Liverpool will look to the Champions League as a chance to save a rather underwhelming season, and Wayne Rooney thinks they can go far.
In English football, no club has dominated Europe the way Liverpool has. The Reds love a Champions League night, especially one at Anfield.
The pedigree is real, but form this season suggests it might be a tall order for Arne Slot’s side to make it to the final in Budapest.
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Rooney doesn’t see that happening but he does have a high expectation. And he should. Liverpool are built for the Champions League.
Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott agree on Liverpool’s Champions League fate
There are six Premier League teams gone through to the last 16, a real indicator of the strength of this league.
Of those six, Walcott and Rooney both see just one team going further than Liverpool.
The United and Arsenal icons were posed that very question by Prime Video Sport, and their answers were as follows.
| Rooney | Team | Walcott |
| Final | Arsenal | Winners |
| Quarter-final | Chelsea | Round of 16 |
| Semi-final | Liverpool | Semi-final |
| Semi -final | Man City | Quarter-final |
| Round of 16 | Newcastle | Quarter-final |
| Round of 16 | Spurs | Round of 16 |
Both ex-players think Liverpool will make it to the last four — one of just two they agreed on.
Walcott going for Arsenal to win it all is no shock, but Rooney tipping them to go to the final is somewhat surprising given the Gunners’ track record — or lack thereof — in Europe.
Back to Liverpool, though. Their problems this season have not been against the Premier League’s best teams. Rather, it’s the bottom end of the table where they encounter issues.
We should expect one, or multiple all-English ties, and the Reds will fancy themselves against anyone.
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Their predictions would see the Champions League taking over the competition, especially Rooney, who thinks three of the semi-finalists will be teams from England.
First, Galatasaray or Atletico Madrid need dealing with. Steve Nicol thinks Atletico would beat Liverpool.
We’ll find out our next opponents on Friday.
- READ MORE: Victor Osimhen keen to avoid Liverpool’s Galatasaray ‘revenge’ in Champions League last-16
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