Watch Everton vs Portsmouth Live Online - EPL Preview

A match-up between two clubs on course to record their highest ever points returns in the Premier League.

Everton are chasing a Champions League place. They are unbeaten in six in league and cup, and have won the last four.

FA Cup quarter-finalists Portsmouth are also pursuing European football, and have won their last three in all competitions.

Portsmouth have only taken Premier League points off Everton at Goodison once from a 0-1 victory on 10 September 2005, and that with the help of an own goal.

When Portsmouth and Everton met at Fratton Park in December it ended goalless, the first time these sides had drawn in nine Premier League clashes.

Honours are even in league meetings between these clubs.

Watch Bolton vs Liverpool Live Online - EPL Preview

Liverpool enter this round of matches just outside the top four, three points behind Everton; Bolton three points above the trap door.

The Merseysiders have won just two of their last eight league matches, and have drawn more times than any other club (11).

Bolton have lost their two and are in danger of tumbling to three on the bounce for the first time since the losing their opening trio of fixtures to the season.

Liverpool have won six away league games, as many as Bolton have mustered home and away.

This is Gary Megon's 25th game in charge of the Trotters; Liverpool are chasing a 75th Premier League victory under Rafa Benitez.

Wanderers have lost their last four North-West derbies; the Reds have lost one of the last nine, and that to Manchester United (0-1 at home on 16 December).

The Reebok Stadium was the scene of Benitez' first defeat as Liverpool manager on 29 August 2004.

Watch West Ham vs Chelsea Live Online - EPL Preview

This is the 17th London top-flight derby of the season between the two clubs whose Premier League games have yielded the lowest numbers of goals.

West Ham are comfortably encamped in the top half, seeking their first back-to-back victories in 21 Premier League outings.

Chelsea take the field for the first time since losing the Carling Cup final to Tottenham on Sunday, eager to extend their nine-match unbeaten league run that's left them six points behind the top two and nine points off the pace.

The now triple-chasing Blues have won three more away league games this term, than West Ham have managed at home (eight to five).

Chelsea are attempting to beat West Ham for the sixth successive time in the Premier League.

Watch Fulham vs Manchester United Live Online - EPL Preview

Triple chasing Manchester United now have a superior goal difference of +4 on Arsenal, therefore victory at Craven Cottage, coupled with defeat for the Gunners, home to Aston Villa, will see the Red Devils return to the summit.

Even three points will not be enough to see the relegation-haunted Cottagers out of the bottom three.

Fulham have won as many Premier League games at home as Manchester United have lost away (three), and conceded as many at home as United have scored on the road (23).

United are still looking for a first in London this season; they have drawn two and lost one of their three Premier League visits to the capital.

Fulham have won one of 27 meetings with Manchester United stretching back to 1965. The victory was at Old Trafford in 2003.

Watch Arsenal vs Aston Villa Live Online - EPL Preview

Arsenal look for the victory that will not only increase the longest current unbeaten run in the Premier League to 12 games, but also maintain the three-point cushion between themselves at the top of the table and second placed Manchester United.

Villa, just three points outside the top four, are hunting a 25th Premier League victory under Martin O'Neill, who will be 56 on match day. They are also on the longest continuous scoring run in the highest league of 22 matches.

Aston Villa were the first ever visitors for a Premier League fixture to the Emirates Stadium in August 2006. The game was drawn and Arsenal have lost only one of 33 since (against West Ham), and know victory over the Midlanders here will give them a fifth double of the season.

The Villans are yet to win in London this season. Two of their three visits were 4-4 draws (at Spurs and Chelsea). Defeat would be the clubs' 200th in Premier League history.

Arsenal are unbeaten in 18 Premier League matches against Villa. They have won 13 and drawn five since Villa prevailed by the odd goal in five at Villa Park on 13 December 1998.

Watch Barcelona Vs Valencia Live Online - Spanish Cup Preview

Barcelona are on fire at the moment and are unbeaten in their last 14 games since defeat to Real Madrid. Barca are only 2 points behind Madrid and are second in the league, have defeated Celtic 3-2 away from home and have virtually guaranteed their passage to the next stage of CL. So all in all they are in form now and have scored an average of 3,3 goals per game in their last 3 games in all competitions.

Rijkaard called up a mixture of young and experienced players for this game. Eto’o was superb in the weekend fixture against Levante, add Messi, Henry, Bojan, Deco & Co. and you will get a squad that a big number of leagues would fancy to have as a first team!

Proabable squad for this game is: Valdés, Pinto, Thuram, Puyol, Zambrotta, Edmílson, Abidal, Milito, Touré Yaya, Xavi, Iniesta, Deco, Messi, Henry, Bojan, Eto'o

Since Koeman took charge at Valencia they have been very average with few sparks here and there. Still a lot of work needs to be done to put together a wining team. Excluding Canizares, Albelda and Angulo didn’t help team’s morale too! Valencia have an average of 1,6 goals per game taking into account their last five, although interestingly they only scored 1 in their last 2. Carlos Marchena, (big blow to Valencia). Alexis Ruano, Fernando Morientes and Miguel Brito are all injured.

Probable squad: Hildebrand, Mora, Caneira, Lombán, Albiol, Helguera, Moretti, Sunny, Edu, Maduro, Baraja, Ever, Vicente, Joaquín, Mata, Arizmendi, Zigic, Silva, Villa.

Watch Fiorentina vs Livorno Live Online - Italian Serie A Preview

Fiorentina midfielder Massimo Gobbi insists that morale is high in the Viola camp ahead of their Tuscan derby with Livorno on Wednesday.

Fiorentina lost 1-0 to Roma at the weekend, losing fourth place to AC Milan as a result, but Gobbi insists that they have what it takes to claim a Champions League spot.

He told the club's official website: "We are playing frequently so there is some fatigue but there is still the serenity and determination to win every match.

"We matched Roma, as we did against Milan. We have spent a lot of energy but morale is high and we played really well despite the result.

"We came close to goal on a number of occasions and I think a draw would have been a fairer result. Now we must leave the defeat behind and think about Livorno.

"We are entering a crucial phase of the season and we will confront it with calm. Now we need to show determination and give our all in the championship and the UEFA Cup.''

A major blow for the Florence-based club is the news that star striker Adrian Mutu has been ruled out for up to a month having damaged a ligament in his left knee against the Giallorossi.

The Romanian forward, top scorer with 14 league goals this season, could miss up to eight games including Wednesday's derby and both legs of the Gigliati's UEFA Cup last-16 clash against Everton.

Franco Semioli looks set to be drafted in by coach Cesare Prandelli to fill in for Mutu. Giampaolo Pazzini and Mario Santana will complete the trident attack, as Christian Vieri is suspended.

Marco Donadel and Fabio Liverani could return to the midfield, replacing Martin Jorgensen and Riccardo Montolivo, whilst Dario Dainelli could come in for Per Kroldrup in defence.

