Liverpool & Man United win big in Champions League draw

THREE of the six British teams in the UEFA Champions League will be delighted with their draws for the group stage.

Thursday’s big reveal was especially kind to Manchester United and Liverpool, despite the fact they were the lowest qualifiers from the English Premier League.

United, who earned their spot by winning the Europa League last season, are short-priced -227.27 favourites at Sportsbet.com.au to top Group A ahead of Benfica, Basel and CSKA Moscow.

That said, Devils fans have less than pleasant memories of the last time they faced both Basel and Benfica in the group stage.

The last time Manchester United were in a Champions League group with Benfica and Basel… ❌ pic.twitter.com/T77oR0a34d

— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 24, 2017

Having dispatched Hoffenheim in qualifying, the Reds of Merseyside are paying -142.86 to finish above Sevilla, Spartak Moscow and Slovenian minnows Maribor in Group E.

In Group F, only Napoli (+169) pose a serious threat to Manchester City’s -149.25 chances of winning the pool.

EPL champions Chelsea (+103) will be less pleased with a group that also features recent finalists Atletico Madrid (+142) and the potentially dangerous Roma (+460).

Tottenham Hotspur could only dream of such a sweet ride.

Spurs are the +500 outsiders in a group featuring 12-time European Cup winners Real Madrid (-270.27) and Germany’s Borussia Dortmund (+420).

Tottenham fans knowing they got put in a Champions League group with Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. pic.twitter.com/OEUdN9WaQm

— Football Trolls (@Footballltrolls) August 25, 2017

But spare a thought for poor old Celtic.

So often caught on the rough end of the draw, the Scottish champs will have to boot out one of Bayern Munich or moneybags Paris Saint-Germain to reach the knockout rounds for the first time in five years.

The Hoops, who drew Barca and Man City last year, are +4500 long shots to snatch top spot.

Group A

• Man United (-227.27)
• Benfica (+300)
• CSKA Moscow (+780)
• Benfica (+1650)

Group B

• Bayern Munich (-125)
• Paris Saint-Germain (+103)
• Anderlecht (+3300)
• Celtic (+4500)

Group C

• Chelsea (+103)
• Atletico Madrid (+142)
• Roma (+460)
• Qarabag (+5100)

Group D

• Barcelona (-161.29)
• Juventus (+129)
• Sporting Lisbon (+5100)
• Olympiakos (+5100)

Group E

• Liverpool (-142.86)
• Sevilla (+169)
• Spartak Moscow (+640)
• Maribor (+6300)

Group F

• Man City (-149.25)
• Napoli (+169)
• Shakhtar Donetsk (+1125)
• Feyenoord (+1875)

Group G

• Monaco (+151)
• Red Bull Leipzig (+250)
• Porto (+276)
• Besiktas (+500)

Group H

• Real Madrid (-270.27)
• Borussia Dortmund (+420)
• Tottenham (+500)
• APOEL Nicosia (+29000)

Markets courtesy of Sportsbet

Real Madrid on course for three in a row

There are no surprises at the upper end of the Champions League outright market at online bookmaker WilliamHill.com.

Back-to-back champions Real Madrid are the obvious +400 favourites as they hunt an unprecedented hat-trick.

No team in the Champions League era (since 1992) has ever won the title three years in a row.

Likely types Barca, Bayern and PSG share the second line of betting at +650 odds.

There is daylight between that trio and Man City at +1000 – the best of the English hopes.

Man United (+1200) are close behind, while Chelsea and 2017 finalists Juve share a +1400 quote.

Atletico (--100), Liverpool (+2200) and Napoli (+2500) round out the sneaky chances.

UEFA Champions League outright odds

+400 – Real Madrid

+650 – Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain

+1000 – Man City

+1200 – Man United

+1400 – Chelsea, Juventus

+2000 – Atletico Madrid

+2200 – Liverpool

+2500 – Napoli

+4000 – Tottenham

+5000 – Borussia Dortmund, Monaco

+6600 – Porto, Sevilla

+8000 – Red Bull Leipzig

+10000 – CSKA Moscow, Roma

+15000 – Benfica, Besiktas, Olympiakos, Shakhtar Donetsk

+20000 – Basel, Feyenoord

+30000 – Celtic, Sporting Lisbon

+50000 – Anderlecht, Qarabag

+75000 – APOEL Nicosia

(Not quoted: Maribor, Spartak Moscow)

Market courtesy of William Hill