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It’s that time again - Europe’s top teams battle it out in mid-week, putting aside their domestic concerns in the hunt for the big one. Liverpool face Debrecen, and an uncertain future as they slip to mid table following another poor home result at the weekend. Poor Rafa, did he do anything wrong? There were injuries yes, but I reckon he’s a tinkerer, constantly changing the line-ups and the players don’t get to settle as a unit. That could be a big mistake… Debrecen are a long 10/1 for teh win, naturally, and with those odds you’d have to expect a big Liverpool bounce back in this game, just for their own self-respect if nothing else.

Chelsea and Porto makes an interesting matchup, with the Blues looking red hot at the moment, let’s see if they can keep it up. And Man Utd need a result badly if they’re to keep some football prowess based in the North West. They seem to have lost there shape since Ronnie left, although of course they can still get a result on any day.

All the Champions League betting online now at Ladbrokes.com

It’s a golden opportunity for Chelsea to open up some daylight between themselves and their closest challengers. Will United cooperate? Ladbrokes odds are as follows:

There’s more than six points at stake on Sunday
A win for Chelsea will open up a five-point gap on United, a win for United will send them top of the table. United, however, will be without their first choice centre backs Ferdinand and Vidic. The press are shaking their heads at United’s struggle to adapt to a post-Ronaldo world and they haven’t won at Chelsea since April 2004, by far their longest win drought on their travels around the Premier League.

Chelsea have constructed an impregnable defence at home

* Since Stephen Hunt scored for Hull in the 28th minute on opening day, no one has scored against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in four league games, two Champions League games and two Carling Cup games. (Chelsea 1-0 is 7/1, Chelsea 2-0 is 8/1)

And they are scoring goals for fun

* Much has been made of Arsenal’s intense dedication to goalscoring this season, but Chelsea have only scored four fewer in the league (28 to 32).

Lampard reckons Drogba and Anelka are “the best in the world”

* Chelsea have had four come-from-behind league wins this season, so are not always first on the score sheet. Drogba is outscoring Anelka massively (9-3 in the league), but in seven league games in which Chelsea have scored first, each has opened the scoring twice.
(First scorer: Drogba is 5/1, Anelka is 7/1. Anytime scorer: Drogba is 6/4, Anelka is 9/4)

United have only a makeshift defence to cope with them

* In the absence of Ferdinand and Vidic, Wes Brown and Johnny Evans will stand in. They have played together just twice in the league this season, including United’s 1-0 defeat at Burnley.

But watch out! Even without Ronaldo, United are better than they were last year.

* At this stage last season United had fewer points (21, compared to their current 25), and had scored fewer goals (20 then, 23 now). They still went on to win the title.
(Man Utd 1-0 is 7/1, Man Utd 2-0 is 10/1)

Extra time
Darren Bent returns to White Hart Lane for the first time since joining Sunderland. He has scored the first goal six times this season and is 8/1 to do so against his former club. Wolves haven’t beaten Arsenal since 1979 and the Gunners are 16/1 to come away from Molineux with a 4-0 victory. Portsmouth travel to Blackburn and it’s 11/2 for these two relegation threatened clubs to scrape a 1-1 draw.

Get on now at Ladbrokes.com !