Livorno are desperate to claim a result from the game with just a point separating the Labronici from the relegation places in Serie A.

Watch Catania Calcio vs AC Milan Live Online - Italian Serie A Preview

Carlo Ancelotti has added Kaka to his extensive injury list ahead of a potentially bruising encounter at under-pressure Catania Calcio on Wednesday night.

Kaka had an x-ray on Monday that revealed heavy bruising on his injured knee, inflamed after the 2-1 weekend win over Palermo, which keeps the Brazilian from travelling to Sicily.

Further tests will determine whether Kaka will be fit for the Champions League clash against Arsenal next week.

"Kaka's absence to us is as important as (Adrian) Mutu's is to Fiorentina,'' Ancelotti said.

"We think he can recover for Arsenal, but we will see over the next few days.''

Ancelotti does not envisage Kaka will be fit for Saturday's game against Lazio, and will also be without several other first-team regulars.

"(Kakha) Kaladze, (Andrea) Pirlo and (Marek) Jankulovski are tired and need some rest,'' the coach said.

Alessandro Nesta (thigh) also misses out but may recover for Saturday.

Ronaldo is a long-term injury in attack, however in his place Filippo Inzaghi stepped off the substitutes' bench against Palermo to strike an injury-time winner as AC Milan came from behind to win 2-1 and move up to fourth place in the table.

Watch Inter Milan vs Roma Live Online - Italian Serie A Preview

Roma coach Luca Spalletti has called on his side to prove they are the match of runaway league leaders Inter Milan in their Wednesday evening meeting.

Inter Milan lead is down to nine points after they recovered for a 1-1 draw at Sampdoria, whereas second-place Roma overcame Fiorentina 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.

"The match against Inter Milan can be described as the `match of truth,' because if we beat them we confirm we are the team that has caused them most hassle in the last two years, and we reduce the gap at the top of the championship,'' Spalletti said.

"If Inter win, it will become a problem to talk about attempts to come back.

"We must win to create problems for the supremacy of Inter.''

Inter Milan have only dropped points once at home this season, a 1-1 draw with Udinese on the opening day.

Their last defeat came at the hands of Roma, and a repeat would close the gap to six points with 13 games to play.

"It seems to me that up to now Roma have done brilliantly,'' Spalletti told Sky Italia.

"If Inter have created this gap it means they have been impeccable. I thought we would have arrived at this point in the championship without such a huge gap.

"However, it will not be easy for them to get back to the form they need to do well again. They are very strong in the physical sense, and in dead-ball situations. We have to find our path and that is to play the ball, and to control the game.''

Watch Barcelona vs Levante Live Online - La Liga Preview

Barcelona have the perfect opportunity to lump yet more pressure on Real Madrid here. The Catalan side has narrowed the gap at the top of La Liga from nine points to five and if the leaders don’t get the win against Getafe at the Bernabeu stadium Barca could go to bed on Sunday night trailing by just two points.

To get themselves warmed up for this match, Barcelona beat Celtic Glasgow by three goals to two at Celtic Park on Wednesday in the first leg of the knock out stage of the Champions league. The Scottish side was leading twice in the match but two goals from Leo Messi and a terrific effort from Thierry Henry all but sealed Celtic’s fate. They now have to travel to the Nou Camp next week and score at least two goals if they want any chance of going through.

The Champions league win was Barca’s thirteenth consecutive game in all competitions without a defeat and everything indicates that come Sunday this will be extended to fourteen. Levante really don’t have a hope in hell of getting anything from this match, and will be praying for a miracle before traveling to the Nou Camp.

Even though they have lost just once in the last five matches –eight points from a possible fifteen- they still find themselves very much at the bottom of the league and a whopping ten points from salvation. Their away form has been a disaster this season too. Of the eleven matches played away from their Ciutat de Valencia stadium, they can boast just one win and one draw. Not the kind of statistics anyone would like before visiting the Nou Camp.

Watch Real Madrid vs Getafe Live Online - La Liga Preview

Modest Getafe have been a thorn in the side of Real Madrid in recent meetings and they have the chance to be a nuisance again when they visit the leaders in the Primera Liga on Sunday.

Real coach Bernd Schuster's former club were the last team to take a point at the Bernabeu, when they drew 1-1 there last March, and were unlucky to lose by a solitary goal after having dominated in the Coliseum earlier this season.

However, they are in unfamiliar territory at present as one of only two Spanish clubs still alive in three competitions, the other being Barcelona.

They host AEK Athens in a UEFA Cup last 32 second leg on Thursday and next week face Racing Santander in the King's Cup semi-final first leg. They are 13th in the league.

'I don't know which game is more important,' Getafe coach Michael Laudrup said.

'Thursday's game is a decider, Sunday's is in a place any player would love to play and next week's Cup game has a return leg but is one step from a final. Whatever happens we always go out to win.'

Getafe are fortunate to be catching the champions at a time when one or two doubts are creeping into their minds following a run of three defeats from their last four games in all competitions.

The reverses have all been on their travels, the last a 2-1 loss to AS Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday, but at home they maintain a 100 per cent league record.

Schuster's squad is likely to be boosted by the return from injury of Brazilian forward Robinho, while Dutch winger Arjen Robben is finally starting to make his mark in the side.

Last weekend's surprise 2-1 defeat at Real Betis saw their lead at the top cut to five points, and any more slip-ups will be gratefully received in Barcelona.

Frank Rijkaard's side were lucky to overcome Real Zaragoza 2-1 away last week but return to the Nou Camp to take on basement club Levante on Sunday at a stadium where they have won all but one of their league games this season.

Barca beat Celtic 3-2 away in a Champions League-thriller on Wednesday and can count on Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o once again.

Watch Tottenham vs Chelsea Live Online - Carling Cup Final Preview

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard and defender John Terry could miss Sunday's Carling Cup final against Tottenham Hotspur, BBC Sport understands.

Both players were on the bench for Tuesday's clash with Olympiakos, with only 29-year-old Lampard taking to the field for the closing minutes.

"(Boss) Avram Grant would not confirm their participation," said BBC football correspondent Jonathan Legard.

"But I'm told the pair are set to be left out again."

Chelsea manager Grant had recently expressed his delight at the speed with which 27-year-old Terry had recovered from a broken foot sustained against Arsenal in December.

The Blues captain returned to play the full 90 minutes against Huddersfield in Saturday's 3-1 FA Cup fifth round victory.

Midfielder Lampard also played in Saturday's match, scoring twice to help his side ease into the quarter-finals.

Watch Newcastle vs Manchester United Live Online - EPL Soccer Preview

Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan is hoping his returning African players can help dent Manchester United's Barclays Premier League challenge.

