Liverpool started their continental campaign on a winning note, edging Ajax 1-0 in Amsterdam on Wednesday as the Reds got group play underway without star Virgil van Dijk.
A lamentable Nicolas Tagliafico own goal in the first half was enough for Jurgen Klopp’s charges to secure the narrow result in Champions League Group D play. The match was Liverpool’s first since Van Dijk suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury in the derby draw versus Everton.
The Reds now sit joint-top of the quartet, behind Atalanta on goal difference after the Italian side marked their second foray in the tournament with a trademark 4-0 thumping of FC Midtjylland.
Manchester United returned to the site of their most recent famous Champions League soiree, and again, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s charges snatched a victory against favored hosts Paris Saint-Germain.
Bruno Fernandes converted from the penalty spot midway through the first half before Marcus Rashford’s stunning 87th-minute strike secured the 2-1 win. Anthony Martial’s own goal in the second half had brought PSG level.
United last played at the Parc des Princes in March 2019 when the Red Devils shocked PSG with a dramatic 3-1 second-leg result that eliminated the French side at the last 16 stage. Rashford scored a 94th-minute penalty to ensure United’s progression on that day.
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The Champions League belatedly gets underway on Tuesday with Bayern Munich the betting favorites to retain the title.
This group stage will be like none we’ve ever seen before. Beginning a month later than usual as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic with each team slated to play all six group matches in a 51-day span. While the crammed schedule makes for terrific viewing for fans, it will test the depth of the participating clubs as they look to balance the competition with their domestic duties.
Here’s how the Champions League oddsboard looks before the start of the group stage:
Team
Odds
Bayern Munich
+400
Manchester City
+450
Liverpool
+600
PSG
+700
Real Madrid
+800
Barcelona
+1000
Juventus
+1200
Chelsea
+1800
Manchester United
+2000
Atletico Madrid
+2500
Borussia Dortmund
+3000
Atalanta
+3300
Inter
+3500
Sevilla
+5000
RB Leipzig
+6000
Lazio
+7000
Ajax
+8000
Field
+8000
Borussia Monchengladbach
+10000
Porto
+15000
Marseille
+25000
Zenit
+25000
Benfica
+30000
Red Bull Salzburg
+30000
Shakhtar Donetsk
+30000
Lokomotiv Moscow
+40000
Buy
Manchester United (+2000)
The Red Devils can field one of the world’s best midfields on any given night, and with an abundance of attacking options there are no shortage of goals in the side. There are questions about both the manager and the centre-backs, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might not have a lot of time left on the job and a new boss could help solve those defensive issues. If Manchester United can sort themselves out at the back, the rest of the pieces are in place for the club to return to its past glory.
Borussia Dortmund (+3000)
It feels like stealing, getting a top-five club in Europe at the 11th-shortest price. Dortmund were just narrowly beaten out by eventual finalists PSG in last season’s competition, and they return the entirety of one of the world’s most lethal attacks after holding onto Erling Haland and Jadon Sancho in the transfer window.
The signings of Emre Can and Thomas Meunier provide more invaluable Champions League pedigree to the side, while Jude Bellingham’s arrival strengthens the club in midfield. There’s not a weak spot in Dortmund’s starting XI, who possess both the depth and experience needed to make a deep run in the competition.
Red Bull Salzburg (+30000)
Admittedly a long shot, now is the time to buy Salzburg as their odds will only get shorter. The Austrian outfit got their feet wet in their foray into Champions League football last season, and are now poised and full of belief as they get set to take on Europe’s top clubs once again.
This is a side that went to Anfield last season and was unlucky to lose 4-3, while their recent European resume includes wins over Napoli, RB Leipzig, Dortmund, Marseille, and Lazio. Armed with a plethora of bright attacking talent – headlined by Patson Daka and Dominik Szoboszlai – Jesse Marsch’s side is capable of making some real noise in the competition.
Sell
Bayern Munich (+400)
Looking to defend their crown, Bayern have a Thiago-shaped hole in midfield. There’s still plenty of evidence to suggest the Bavarians are the club to beat in this competition, and with Leroy Sane joining the attack, they can outscore just about anyone, but at such a short price I’d rather pass in a wide-open field.
Liverpool (+600)
Losing Virgil van Dijk for eight months is a crippling blow to Liverpool’s hopes of winning the competition for a second time in three seasons. As dynamic as the Reds are on the front foot, a centre-back pairing of Joe Gomez and Joel Matip just isn’t going to cut it at this level. There’s little else behind the duo, either, as defensive depth could prove a real issue until Jurgen Klopp can address it in the January transfer window.
Barcelona (+1000)
A club of Barcelona’s stature is always going to garner attention in the futures market, but this is not the time to invest. The club is very much in transition following a tumultuous period, and while they’re on the right track with Ronald Koeman in charge, it will take another couple of transfer windows before the Blaugrana are ready to compete again at the highest level.
(Odds source: theScore Bet)
Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk will undergo surgery on his right knee to repair ligaments damaged during Saturday’s Merseyside derby, the club announced Sunday.
The Reds did not provide a timeline for his return.
“Following surgery, Van Dijk will begin a rehabilitation program with the club’s medical team to enable him to reach full fitness as soon as possible,” read a statement from the Reds.
Though Liverpool revealed few specifics about the ailment, James Pearce of The Athletic reports that Van Dijk injured his ACL and could miss the remainder of the season.
The Dutch center-back was injured early in the 2-2 draw against Everton when he was on the receiving end of a reckless challenge from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who escaped the incident without punishment after Van Dijk was ruled offside on the play.
“It was a clear penalty I saw and then we saw the flag went up. I thought they would still look at the foul but that didn’t happen,” manager Jurgen Klopp said of the VAR after the match, according to BBC. “I don’t want to say Jordan Pickford wanted to do it, but it is not a challenge how a goalie can do in the box.”
Van Dijk’s absence will likely force Klopp to rely on Joe Gomez and Joel Matip in central defense for large stretches of the season. Brazilian midfielder Fabinho, who has lined up as part of the backline before, may see some time at center-back as well.
The injury also puts Van Dijk’s availability for Euro 2020 – scheduled to begin in June of next year – in doubt, dealing a potentially massive blow to the Netherlands’ hopes of making a deep tournament run.
