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Liverpool travel to Benfica and Fulham host Wolfsburg in the Europa League Quarter Finals with English interest with both games live on TV.
Liverpool are Ladbrokes’ 4/1 favourites to be crowned Europa League champions following their victory over Lille a couple of weeks ago but as the tournament reaches the last eight, Rafa Benitez’s men face their toughest test so far, against Benfica, one of the strongest teams left in the running.
The Portuguese outfit defeated the Reds’ neighbours Everton twice earlier in the season, albeit before the Toffees’ dramatic improvement and when in full flow, they can be a slick, clinical outfit.
Liverpool, at 8/13 with 888Sport, are fancied to progress to the semi-final stage at the expense of Jorge Jesus’ men, who are 11/8 (William Hill) for more joy against Merseyside opposition.
The first leg takes place in Benfica’s Estadio da Luz and it’s the hosts that are narrow favourites at 6/4 with bet365 while a Liverpool triumph is on offer with Betfred at 2/1. However, with the home leg still to come, Benitez would probably settle for a draw, a result Totesport at 23/10, especially if his side can get on the scoresheet.
Victor Chandler‘s 11/2 for it to finish one apiece in the Portuguese capital is worth considering in the correct score betting then and with Fernando Torres back in form, having struck seven goals in his last four games, he catches the eye at 7/5 (Paddy Power) to find the net.
Fulham face Wolfsburg at Craven Cottage and after their stunning 4-1 win over Juventus there in the last round, it would be unwise to oppose Roy Hodgson’s men, who are Jaxx.com’s 6/5 favourites to head to Germany in possession of a lead.
The worry for the Cottagers however, in terms of qualification, is their defence, which has shipped 14 goals in six games across all competitions and subsequently both teams should find the net in the first leg (9/10, Partybets). This could hand the advantage in terms of qualification to the visitors; who are 4/5 (Betdaq) to ultimately get through.
In the two other ties, Standard Liege have perhaps been underestimated as they head to Hamburg. The talented Belgian outfit are 11/5 (bet365) to progress, a price that could look huge if they manage to glean a decent result from the away leg. Valencia meanwhile are 4/6 (Ladbrokes) to book a place in the semis at the expense of Atletico Madrid in an all-Spanish affair.
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