Chris Sutton believes Liverpool’s hopes of winning a seventh European Cup will come to an end when they take on in the last-16 of the .
The Reds take on holders Madrid in February, in a tie that sees the two come together once again after Liverpool lost May’s final in Paris.
Madrid await ’s men after the Reds finished second in their Champions League group.
That’s unlike the three other English representatives in the Champions League, with , Manchester City and Tottenham all set to face second-place finishers.
And Sutton believes that advantage will see the trio progress to the last-eight, unlike Liverpool.
‘Manchester City are favourites to win this tie, but anyone who says it is a foregone conclusion is doing a disservice to RB Leipzig. They are a talented team — one that beat City 2-1 in the Champions League group stages last season,’ said Sutton.
‘Head coach Marco Rose took over from Domenico Tedesco in September and has got them playing front-foot football, with French striker Christopher Nkunku their chief threat. Leipzig are very capable of doing damage if given the chance by City.
‘Tottenham are inconsistent but totally capable of winning this tie. Antonio Conte does not have the greatest Champions League record and Spurs only got out of their group by the skin of their teeth when they won in Marseille, but now they are here they need to embrace their chance against a threatening Milan team.
‘This tie brings back memories of 2011 — the infamous Gennaro Gattuso and Joe Jordan brawl. Conte will bring the aggression on the touchline this time around, I’m sure.
‘And it adds some spice that he previously managed Inter Milan for two seasons with great success. I’m predicting Tottenham go through but not without plenty of drama
‘What worries me about Chelsea is they do not seem to know what they are. They looked like a team without an identity in their 1-0 loss to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
‘Manager Graham Potter has used six different starting formations during his 12 games in charge — a true tinkerman. Maybe by February, he will have discovered his preferred team and tactics.
‘Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang only managed eight touches in his reunion with Arsenal and Potter needs to get him much more involved on his return to Dortmund. Though they have their problems, I’m backing Chelsea to win.’
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