Liverpool v Manchester City
Liverpool v Manchester City

Champions League betting tips: Liverpool v Man City & Barcelona v Roma preview, predictions, tips and TV times


Paul Higham is backing goals in both Champions League games on Wednesday, with plenty of action in Liverpool v Manchester City but one-way traffic in Barcelona.

Champions League recommended bets

1pt Sadio Mane to score in 90 minutes of Liverpool v Man City at 3/1

1pt Messi & Suarez both to score in Barcelona v Roma at 6/4

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record.


Liverpool v Manchester City (1945 BST, BT Sport 2)

As far as blockbusters go this is right up there - two English sides going head-to-head for a place in the Champions League semi-finals, and there is likely to be goals galore.

The top two scorers in the Premier League; Liverpool have netted 75 times and City 88 during the campaign, while City have only suffered one league defeat all season - against Liverpool at Anfield in January.

This tie could hardly be set up better. The game is so big that Pep Guardiola has already said that he may pick a weakened side for the Manchester derby on Saturday - when City could clinch the title no less. Jurgen Klopp, whose side are already struggling with injuries, may follow suit against Everton as their respective derbies play second fiddle to this tie.

As mentioned, goals are on the menu, only Manchester United, West Brom and Porto (in a dead rubber) have stopped Liverpool finding the net at home, while City have only failed to score in three games, against Crystal Palace in the league and cup games against Wigan and Wolves.

That recipe sounds like it could add up to something similar to the 4-3 thriller in the league in January - and both sides and both managers only seem to know how to play one way. This is a two-legged tie though and perhaps the pace may dip after what is bound to be a furious opening.

Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp
Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp

Klopp's men will aim for a fast start to blow City away early. But Guardiola's men know they can score at any time, and even a defeat on Merseyside would not worry them too much ahead of next week's home leg, unless it was a serious deficit to make up.

In terms of injuries, Liverpool have lost defender Joel Matip for the season, while Adam Lallana looks unlikely feature, with only a small chance he will play again this season. Emre Can is struggling with a back injury and he'd be a big loss given his performance against City in January.

John Stones, Fabian Delph and Sergio Aguero have all been question marks for City but are all in contention to start, but Aymeric Laporte played well at left-back against Everton and would slot in if Delph fails to make it.

The usual suspects will all threaten to hit the target, but at the odds Sadio Mane presents the best betting opportunity - he scored against City in January at Anfield and he's been getting back to his dangerous best with seven goals in his last seven games including a hat-trick at Porto.

A fast start should also be a given, but as Liverpool come bursting out of the traps City will always be dangerous of passing through the on-rushing wall of Red. After an early slugfest both sides will perhaps then realise that there's another leg to play and a high-scoring draw could well be on the cards.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-2 Man City (Sky Bet odds: 11/1)

Best Bet: Sadio Mane to score in 90 minutes at 5/2

Alternative: Both teams to score in 1st half at 3/1


Barcelona v Roma (1945 BST, BT Sport 3)

Lionel Messi celebrated his 100th Champions League goal v Chelsea
Lionel Messi celebrated his 100th Champions League goal v Chelsea

Not often in a Champions League quarter-final would you see such a one-sided betting affair, but Barcelona are 1/7 to qualify from this tie and 1/4 to win the first leg in Spain.

The 11/4 favourites to win the competition have made the semi-finals just once in the last five seasons, but Ernesto Valverde's men are closing in on the La Liga title and are the shortest priced side to win in the last eight this week.

Looking at the respective records of the two teams you can see why - Barcelona have not lost a European game at the Nou Camp for five years and have kept a clean sheet in 11 of their last 13 games on home soil.

Goals have also been free-flowing, Barca have bagged three or more in ten of their last 13 Champions League games at home - and stuck six past Roma the last time the Italians played in Catalonia.

Three of the last five games between the two sides had three goals or more in them, and Roma's away record in the competition being pretty poor as a win at Qarabag last year is their only victory on the road in their last 14 Champions League matches.

Lionel Messi proved his worth by coming off the bench with Barcelona 2-0 down to help rescue a 2-2 draw against Sevilla at the weekend, and as always he'll be the man Roma have to stop to stand a chance - but all signs point to a comfortable home win.

Prediction: Barcelona 3-0 Roma (Sky Bet odds: 13/2)

Best Bet: Barcelona to win to nil at evens

Alternative: Messi and Suarez both to score at 6/4

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Odds correct as of 1500 BST 03/04/18

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