As opposed to the previous time these two behemoths of European football had met, in a European final which was one of the dullest, achingly-slow elite matches you could wish to suffer, that 2009 Champions League tie was jam-packed full of daring, energy, power and unfettered attacking.

The 1984 European Cup final was one of the ultimate lessons in the means justifying the end.

Mixing the velvet glove with the iron fist

When I was writing my book about the ‘Inside Story of La Roja’s Historic Treble’ I phoned Graeme Souness to talk about the role and skills of Madrid’s talented, creative central midfielder that day in Paris: one Vicente del Bosque.

He told me: “I looked back at that final a couple of months ago because Jamie Redknapp rang me to tell me it was on television. I realised, watching it after such a long time, that for players like del Bosque in Madrid’s midfield Liverpool must have been a nightmare to play against because we were already putting into practice many of the things which are in vogue now: pressing all over the pitch, full-backs pushed high up their touchline so that I stayed sitting in front of the two centre-backs protecting them. I see much of that as central to the success of Barcelona and Spain nowadays.”

At the time Graeme didn’t mention the modern Madrid, but he could have done.

In 1981 the club didn’t learn from Liverpool’s brand of football, didn’t understand that mixing the velvet glove with the iron fist was something which would still function as well in 2014 as it did when Bucksfizz were winning the Eurovision Song Contest.

In 2009 they did learn.

If you recall the Anfield ambush, Madrid were not only hammered 4-0, they couldn’t compete.

They couldn’t keep up mentally or physically: with each passing quarter of an hour the self-belief and stamina diminished to the point that the Reds, inspired and led by one of the great Stevie Gerrard performances, were shooting fish in a barrel.

If you are able to go back and luxuriate in the images, or if, as a Koppite, they are still seared on the brain, then just call up the bewildered looks on the faces of Raul, Heinze and Gago as they thought only about ‘what just happened?’, ‘how soon can this be over?’

• Betting: Will it be Real revenge for the Anfield Ambush?

Stevie wonder

I’ve spoken to Liverpool players from that night and their verdict is unanimous. They knew, in advance, that they’d be able to out-sprint, out-last, out-jump and out-muscle Madrid – the out-playing would follow as a natural consequence.

They already knew that Raul was no longer a real threat when the contest was hi-energy, that he epitomized the ‘faded greatness’ of the Madrid era.

The great difference in the ‘lessons’ which were nearly three decades apart is that Madrid assimilated and applied the latter one.
A strategy was adopted.

They wanted Jose Mourinho even then – Florentino Perez wanted to Liverpool-ise, or better still, to Chelsea-ise Madrid.

They wanted to modernize. To blend technique with intensity, power with pace, creativity with coruscating energy.

The coach that night was Juande Ramos who’d achieved just those things with Sevilla, who’d regularly put Madrid through the wringer using players like Luis Fabiano, Freddie Kanouté, Seydou Keita, Ivica Dragutinovic, Julio Baptista, and the late Antonio Puerta. Their 3-5 win at the Bernabéu in the Supercopa was the template. Power, height but oodles of technique.

Juande Ramos didn’t work out at Madrid but Sevilla, Chelsea and now Liverpool had shown the men in grey suits that they were gonna have to use some grey matter. To catch up.

Heinze and Cannavaro out. Raúl directly after.

Sequentially: Alonso, Arbeloa (both alumni of the Anfield ambush), Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Garay, Angel di Maria in.

Strength in numbers

You see the pattern? You see the influence? Height, power, grit, Premier League experience, intensity – all of them tick some or all of those boxes.

Then, one year later, Mourinho. Now Bale.

Height, power, stamina, aggression but, in due course, more weights in training, more gym work, faster paced, more direct football. The Spanish title, three straight Champions League semi finals and then, in Lisbon, La Decima.

There’s a line of cultural change which can be traced from Anfield in 2009 until now.

Painful and humiliating though the experience was.

A brand of thinking at the Bernabeu, particularly around their Valdebebas training centre, that the powerful mix of Spanish craft, technique and strategy when blended with the power, height, pace, commitment, stamina and directness of the Premier League was not only the way forward generally but a means of waging football ‘war’ on the prettier, possession based football at Barcelona.

‘Madrid have it all’

Without pre-judging the result, the master-pupil roles have been reversed from 2009 until now.

Liverpool are patently in the process of trying to reestablish some of the Spanish football credo which they had in their very best years – brilliant, quick passing above all.

