Vieira - Reds will win CL

But midfielder hopes Arsenal triumph in Moscow

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 13th March 2008

Vieira Patrick Inter v Liverpool

Vieira: Reds respect

Liverpool are the side the others will want to avoid now.

Patrick Vieira
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Patrick Vieira believes Liverpool will win this season's UEFA Champions League, but is desperate for his former club Arsenal to lift the trophy.

The Internazionale midfielder witnessed first hand Liverpool's European expertise on Tuesday as the Italian giants were dumped out of the last 16 of the competition 3-0 on aggregate following a 1-0 defeat at the Giuseppe Meazza.

Liverpool have reached two of the last three Champions League finals, including winning the competition in 2005, and Vieira believes that the Reds are again well placed to sample glory in Moscow on 21st May.

"Liverpool were tough opponents and they can go on and win it now," said Vieira. "They have done it before and they know exactly what it is about at this stage.

Experience

"They are in the last eight, so of course they have a great chance now but you also have to say they are the most experienced of all the sides left in the competition.

"They know how to get through these ties, as they showed against us, and they know how to win the cup. They are the side the others will want to avoid now."

However, Vieira - who left Arsenal in 2005 for a brief stay with Juventus before joining Inter the following year - is eager for his former club to win their first European Cup.

The Gunners, who suffered final defeat to Barcelona in 2006, earned rave reviews for knocking out holders Milan 2-0 at the San Siro to book their place in the quarter-finals and Vieira believes Arsene Wenger's young side will also be a force to be reckoned with.

Wonderful

"I hope Arsenal win it," Vieira added. "They have been waiting a long time to win this trophy and they deserve to win it.

"I watched them in the San Siro last week and they were incredible. It was a wonderful performance.

"They not only won, but they won brilliantly and with style and that counts a lot.

"In terms of quality they have an outstanding chance now and I really hope they do it."