The 57-year-old heads into his latest clash with old foe Sir Alex Ferguson at St James' Park tomorrow night still looking for his first victory since returning to Tyneside.

Indeed, the Magpies have won none of their last nine league games and find themselves hovering only just above the relegation zone and knowing they will be dragged into the battle for survival if they do not halt that trend soon.

Newcastle lost 6-0 at Old Trafford in between Sam Allardyce's departure and Keegan's arrival back in the north-east, and having seen United demolish Arsenal in the FA Cup last weekend and fight back to claim a Champions League draw in Lyon, know they will be in for just as stern a test this time around.

However, the new manager will hope the return of Habib Beye, Abdoulaye Faye, Geremi and Obafemi Martins from the African Nations Cup will provide his squad with a much-needed boost.

Martins is still nursing the ankle injury with which he returned from Nigeria's campaign in Ghana, but his colleagues will add depth to a squad which was left threadbare by their temporary departures.

Keegan said: "If you get four international players coming back into the squad, it is bound to make a difference.

Watch Liverpool vs Middlesbrough Live Online - EPL Soccer Preview

Liverpool may end a roller-coaster week back in the Barclays Premier League top four.

Having started with a humiliation at the hands of Barnsley in the FA Cup last Saturday, they responded by beating Inter Milan in a stunning Champions League triumph on Tuesday.

With current fourth-placed club Everton not playing until Monday at Manchester City, if Liverpool beat Middlesbrough at Anfield tomorrow they will go above their Merseyside rivals on goal difference.

They will have to do it without key defender Jamie Carragher, who is suspended after picking up a fifth booking of the season against Barnsley last weekend.

While manager Rafael Benitez has been under fire, so have a string of under-achieving players - one of whom is striker Dirk Kuyt - the Dutchman without a goal since mid-December before his effort in the defeat by Barnsley.

But he followed that up with a cracker against Inter Milan, with Steven Gerrard adding a second to give Liverpool a good chance of reaching the European quarter-finals.

Kuyt certainly understands the tensions of the current Liverpool situation.

"I think there is pressure on all of us, the players and the manager," he said.

"Everybody was expecting a lot from Liverpool this season, but unfortunately we have not played that well the last few months.

"But at least we have shown that we are a better team (against Inter) than last Saturday (against Barnsley)."

Kuyt knows, however, more progress is needed.

"We know we have to keep focused now - because we want to play many more good games, not only in the Champions League but also in the league," he added.

If Benitez is to continue to ease the pressure on himself he must steer a winning course through the tough and important fixtures still looming.

"If you can beat teams like Inter Milan and play well, it gives us a high level of confidence in the squad," he said.

Watch Birmingham City vs Arsenal Live Online - EPL Preview

Mathieu Flamini has urged Arsenal to forget about events of the past week and focus completely on continuing their Barclays Premier League title charge by putting Birmingham to the sword.

The Gunners resume their domestic campaign five points ahead of Manchester United, who are at Newcastle for the early evening kick-off.

Arsene Wenger was confident his young side would provide a reaction to their 4-0 FA Cup demolition at Old Trafford last Saturday - and he certainly got that against Champions League holders AC Milan in midweek, a determined display just lacking a goal.

Midfielder Flamini insists everyone will now swiftly turn their attentions to getting another victory at St Andrews to stay on course for the title.

"There was a little bit of pressure on us against Milan after the Manchester United game, but we like that," Flamini said.

"We are sorry for everyone, the fans, for that result, and we are disappointed we did not beat Milan - but now we have to focus on Saturday, when we play Birmingham, and we have to win that game."

Arsenal head into tomorrow's lunchtime kick-off without defender Kolo Toure, who suffered a calf injury just minutes into Wednesday night's game against Milan.

The Ivory Coast centre-half had only just returned from the African Nations Cup, but now looks set to be sidelined for at least two weeks.

Wenger revealed: "For me on Wednesday night, it looked like he would be out for two to four weeks. The way he was walking perhaps four - but now the medical staff said to me it would be closer to two than four."

While Toure could recover in time for the return leg of Arsenal's Champions League tie in the San Siro on March 4, Wenger maintains he will not be pushing Robin van Persie into a swift return.

The 24-year-old has been plagued by fitness problems all season, having opened the campaign in fine form.

Van Persie last appeared for the Gunners in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on January 9, but he was substituted at the interval.

Wenger has no intentions of rushing the Dutchman this time.

The Arsenal manager said: "Robin is not a very long away from being fit at all, but he lacks match-practice.

Watch Arsenal vs AC Milan Live Online - Champions League 2008 Preview

It is arguably the most eagerly awaited tie of the UEFA Champions League first knockout round: the 2006 runners-up against the reigning champions.

It is the first occasion these two famed continental campaigners, Arsenal FC and AC Milan, have faced each other on Europe's greatest club stage but the fourth successive season that Arsenal have taken on a former champion in the last 16. The English team will hope to do better than 12 months ago when they went out to PSV Eindhoven. After losing 1-0 in the Netherlands they could do no better than draw 1-1 in the return. Two years ago they took on Real Madrid CF, winning 1-0 away and drawing 0-0 at home while the previous season they found FC Bayern München too strong.

The Gunners' only previous meeting with Milan came in the 1994 UEFA Super Cup when the Italians triumphed, drawing 0-0 in London before winning 2-0 at home. Arsenal gained their place on that stage with a 1-0 victory against Italian side Parma FC in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final.

This season, in their tenth successive UEFA Champions League campaign, Arsène Wenger's side recorded a 100 per cent home record in Group H, winning 3-0 against Sevilla FC and 7-0 against SK Slavia Praha before defeating FC Steaua Bucureşti 2-1 on Matchday 6. The last result took them to 13 points from their six games – the same as Milan – but was not enough to earn first place in the section.

Nevertheless it extended the Gunners' sequence of unbeaten home games in the competition to 19, a run that includes qualifying rounds and spans both the old Highbury Stadium and their new home in Ashburton Grove. They last suffered home disappointment in the competition in the 2003/04 quarter-final second leg against Chelsea FC.

Arsenal will also be buoyed by the way they have responded to the Italian challenge in recent seasons. In the last five meetings they have proved the dominant force on aggregate.

They have played six home games against Italian teams in the UEFA Champions League, five in the group stages. The other, their most recent, was a quarter-final pairing with Juventus two seasons ago that proved another stepping stone on the way to their first final. After winning 2-0 at home they defended that advantage in a scoreless return leg.

Watch Manchester United vs Lyon Live Online- Champions League 2008 Preview

Manchester United FC were in France for the first leg of last season's UEFA Champions League first knockout round and 12 months later the draw for the same stage has sent them on a similar journey. For LOSC Lille Métropole, now read Olympique Lyonnais as Sir Alex Ferguson's team bid to go one better than last year's run to the semi-finals.


