Premier League

Carragher, Richards predict Champions League winner as ‘outsiders’ are tipped to lift the trophy

Carragher and Richards predictions

Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards have revealed who they think will win this season’s Champions League, with one pundit going for Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola will no doubt be desperate to help Man City lift the Champions League this season. This is one trophy that has evaded the Premier League holders during the Spaniard’s time in charge.

City came close to winning the tournament in 2020/21 as they reached the final only to be beaten 1-0 by Premier League rivals Chelsea in the final.

Last season, Real Madrid mounted a remarkable late comeback with two last-gasp goals from Rodrygo and Karim Benzema’s extra-time winner to knock Man City out of the semi-finals with a 6-5 aggregate victory.

City breezed through the group stage of this year’s competition and they will face Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in the last-16. The first leg takes place next week.

The Premier League outfit are arguably the favourites to win this year’s competition but they could face competition from Serie A leaders Napoli, who are on for a remarkable season.

The Italian outfit finished ahead of Liverpool to top their group and Richards had admitted that Napoli “stand out” to him.

“I think Napoli. Napoli with their form have been brilliant,” Richards said.

“In terms of stand-out favourites, it’s difficult. You just think at the end of the season, teams are going to get better but on form I think Napoli.

“They really stand out to me. If I was a betting man and I was putting money on right now in terms of form, I would pick Napoli because when I watch them, they’re dynamic, they defend well, they attack well. But over the course of the season, teams are going to be in form, they might lose a bit of form but right now I’d say Napoli yes.”

Carragher added: “Yeah I think Napoli right now are the form team.

“I would love to see them win it, an outsider behind the big teams you expect to win it. But I think this could be the season of Manchester City.”

This is while Arsenal legend Thierry Henry does not feel that there is a “clear favourite” to win this year’s Champions League.

“For the first time, I don’t see a clear favourite,” Henry admitted.

“At the end, we always know the big guns are always in the final or one of the big guns wins it. It is open but still you have to knock those guys out for me.”

The last-16 stage got going on Tuesday night as AC Milan edged out Tottenham to win 1-0. In the other fixture, Kingsley Coman scored…

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