, with Premier League sides Arsenal and Liverpool among the quarter-finalists. Arsenal secured their spot by beating Bayer Leverkusen, while Liverpool overcame Galatasaray in the round of 16.
Quarter-Final Draw and Underdog Stories
In an open draw, three of the eight play-off winners—teams that were lower-ranked in the league phase—have defied expectations to reach this stage. Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning champions who finished 11th in the league phase this season, eliminated Monaco and Chelsea to set up a rematch with Liverpool, whom they beat on penalties last year. Real Madrid (9th) and Atletico Madrid (14th) are the other underdogs, having knocked out Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, respectively. Real Madrid now face Bayern Munich, while Atletico take on Barcelona, who thrashed Newcastle 8-3 on aggregate. The final quarter-final pits Arsenal against Sporting CP, a repeat of a dramatic 2022/23 Europa League clash won by the Portuguese side.
Expert Predictions on the Favourites
Mirror Football has gathered insights from six pundits, each offering their take on who might lift the trophy in Budapest.
Jamie Carragher, the CBS Sports pundit, has made a bold prediction for the entire knockout bracket. He foresees a final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal, a rematch of last season's semi-finals, but with a different outcome. Carragher believes PSG will overcome Bayern Munich in the semi-finals, stating, "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." He then backs Arsenal to beat Barcelona in the other semi-final and defeat PSG in the final, claiming, "That high line will cost Barcelona in the semi-final against Arsenal. 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, the former France star, is torn between Barcelona and Arsenal, while also highlighting Bayern Munich as a strong contender. After Barcelona's first-leg draw with Newcastle, he noted, "[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. But that balance sometimes that they don’t have make me turn a tiny bit more to Bayern and Arsenal." He praised Bayern's balance after their dominant performances against Atalanta, suggesting they could have the best shot at glory.
Micah Richards, the former England and Manchester City defender, is another who backs Arsenal. He argues that the Gunners' style suits the Champions League more than domestic games, saying, "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. 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 made this prediction in early March, before Arsenal's Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City, but remains optimistic about their European chances.
Paul Merson, a former Arsenal star, has cooled on the Gunners since their Carabao Cup final defeat. While not outright backing any team, he expresses doubts about Arsenal's ability to overcome Barcelona in a potential semi-final. He stated, "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. 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, the TNT Sports pundit, initially favoured his former club Bayern Munich but quickly switched his allegiance to Barcelona. He explained, "You know what, I’m going Barca. 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, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, believes his former club could surprise many. He said, "I think Bayern and Liverpool could be the ones people don’t think can get there, but they can. I would be pushed that way [PSG] as well, if they can get everyone on the pitch." Gerrard highlights Liverpool's resilience and PSG's potential as dark horses in the competition.
Conclusion: An Open Race for the Trophy
With the quarter-finals set to kick off, the Champions League remains wide open. Pundits are divided, with Arsenal receiving strong backing from Carragher and Richards, while others like Henry, Hargreaves, and Merson lean towards Barcelona or Bayern Munich. Liverpool and PSG are also in the mix, as noted by Gerrard. As the action resumes, football fans worldwide will be watching closely to see which team can navigate the knockout stages and claim European glory.