For the French champions this is the opportunity to make up for last year's disappointment when they bowed out of the competition at this stage, drawing 0-0 away to AS Roma then failing to build on that achievement at home as they foundered 2-0. The aggregate defeat bucked a trend: in the previous three seasons Lyon, winning the first match every time, had always managed to get through this round before meeting defeat at the quarter-final stage.

Alain Perrin's team began this season's competition by losing both their first two fixtures by 3-0 scorelines. The home defeat by Rangers FC on Matchday 2 put their qualifying hopes in grave danger but they proceeded to dig themselves out of a hole, winning their next home game against VfB Stuttgart 4-2 and drawing the other, 2-2 with FC Barcelona. With victories in both their last two away fixtures they took second place in Group E with ten points, four behind the Catalan club.

Lyon and United last met in the group stage of the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League when the English team had the better of things, drawing 2-2 at the Stade de Gerland before edging the home game 2-1. In the starting lineups for the game in France were Grégory Coupet, Cris, Juninho Pernambucano, Anthony Réveillère and Sidney Govou for Lyon and Wes Brown, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, John O'Shea and Mikaël Silvestre for United.

Watch Porto vs Schalke 04 Live Online - Champions League Preview 2008

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German international Heiko Westermann insists that FC Schalke 04 "are not just here to make up the numbers" as the Bundesliga outfit prepare to make their knockout stage debut against 2004 UEFA Champions League winners FC Porto.

"I'm very happy to have reached this stage of the competition but we're not satisfied yet," said the 24-year-old, one of three Schalke players to have played every minute of the Gelsenkirchen side's UEFA Champions League campaign to date. "There is lots of pressure on the team at the moment and we want to put the disappointment of Friday's loss to [VfL] Wolfsburg behind us by playing well against Porto."

Until the weekend they had been unbeaten since losing 1-0 at FC Energie Cottbus on 2 November, a run of eleven games in all competitions, but confident right-back Westermann believes there is still plenty of room for improvement. "We know what our mistakes have been of late and it's important that we don't fall behind against Porto," he said. "We want to prove to people that we're not just here to make up the numbers – we want to win and progress to the quarter-finals."

Watch Chelsea vs Olympiakos Live Online - Champions League Preview 2008

After progressing beyond the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in nine years, Olympiakos CFP will be looking to make home advantage count as they try to knock out Chelsea FC having never overcome English opponents over two legs.

Chelsea have had only one previous meeting with Greek opponents when in the 1970/71 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup first round they followed a 1-1 away draw with Aris Thessaloniki FC with a 5-1 home win. They have warm memories of Athens, however, beating Real Madrid CF after a replay in the 1971 final of the same competition.

Olympiakos have not faced an English team since 2004/05 when they met Liverpool FC in the UEFA Champions League group stage and then, having failed to progress, Newcastle United FC in the UEFA Cup Round of 16. In the home games they saw off Liverpool 1-0 but lost to Newcastle 3-1. In the away legs Olympiakos lost 4-0 at Newcastle having earlier gone down 3-1 at Anfield.

But, while the Greek side should acquit themselves quite well against one of Europe’s best, Chelsea should be able to progress. While they haven’t shown it on a regular basis this season (thanks to one thing or another, injuries, inconsistency, absences), their attack is pretty formidable, especially with Drogba and Kalou in form, and a healthy Lampard back in the lineup. Besides that, even without Terry, their defense has done an admirable job, and should be up to the task.

Watch AS Roma vs Real Madrid Live Online- Champions League 2008 Preview

On the 19th of February, the Champions League pits against each other two of the most emblematic teams in European football, in the shape of AS Roma vs Real Madrid.

In the last six meetings between the two clubs, Real Madrid have a clear upper hand: the Spanish colossus have won four, including the last two (3-0 away and 4-2 at home in 2004), and lost just the one, at home in 2002 by a margin of one goal to nil. Real have also had great success against Rome’s other big side, Lazio Roma – indeed, Real’s “defeat” column at the Stadio Olímpico is very bare indeed.

Depending on the severity on Pepe’s injury, Real Madrid’s defensive line will be adjusted accordingly. With the presence of the Portuguese monster, expect the Whites to line up with Heinze and Ramos as full-backs, leaving Cannavaro and Pepe as the central defensive tandem. Should Pepe be ruled out, a number of permutations are possible, with both Heinze and Ramos capable of moving inside to central defence, to be replaced by Marcelo and Miguel Torres respectively. Of the two potential displacements, I would imagine the latter to be more appealing in the first-leg, since Schuster will almost definitely favour a more defensive line-up, and Marcelo retains a certain inexperience that could prove costly.

I would expect Schuster to opt for Baptista instead of Guti in the centre of midfield, sacrificing the sulky Spaniard’s silken skills for the Beast’s combative qualities, especially since much of Roma’s strength is derived from their midfield generals Simone Perrotta and Daniele De Rossi, the latter being, in my opinion, one of the most underrated players in European football. Roma’s “first-eleven” is not particularly easy to guess, although the hub of Doni, Panucci, Cicinho, Mexes (another former Real Madrid target), De Rossi, Vucinic and Totti (if fit), can be expected to take part.

Watch Liverpool vs Inter Milan Live Online - Champions League 2008 Preview

Watch Liverpool vs Inter Milan Live Online: The last few seasons have seen Inter Milan take a strangehold over the rest of Italian football, as the Nerazzurri have won back to back Scudettos in the last two seasons, along with back to back Coppa Italia trophies in 2004-05 and 2005-06.

However, that same success hasn’t occurred in Europe. Inter Milan did win three UEFA Cups in the 1990s, and made a fourth final, but they haven’t reached a European Cup final since 1972 and haven’t lifted the trophy since 1965. In that time span, stadium sharers AC Milan have won six European Cups and made nine finals.

While Inter Milan are dominant domestically, it’s the complete opposite for Liverpool, who have excelled in Europe the last few years, becoming the champions of Europe in 2005 and finishing runner-up to AC Milan in last season’s competition.

At the same time though, Liverpool haven’t come close to adding to their record 18 English top-flight titles, and it doesn’t look like they will this season, as they are well behind table-toppers Manchester United and Arsenal with much of the season still to go.

If you want to go off of recent form, we should see the good Liverpool in the first leg. That means that, even if it doesn’t wind up showing on the score sheet (thanks to two quality defenses, with two quality keepers), we could and should be in for an enthralling tie at Anfield.

If it ends up being a 0-0 or 1-1 draw, I’ll be disappointed, but if Liverpool can somehow hold Inter Milan scoreless in the first leg, that will do wonders for their confidences, and their chances of progression.

But, Inter Milan consistency over the entire season, both at home and away, and conversely, Liverpool’s unpredictability, are why Roberto Mancini’s side should come out on top in this match.

