by Marty Otto, team handicapper at www.sportsmemo.com  

Champions League is back in play today and while I contemplated the boys from Milan today at home, I had to go with what appears to be the stronger play: Liverpool to win +135. These two were in the same group during the group stage of the tournament and Liverpool took four points from two meetings (a 0-0 draw in Eindhoven and a 2-0 win at Anfield). But this Liverpool team is a completely different beast from the one that drew with PSV at Philips Stadion the first time around. The Reds are a great form right now and have played a strong brand of attacking football. Peter Crouch is fresh off a hat trick performance against Arsenal in league play, Steven Gerrard is back to his preferred role as a roving center-mid, and at the disposal of Rafa Benitez is the choice between Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt (both strikers in good form in the competition). Gerrard played just 18 minutes in the first meeting with the Dutch side and Crouch was left out, however they were pivotal in the second meeting scoring both goals. PSV is in a world of hurt without Alex in defense and with injury concerns to striker Kone' (you can't miss this guy on the field with the "platinum" colored hair). Don't let PSV supporters tell you they can survive without them, they can't. PSV will try to make this an ugly one and will no doubt throw nine or maybe even all ten field players in their own half in full out defend mode. It worked against Arsenal and they feel it will work against Liverpool. They are wrong, Liverpool can work the wings and swing balls into the box and with the 6'6'' Crouch there, the Reds will dominate in the air (whereas Arsenal is extremely poor in the air). Take the English to get the win here; it won't be pretty but who cares! Liverpool wins 1-0.