Champions League: It's gotta be Man U v Liverpool

There seems to be no escaping the Premiership these days. As one contemplates this week’s Champions League semi finals, the names Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool are front and centre yet again, and the fact that the first two clubs also face off in a potential title decider at the weekend only spices up the situation.

Of course, that can only be good news for Liverpool, who have no title aspirations and are just one point away from securing Champions League action next season. They’ll hope that the Chelsea’s league distractions weigh heavy when they visit Anfield on Tuesday.

Having beaten Chelsea at the same stage twice in the last three seasons, Liverpool will be confident of over-turning the London club yet again. It’s going to be tight again – both teams are strong defensively – yet I think Liverpool are a much stronger team than they were last year, especially in attack. Benitez knows his best team and best formation now and they’ve been in great form over the last two months.

Chelsea isn’t the most exciting team to watch yet they remain very solid and hard to beat, as their league position indicates, yet without Jose Mourinho they’re hardly the all-conquering machine of the last three seasons. They’ll also be without the “bionic” Essien in the first leg. He'll be greatly missed.

I think this will come down to the bench – Benitez v Grant – and my money will be on the Spaniard. If he could outsmart Mourinho twice, I think he can do likewise to Grant. The only twist this time is that the 2nd leg will be at Stamford Bridge, giving Chelsea a chance to right whatever goes wrong in the first leg. Liverpool will need a two-goal margin at Anfield to feel comfortable but I think they’ll beat Chelsea over two-legs and reach another final.

Man U remain favourites to win the whole thing, and Barcelona’s current form doesn’t suggest that an upset is in the offing. That near miss at Blackburn on Saturday would give Barca some hope though, as will the fact that Man U will have Chelsea on their mind when they visit the Nou Camp on Wednesday. It should be fascinating tie though, especially since Barca have Leo Messi back and Samuel Eto’o in fine scoring form. It’s not been a fine season for Rijkaard’s team but I hesitate to write off any team that includes midfielders like Xavi, Iniesta and Yaya Toure.

Nonetheless, Man U have been in flying form and they have the squad to overcome the stiffest of challenges. Ronaldo has been the key man, but match winners abound in this squad – Tevez, Hargreaves, Rooney, Scholes etc. – and I expect they’ll get past Barcelona, even if they fail to win at the Nou Camp.

So, I guess I’m sticking my neck out and plumping for a Man U v Liverpool final. We’ll see how the first legs go.