However, you can never count Liverpool out of any tie. History has proved that one, multiple times (2005 Champions League final vs. AC Milan, anyone?). So, while the odds certainly don’t favor them, it won’t be an upset in the least if they’re able to dump Inter out.

Will they be able to make big things happen against another Italian giant? Or will it be Inter who move one step closer to breaking their long drought in the Champions League?

Watch Liverpool vs Barnsley Live Online - FA Cup Preview

Liverpool centre-back Martin Skrtel (calf) is out and Sami Hyypia may play, while Fabio Aurelio and Alvaro Arbeloa are available after injury.

Fernando Torres (hamstring) is fit but is set to be rested ahead of the Champions League tie at Inter Milan.

Barnsley's emergency goalkeeper signing Luke Steele will go straight into the side to replace the injured Heinz Muller and ineligible Tony Warner.

Lewin Nyatanga and Jon Macken are both out as they are cup-tied.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, whose team play Inter Milan on Tuesday:
"I need to consider both games.

"But I know it's important to progress in the FA Cup, so I will try to use a strong team.

"For Inter Fernando Torres will be OK, we will have to check before Barnsley."

Barnsley manager Simon Davey:
"This will be the pinnacle of some of the players' careers so far and they have to make sure they take the chance.

"I will be proud to lead the team out at Anfield but we are going there to try to win the game.

"We don't want the players to freeze and this opportunity to pass us by."

Watch Chelsea vs Huddersfield Live Online - FA Cup Preview

Chelsea captain and centre-back John Terry is back from the foot injury he suffered in the Premier League defeat to Arsenal on 16 December.

Striker Andriy Shevchenko (back) is a doubt and Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are back for Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Huddersfield captain Jon Worthington (hamstring) is rated 50/50 to play and will have a late fitness test.

Striker Luke Beckett (back) is also a doubt and Andy Booth may replace him.

Chelsea boss Avram Grant said that the tradition of the FA Cup in England is the best in the world, he have never seen a Cup that is so important to the supporter and so interesting to other countries. They have made their own preparations for every game, seen many videos and think they know about Huddersfield. Chelsea will play with a strong team.

Huddersfield boss Andy Ritchie said that it will be a great day and his players will enjoy it. He feels that it's something that doesn't happen week in, week out. They are all aware of the magic of the Cup and have already beaten Premier League opponents. Andy knows what Huddersfield are capable of and anything can happen in the FA Cup.

Watch Manchester United vs Arsenal Live Online - FA Cup Preview

Manchester United have Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra back after suspension.

Striker Louis Saha is available after a knee injury after but right-back Gary Neville and left-back Mikael Silvestre remain sidelined.

Arsenal defenders Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue are available after their Africa Cup of Nations stint.

But Theo Walcott (thigh), Gael Clichy (hamstring) and Bacary Sagna (personal reasons) are set to miss out, while Philippe Senderos (knee) is a doubt.

This outstanding match of the fifth round is Sir Alex Ferguson's 100th as manager of Manchester United.

The top two in the Premier League are also the most successful clubs in FA Cup history; United and Arsenal have won the world's oldest football knockout competition 21 times between them and have appeared in a combined 35 finals.

This is the 35th time Ferguson will have come up against his opposite number Arsene Wenger. Of the 34 previous encounters United have won 11, Arsenal 13. Eight of the 10 other games finished level and two were decided on penalty shoot-outs; United won the 2003 Community Shield, and Arsenal the 2005 FA Cup final.

Watch Sporting vs Basel Live Online - Uefa Cup Preview

Sporting Clube de Portugal will reach another European milestone as they host FC Basel 1893 with an eye on a place in the Round of 16.

• This game will be Sporting's 200th in UEFA club competition. The 1963/64 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winners started their European adventures with a 3-3 draw at home against Yugoslavian side JSD Partizan – now Serbia's FK Partizan – in the 1955/56 European Champion Clubs' Cup on 4 September 1955.

• Should Sporting triumph, it would be their 50th victory in 102 UEFA Cup games.

• Sporting coach Paulo Bento will be coming up against Swiss opposition for the first time since making his European debut as a player in CF Estrela da Amadora's 1990/91 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup tie against Neuchâtel Xamax FC.

• Both legs of that tie ended in 1-1 draws, and with extra time producing no further goals in Switzerland, a penalty shoot-out decided the game. Defensive midfielder Paulo Bento took his side's fourth spot kick and it proved to be the winner as two Xamax players missed either side of him to give Estrela a 4-3 shoot-out success.

• Sporting qualified for the Round of 32 after finishing third in UEFA Champions League Group F. Basel finished second in UEFA Cup Group D.

• The two sides have never met in UEFA club competition.

• Sporting have played six games against Swiss sides, winning two, drawing two and losing two. On Portuguese soil, they have won one, drawn one and lost one.

• Basel have never played a game against Portuguese opposition before.

• The Swiss team are unbeaten in four UEFA Cup away games this season, drawing two and winning two.

• Basel boast Portuguese talent in the form of winger Carlitos, who was born in Lisbon and played eleven league games for Sporting's local rivals SL Benfica between 2004 and 2007. The former GD Estoril Praia player spent time on loan with Vitória SC and Swiss side FC Sion before joining Basel in the summer.

Watch Rangers vs Panathinaikos Live Online - Uefa Cup Preview

Rangers FC will need little reminding of Panathinaikos FC's last visit to Ibrox as the Greek side return to Glasgow in the UEFA Cup Round of 32.

• The two sides met in the 2003/04 UEFA Champions League group stage. A late goal from Pantelis Konstantinidis earned Panathinaikos a 1-1 draw in Athens, following Emerson's opener for Rangers and the dismissal of Ioannis Goumas.

• Itzhak Shum's Panathinaikos then denied Rangers a UEFA Cup place in the second leg, recovering from going a goal down to Michael Mols' effort to win 3-1, with Raimondas Žutautas, Angelos Basinas and Michalis Konstantinou scoring at Ibrox.

• Goalkeeper Allan McGregor was an unused substitute in both those games for Alex McLeish's Rangers, while midfielder Chris Burke played in the second leg.

• Current Panathinaikos player Nasief Morris started both legs with defender Goumas coming on as a substitute in the first leg and starting in the second. Forward Dimitris Papadopoulos also came on as a substitute in the first leg.

• Panathinaikos left-back Panagiotis Fyssas, who spent two seasons in Scotland with Heart of Midlothian FC, also played in the first leg of that tie. He moved on to SL Benfica and then Hearts returning to Athens in the summer of 2007.

• In total, Rangers have played six games against Greek opposition, winning one, drawing two and losing three. They have won one of their three games against Greek sides at Ibrox but lost the remaining two.

• Their only games against Greek opposition under Walter Smith's management ended in a 2-0 defeat away and a 1-0 defeat at home against AEK Athens FC in the qualifying rounds of the 1994/95 UEFA Champions League.

