Skip to content

Charlie Nicholas predicts Liverpool, Man City, Tottenham results in Champions League

Generic Charlie Nicholas image 10/08/2016
Image: Charlie Nicholas previews Tuesday's Champions League action

Charlie Nicholas provides us with his predictions for Tuesday night's Champions League fixtures with three Premier League sides in action.

Manchester City and Tottenham will both be looking to build on positive opening results, having beaten Feyenoord and Borussia Dortmund respectively, while Liverpool will attempt to bounce back from drawing at home with Sevilla.

Gillette Soccer Special Pre-Match

Here is what Charlie is predicting for their second round of group games...

Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk

I can only see a continuation of good news for City. Shakhtar are a decent side and will be happy to sit in and play on the counter-attack, but I think that suits City with David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne so good at unpicking the lock.

Leroy Sane is in stunning form and they've got Raheem Sterling scoring as well now, so for me they are looking like the best attacking side around. Pep Guardiola has that Barcelona feel flowing through them.

David Silva in action during the UEFA Champions League Group F football match against Feyenoord
Image: Manchester City cruised to a 4-0 win at Feyenoord

The full-backs are asked to join in and, while we know Kyle Walker isn't a £50m player, Benjamin Mendy is a serious player and is looking like he's going to be worth every bit of his fee.

We know they're still vulnerable at the back with Crystal Palace hitting the post at 0-0 on Saturday, but are Shakhtar really going to be willing to come out and have a go?

Also See:

It says a lot about the edge that Pep has got that he came out and said they didn't actually play that well despite beating Palace 5-0 and I can see another night of free-flowing football.

Charlie predicts: 4-1 and Sergio Aguero to score first (22/1 with Sky Bet)

Spartak Moscow v Liverpool

This is a difficult one for Liverpool. Trying to work out their issues isn't so challenging and I imagine Jurgen Klopp will try to play a squeezing game to take the pressure off the defence.

Philippe Coutinho being back in the goals is a huge positive but they've got Sadio Mane to come back in, so you wonder whether that will mean a deeper role for the Brazil midfielder?

Philippe Coutinho vies with Gabriel Mercado during the UEFA Champions League Group E football match at Anfield
Image: Sevilla held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Anfield

I see they are odds-on with Sky Bet but, while they are good going forward, you can get at their midfield and their defence is in real trouble, so I'm going to take them on.

Simon Mignolet got them out of trouble against Leicester with his penalty save and, while Klopp isn't under pressure for his job, he is under pressure in terms of not addressing their issues.

The Sevilla result was a really bad one in the sense that they can't afford to lose at home and I think Spartak will treat this like an away game, look to expose Liverpool when they come forward, and I can see another troubling night.

Charlie predicts: 1-1 and Luiz Adriano to score first (40/1 with Sky Bet)

APOEL Nicosia v Tottenham

Away from home Tottenham are looking really strong. They've got their rhythm of last season when they're away from Wembley and they're in a positive position in their group after beating Dortmund.

Harry Kane has scored a couple more and Christian Eriksen also got a goal against West Ham, so there's a good feeling flowing through that forward line.

Tottenham players celebrate the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League Group H football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wem
Image: Tottenham recorded a 3-1 victory over Dortmund at Wembley

I saw people questioning Dele Alli's performance against West Ham but I think it was the same last season when him and Kane took a while to get going. His absence through suspension, along with Jan Vertonghen, is definitely a concern.

What they'll get here is a physical scrap. APOEL will be awkward to break down and well organised, so I think it could be a tight night for Spurs.

Charlie predicts: 1-2 and Toby Alderweireld to score first (115/1 with Sky Bet)

Tuesday's Super 6
Tuesday's Super 6

There's £250k up for grabs in this Tuesday's Super 6. Enter your predictions for free here.

Around Sky