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Champions League

Can English Invaders Drink from the Champions League Chalice?



 England's best will achieve an unprecedented feat this week, as they take up four of the last eight spots in the Champions League. Achieving this level of dominance is a first for any country in the competition, and it leaves remarkable 1/3 odds of an English side winning the competition – and a very plausible chance (10/11) of an all-English final.

Wednesday night sees Arsenal and Liverpool battle it out in the long-awaited all-English quarter final. Arsenal at (11/10) go into the game as favourites against Liverpool at a general (12/5) and hope to score their third successive cup triumph over the Merseysiders.

Liverpool are however a different story in the Champions League: while Arsenal have enjoyed everything but European success over Arsene Wenger's reign, Liverpool have brushed over inconsistent Premiership form by raising their game in Europe, winning the trophy and ending beaten finalists within the last three years.

And history plays into Liverpool's hands: they have dumped out domestic rivals Chelsea twice in recent years, while Arsenal's last domestic duel in Europe saw the travelling west Londoners pip Wenger's side 2-1 in 2004. Arsenal are however unbeaten in 20 European home matches, and will be unwilling to relinquish their record to Rafa Benitez's side.

A repeat 3-1 victory to rival Arsenal's FA Cup triumph last year is 20/1, while a lively Liverpool performance could follow Chelsea's example and snatch the advantage, with 2-1 in their favour offered at a generous 14/1.

Chelsea (evens) meanwhile travel to Turkish tough cookies Fenerbahce (5/2) where the tournament's joint second favourites (7/2 with Barcelona) are expected to cement further English presence in the semi-finals.

In-form Frank Lampard will play his 50th match in the Champions League, but cannot match the long shadow of the Turkish team's Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos, who will make his 114th European appearance and is 25/1 to cap it with a rasping opener.

Victories all round for the English top three is 11/1, but the pride of Merseyside are likely to take issue with that.

All prices taken from Ladbrokes Football.