• Having beaten Aberdeen FC 3-0 at home in this season's UEFA Cup group stage, Panathinaikos have now played three games against Scottish sides, winning two and drawing one, and triumphed on their only previous trip to Scotland.

• Panathinaikos have won two of their three away games in Europe this season.

• Rangers striker Jean-Claude Darcheville and Panathinaikos defender Joseph Enakarhire were team-mates at FC Girondins de Bordeaux in the 2006/07 season.

Watch RSC Anderlecht vs Girondins de Bordeaux Live Online - Uefa Cup Preview

RSC Anderlecht will be hoping history repeats itself as they host FC Girondins de Bordeaux in the first leg of their UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie.

• The two clubs met in the 2002/03 UEFA Cup third round, with Anderlecht winning 4-2 on aggregate. Nenad Jestrovic and Besnik Hasi scored as the Belgian side won 2-0 away in the first leg, and further goals from Aruna Dindane and Jestrovic put them 4-0 up on aggregate in Brussels before two late goals from Jean-Claude Darcheville restored some pride for the French side.

• Current Anderlecht players Daniel Zítka and Walter Baseggio took part in both legs of that tie while defender Olivier Deschacht was twice an unused substitute.

• Current Bordeaux goalkeeper Ulrich Ramé also played in both legs. Marc Planus played in the first leg and came on as a substitute in the second while fellow defender David Jemmali started in the second leg.

• Anderlecht have played 12 games against French opponents in total, winning five, drawing six and losing just one. They remain unbeaten at home against Ligue 1 sides, having won three and drawn three of their six ties in Brussels.

• Bordeaux's eight games against Belgian sides have produced five wins, two draws and a solitary defeat, against Anderlecht. However, they remain unbeaten on Belgian soil, with their four previous visits bringing two wins and two draws.

• Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc played twice against Belgian opposition in his long, illustrious playing career and both were international friendly games. He was involved in France's 2-0 away victory against their neighbours in March 1996 and appeared in a 1-0 win against Belgium in 1998, in the run up to winning the FIFA World Cup on home soil.

• Bordeaux have fielded some notable Belgian stars over the years, including playmaker Enzo Scifo and Patrick Vervoort, both of whom also played for Anderlecht. More recent Belgian stars at the Stade Chaban-Delmas include Marc Wilmots and goalkeeper Gilbert Bodart.

• Anderlecht have won only one of their last ten home games in European club competition.

• Bordeaux have won all three of their UEFA Cup away games this season.

• Anderlecht qualified for the Round of 32 by finishing third in Group G. Bordeaux finished top of Group H, and along with Everton FC were one of only two sides to win all of their group stage games.

Watch PSV Eindhoven vs Helsingborg Live Online - Uefa Cup Preview

Helsingborgs IF will be encouraged by results earlier in this season's UEFA Cup as they visit Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in the Round of 32.

• The Swedish club met a Dutch side for the first time in European competition in the first round of this season's UEFA Cup, losing 5-3 at SC Heerenveen but winning 5-1 at home to progress to the group stage.

• Henrik Larsson – who previously played in the Netherlands with Feyenoord – scored two goals in the first leg and one in the second, and said afterwards: "It was a fantastic display and we finally showed what we are capable of. We were much more compact than we have been previously this season and when we scored the fourth goal it felt as though victory was at hand. I've been a pro for a long time so I know what can happen but at four goals we virtually killed them off."

• The two sides have never met in UEFA club competition.

• PSV have played two games against Swedish opponents, losing to IFK Göteborg both home and away in the 1992/93 UEFA Champions League group stage.

•Helsingborg's English coach Stuart Baxter resigned at the end of the UEFA Cup group stage, with the club saying he felt he had taken them as far as he could. "I don't want to go into detail about why I have resigned," said Baxter. "I've done my very best and now I will have a chat with the players, and after that I will take a holiday with my family for the first time in ages. After that I don't know what will happen." He was subsequently named as the new coach of the Finland national team.

• Helsingborg sporting director Bo Nilsson has taken temporary charge of the club. He coached Helsingborg between 1987 and 1994, leading them into the top division in 1992 after 34 years in the lower tiers.

• Helsingborg received great news in the winter break with veteran striker Larsson and midfielder Andreas Jakobsson both agreeing to stay on at the club despite being due to retire.

• Larsson, 36, has agreed a new one-year contract, saying: "I took the decision because I feel motivated. If you don't have the motivation it's not worth continuing. I feel I can still deliver at the top level."

• Jakobsson, now 35, was due to become the player-coach of lower league Svalövs BK but has agreed to extend his deal to 21 February, the day of the second leg against PSV. He said: "I feel that I can still perform at the highest level and therefore I've decided to continue playing for Helsingborg."

• PSV goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes will celebrate his 27th birthday on 15 February.

Watch Marseille vs Spartak Moskva Live Online - Uefa Cup Preview

Olympique de Marseille will have fond memories of their last meeting with FC Spartak Moskva, unlike the Russian club's coach Stanislav Cherchesov.

• Marseille qualified for the Round of 32 after finishing third in UEFA Champions League Group A. Spartak finished second in UEFA Cup Group E.

• The two sides met in the 1990/91 European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-finals, with Marseille winning 5-2 on aggregate en route to a penalty shoot-out defeat against FK Crvena Zvezda in the final.

• Marseille won the first leg 3-1 in Moscow, with Abédi Pelé and Jean-Pierre Papin putting them 2-0 up by half-time. Igor Shalimov struck back for Spartak but Philippe Vercruysse restored the French side's advantage late on. Abédi Pelé and Basile Boli then scored for Marseille in the second leg with Aleksandr Mostovoi scoring a consolation goal for the then Soviet giants.

• Spartak coach Cherchesov will remember the tie well, having played in goal for his side in both legs.

• Cherchesov was also an unused substitute as France and Russia exchanged 3-2 wins in UEFA EURO 2000™ qualifying and was on the losing side as France beat Russia 3-1 in a 1993 friendly.

• Marseille have played seven games against Russian sides, winning four, drawing two and losing one. In France, they have won two of those games and lost one.

• Spartak have already come up against Ligue 1 opposition in this season's UEFA Cup, losing 2-1 at Toulouse FC in their final group stage game.

• The Russian club have played 17 games against French teams, winning just once, drawing four games and losing 12.

• Spartak's nine trips to France have brought one draw and eight defeats, with the 2-1 loss at Toulouse in their most recent European game representing their eighth successive defeat on French soil.

Watch Bremen vs Braga Live Online - Uefa Cup Preview

Werder Bremen's meeting with SC Braga in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 will see striker Hugo Almeida putting old allegiances to the test.

• Bremen forward Hugo Almeida could potentially be up against three former team-mates in his first game against opponents from his native Portugal since leaving FC Porto in 2006.

• He played alongside Carlos Fernandes, João Pinto and Zé Manuel during a loan spell at Boavista FC in the 2004/05 season.

• Bremen qualified for the Round of 32 after finishing third in UEFA Champions League Group C. Braga finished second in UEFA Cup Group F.

• The two sides have never met in UEFA club competition.

• Bremen have played two games against Portuguese opponents, meeting FC Porto in the group stage of the 1993/94 UEFA Champions League. They lost 3-2 in Portugal and 5-0 in the return fixture at the Weserstadion.

• Then coming to the end of his playing career as a defender with the club, Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf was an unused substitute in that ill-fated second leg. Schaaf is a famous one-club man having worked for Bremen in one position or another since signing up as an eleven-year-old on 1 July 1972.

• A 1-1 draw at home against FC Bayern München in the group stage of this season's UEFA Cup was Braga's third game against German opposition. They have drawn two of those games and lost the other, with the defeat coming at FC Schalke 04 in their only previous game on German soil.

• Braga have changed coach since the start of the group stage with Manuel Machado replacing Jorge Costa due to disappointing results in the Portuguese league.

• Braga had not won in three European games prior to their 2-0 win against FK Crvena Zvezda in their final group stage game.

Watch Zenit vs Villarreal Live Online - Uefa Cup Preview

Dick Advocaat will hope FC Zenit St. Petersburg's great home run will negate his poor record against Spanish sides as Villarreal CF come calling.

• Zenit's Dutch coach Advocaat has yet to lead a side to victory against Spanish opponents in seven previous attempts, starting when his Netherlands Under-18 side lost 3-2 at home against Spain back in 1993.

• In total, his record against Spanish sides reads played seven, drawn two and lost five. In the five games in which his side has been at home, he has earned one draw against Spanish opposition and four defeats.

• Zenit remain unbeaten in their last 21 home games in European competition since losing 3-0 against Bologna FC in the UEFA Cup first round in September 1999. Therefore, they have not lost a European home fixture since the turn of the century.

• Villarreal have won all three of their away games in the UEFA Cup this season, scoring twice in each game.

• Zenit, 2007 Russian champions, qualified for the Round of 32 by finishing third in Group A. Villarreal finished top of Group C.

• The two sides have never met in UEFA club competition.

• Zenit have played six games against Spanish opponents, winning one, drawing three and losing two. In their four home games against Spanish sides, they have won once and drawn three times.

• Villarreal have played four games against Russian opponents, winning two, drawing one and losing one. The draw and the defeat came in their two games on Russian soil.

• Villarreal's Uruguayan defender Diego Godín celebrates his 22nd birthday on 16 February.

• Zenit midfielder Vladislav Radimov has some experience of Spanish football having played for Real Zaragoza between 1996 and 2000 interrupted by a 22-game spell with FC Dinamo Moskva in 1999.

• Villarreal host the second leg in Spain on 21 February. The winners of this tie will meet the victors of the tie between Olympique de Marseille and FC Spartak Moskva in the Round of 16 on 6 and 12/13 March, playing the second leg at home.

Watch Galatasaray vs Leverkusen Live Online - Uefa Cup Preview

Karl-Heinz Feldkamp will be up against opposition from his native Germany as Galatasaray AS welcome Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Istanbul.

• Feldkamp, the 73-year-old former Rot-Weiss Oberhausen player, was in charge of SG Wattenscheid 09, DSC Arminia Bielefeld, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, BV Borussia Dortmund, Bayer 05 Uerdingen and Eintracht Frankfurt before spending a first spell at Galatasaray in 1992/93. This will be his first European game against a side from his home country.

• Galatasaray boast a number of players with experience of German football. Rigobert Song played at 1. FC Köln, while Lincoln starred for both Kaiserslautern and FC Schalke 04. Algeria defender Ismaël Bouzid also played for Kaiserslautern.

• A number of others were born in Germany to Turkish parents and started their careers there before heading for Istanbul including goalkeeper Aykut Erçetin, Baris Özbek, Serkan Çalik and Ümit Karan.

• Michael Skibbe led Leverkusen to a 2-1 home win against Beşiktaş JK in his only previous game against Turkish opposition in last season's UEFA Cup group stage. This will be his first competitive game on Turkish soil.

• Galatasaray qualified for the Round of 32 by finishing third in Group H. Leverkusen finished top of Group E.

• The two sides have never met in UEFA club competition.

• Galatasaray have played 19 games against German sides, winning five, drawing nine and losing five. At home, they have won two, drawn six and lost one. They are unbeaten, home and away, in their last four games against Bundesliga sides.

• Leverkusen have won all three of their previous games against Turkish sides, with their only previous game on Turkish soil ending in a 2-1 win against Fenerbahçe SK in the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League group stage as they went on to reach the final.

• Leverkusen won 5-0 at FC Zürich in their most recent UEFA Cup game, matching their biggest ever winning margin in an away game in European competition – a 6-1 win at Estonian side JK Tervis Pärnu in the 1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup.

• Leverkusen host the second leg at the BayArena on 21 February. The aggregate winners will meet the victors of the tie between FC Zürich and Hamburger SV in the Round of 16 on 6 and 12/13 March, playing the first leg at home.

• There is thus the possibility of an all-German Round of 16 tie between Leverkusen and Hamburg.

Watch AEK Athens vs Getafe Live Online - Uefa Cup Preview

AEK Athens FC will look to end a poor run against Spanish opposition as Michael Laudrup's Getafe CF visit in the UEFA Cup Round of 32.

• AEK have played 16 games against Spanish sides, winning two, drawing four and losing ten. At home they have won two, drawn two and lost four, although they are currently without a home win in their last six games against Spanish opposition.

• AEK have not won home or away against a Spanish side since beating Athletic Club Bilbao 1-0 at home in the first round of the 1988/89 UEFA Cup. Moreover, they have lost all five of their most recent games against Primera División sides.

• Getafe are meeting Greek opponents for the first time.

• AEK have won only one of their last five European home games.

• Getafe have won two of their three European away games to date.

• AEK qualified for the Round of 32 by finishing third in Group C. Getafe finished top of Group G.

• AEK dismissed Spanish coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer on Tuesday following defeats against Panionios GSS and Larissa FC which saw them drop from first place to third in the Greek Super League. He had been in charge since the summer of 2006. Former AEK player Nikolaos Kostenoglou will lead AEK against Getafe, saying: "I respected, I respect, and I will always respect Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, but the important thing right now is to lift team morale ahead of a crucial match."

• Michael Laudrup returns to Greece for the first time as a coach having scored once in six games against Greek sides as a player. He was in the Denmark side that won 2-0 against Greece at AEK's OACA Spyro Louis Stadium in a 1984 UEFA European Championship qualifier, and subsequently played both legs in Juventus' second round tie with Panathinaikos FC in the 1987/88 UEFA Cup, which saw the Greek side progress on away goals.

• His only goal against a Greek side came as Denmark beat the national team 7-1 in Copenhagen in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in 1989, and he was also in the side that beat Greece 2-1 at home in another World Cup qualifier in 1996 before drawing 0-0 on his most recent trip to Athens on 11 October 1997.

• The two sides have never met in UEFA club competition.

• Getafe midfielder Mario celebrates his 33rd birthday on 16 February.

• AEK defender Rodolfo Arruabarrena and Getafe goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri were team-mates at Argentinian side CA Boca Juniors between 1997 and 2000.

Watch Brann vs Everton Live Online - Uefa Cup Preview

SK Brann coach Mons Ivar Mjelde will be hoping to create some happier memories as he again takes on a team from Liverpool for his side's game against Everton FC.

• The two sides have never met in UEFA club competition.

• Brann have played four games against English sides, drawing one and losing three. They lost 11-0 on aggregate against Queen's Park Rangers FC in the 1976/77 UEFA Cup first round – with Stan Bowles scoring a hat-trick in both legs – and then drew 1-1 at home and lost 3-0 away against Everton's neighbours Liverpool FC in the 1996/97 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup quarter-finals.

• Geir Hasund, who scored the equaliser in that home game in Bergen, remains the only Brann player to have scored a goal against an English side.

• Brann coach Mjelde, then a forward, played in both legs of that tie against Liverpool.

• Mjelde also played in 0-0 and 1-1 draws against Chelsea FC in the 1994/95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup during his time at FK Austria Wien.

• Everton will be making their first competitive trip to Norway.

• Brann, 2007 Norwegian champions, have won only one of their three home games in the UEFA Cup this season, losing the other two.

• Everton have won all three of their UEFA Cup away games this season.

• Everton striker Andy Johnson celebrated his 27th birthday on 10 February.

• Two Brann players boast Premier League experience. Midfielder Eirik Bakke, 30, played for Leeds United AFC between 1999 and 2006, also spending time on loan with Aston Villa FC. Striker Azar Karadas, 26, spent the 2005/06 season on loan at Portsmouth FC.

• Brann qualified for the Round of 32 by finishing third in Group D. Everton finished top of Group A, and along with FC Girondins de Bordeaux were one of only two sides to win all their group stage games.

• Everton will host the second leg in Liverpool on 21 February. The aggregate winners will meet the victors of the tie between Rosenborg BK and ACF Fiorentina in the Round of 16 on 6 and 12/13 March, playing the second leg at home.

• There could thus potentially be an all-Norwegian Round of 16 tie, with Brann taking on Rosenborg.

Watch Arsenal vs Blackburn Live Online - EPL Preview

Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini hopes to shrug off a thigh injury.

Winger Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) could return but striker Robin van Persie (thigh) and defender Johan Djourou (groin) are still not match-fit.

Blackburn have Christopher Samba, David Dunn and Morten Gamst Pedersen banned, while Ryan Nelsen and Andre Ooijer (both hamstring) are doubts.

Aaron Mokoena could be available after Africa Cup of Nations duty and Steven Reid hopes to overcome a knee injury.

Arsenal returned to the top of the table after a two-week absence following victory at Manchester City last Saturday, but they could well find themselves back in second spot by the time this Monday night match kicks off.

The Gunners have won 11 league matches at the Emirates alone this season - that's more than Blackburn have mustered both home and away.

Watch Manchester United vs Manchester City Live Online - EPL Preview

Manchester United have striker Wayne Rooney and left-back Patrice Evra suspended, while forward Louis Saha (knee) is still injured.

Sir Alex Ferguson is considering giving 17-year-old striker Danny Welbeck his senior debut.

Manchester City's Benjani Mwaruwari is set to make his debut up front after a protracted move from Portsmouth.

Playmaker Elano and defender Vedran Corluka are suspended but Micah Richards is fit after a back injury.

Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson:
"I hope we win the game and put in a very good performance, and I think it goes hand in hand with the memory of the Munich disaster.

"I hope it is a motivation for the players, absolutely. It is a responsibility for them to do well on Sunday. It's a big day for the club.

"We have an excellent home record against City but one thing you have to remember is in a derby anything can happen."

Man City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson:
"I think Benjani will fit in very well. He's played up front by himself for Portsmouth many times, and I hope he can play on Sunday.

"He's a very good footballer. He's scored 12 goals in the league so far this season, which is a good record.

"When we had the opportunity to take him, I did not hesitate at all, my reaction was 'yes, let's take him'."

Watch Chelsea vs Liverpool Live Online - EPL Preview

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard (thigh) may return and centre-back Ricardo Carvalho is back after a ban.

Andriy Shevchenko (back) and John Terry (foot) are again out, while Mikel John Obi should be available after Africa Cup of Nations duty.

Liverpool will be without striker Fernando Torres (hamstring) along Andriy Voronin, Fabio Aurelio, Alvaro Arbeloa and Daniel Agger.

Xabi Alonso is suspended and Ryan Babel is a doubt with an ankle injury.

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Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Belletti, Carvalho, Ben-Haim, Alex, A Cole, Bridge, Ivanovic, Lampard, Makelele, Obi, J Cole, Wright-Phillips, Anelka, Pizarro, Malouda, Ballack, Sidwell.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Riise, Pennant, Mascherano, Gerrard, Babel, Benayoun, Kewell, Lucas, Crouch, Kuyt, Itandje.

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Chelsea boss Avram Grant on the Blues' long unbeaten home record:
"Any record is good. Most of the time it is very positive but sometimes it affects you because you are afraid to lose.

"I think it will be a difficult game. When the two clubs play against each other you always think about something from the past.

"Of course I don't have a problem with Liverpool, my only concern is that Chelsea will succeed."

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez:
"Dirk Kuyt will probably be involved. It will not be rotation now, but something I will have to do.

"I have no problems with Kuyt. He is a fantastic professional, a worker, so he does an important job for the team.

"There maybe is a problem with confidence, but if we create better chances he will score."

Watch Ivory Coast vs Egypt Live Online - African Cup of Nations 2008 Semifinals

Toure sustained the injury in the Elephants' second group game.

"It would astonish me if he played," Ivory Coast media officer Eric Kakou said.

Egypt striker Mohamed Zidan is a doubtful starter, having picked up an ankle injury before the quarter-final against Angola.

The raining champions have broke little sweat to get to the semi-final but still find themselves as underdogs against Ivory Coast.

"Ivory Coast are a strong team and we think it is going to be a tough and difficult match for both of us, because we know each other very well," coach Hassan Shehata said.

"We managed to beat them in the 2006 final and of course we would like to repeat that.

"I think now we are in good shape and we managed not to lose a game since the beginning of the tournament.

"The players are also determined to win because our target is to defend our title."