But Brendan Rodgers unsurprisingly told Guillem Balaque for AS newspaper this week: “Right now Madrid is a team which can perform at a high level the like of which I’ve not seen in years. They have it all. Great players, speed, technique, fantastic team spirit, experience and a marvellous coach. They play well in tight spaces and if you leave them big spaces on the pitch there’s no team in the world better at exploiting them. My view is that when you mix the technique of the Spanish and or Dutch with the British spirit then it’s very very hard to beat.”

But, to business. To play the first of the two games at Anfield is an advantage. To play Madrid when Bale is out, Ramos is out, Benzema and Varane are both just back from illness and Casillas is searching for confidence and match sharpness – all of this is helpful.

So is the fact that the Clásico is on the horizon.

Form, talent and impetus still suggests that between Ronaldo, James Rodríguez, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos the European Champions can score and return home without losing, quite likely win.

Sterling: the jewel in Liverpool’s crown

However, Martin Skrtel recently organised Slovakia to shock and humiliate Spain, his and Balotelli’s aerial ability directly correlate with the weakest point in Madrid’s armoury.

And then there’s Raheem Sterling.

The jewel in Liverpool’s crown.

I will put a wager of a nice bottle of wine that within a season or two Real Madrid will, literally, not be able to resist his particular charms.

He has everything that the Spanish club adore… and more. And, for the moment, the best thing he can do is torment Marcelo and get that ball into the middle.

No matter how anglified, no matter how Liverpool-ised Madrid have become since 2009 they don’t like a good old fashioned English football aerial bombardment. Tin hats on, everyone.

• Betting: Slide into the latest Liverpool v Real Madrid markets >

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In a controversial column, Graham Hunter tells the Paddy Power Blog why Spanish football and La Liga rules in style over the Premier League

“Mickey Mouse league, Spain. Only two teams in it.”

That was the comment on Paddy Power’s Facebook page on Monday morning. The contributor didn’t sign himself as Mr J Cyclops of Tunbridge Wells — but he might as well have done.

Perhaps it’s because it came at a time when the six male nominees who will take the stage during January’s Ballon D’Or ceremony are all either Spanish or work in Spain that the feedback comment caused apoplexy in the Paddy Power office.

Hats off to Andrés Iniesta, Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Vicente Del Bosque, Pep Guardiola and José Mourinho. I’d call that dominance.

Or maybe it seemed so out of place when Spain has eclipsed every other football nation by winning back-to-back continental titles with the World Cup squeezed nicely in between?

Oh, and should I mention early that since 2000 Spain has produced seven Champions League finalists and five winners?

You want Uefa Cup and Europa League, do you?

Ok, of the last 10 Uefa finals, seven of the 20 finalists have been from Spain, again five winners.

La Rojita are reigning Uefa European U21 Champions, have produced seven finalists in the last 11 U19 tournaments, including six wins, and just to ice the cake, five finalists of the last 10 U17 Championships… with two winners.

THE GREATS: Count Spain alongside the West Indies, Schumacher, and Kenyans like David Rudisha

All in all it’s a blanket dominance to put West Indies cricket in the 1970s and 80s, Michael Schumacher, Tiger Woods, Kenyan distance athletes and the All Blacks (forever!) to shame.

Impressive, organised and well marketed though the English Premier League may be, it isn’t a patch on Spanish football. Not even within touching distance.

But there are some, seduced by the packaging who endlessly need to put Spanish football down so that they can feel better (more smug or less worried, I wonder?) about English football.

The Premier League is better television

Right here and now let me make clear my acceptance that much of this ‘good, better, best’ argument in sport needs boxing’s ‘pound for pound’ unit of measurement applied. Even then it’s often subjective.

For example even though those facts I’ve just listed pummel all other arguments into the ground, overall, I’m full of respect for football in England.

Compared to La Liga it is televised better, it’s more modern, the scheduling is better, the stadia are better, racism is something to be sought out and driven out rather than complacently accepted, and there will always be some who enjoy vaudeville, melodrama and ‘oh-no-he’s-not-oh-yes-he-is!!’ more than opera, ballet, arthouse cinema and Classic FM.

What’s more, one of the reasons Spanish football is so comprehensively better than British football right now is fundamentally thanks to… British football.

REIGN IN SPAIN: Cazorla and Reina have been successful imports as Spain taste international glory

Over the last 10 years there has been a wholesale movement of Spanish players to Scotland and England.

Phase A was when those countries went fishing, tentatively, for bargain players (those right at the end of their career or Segunda Division talents who weren’t being paid their wages and thus were ripe for plucking) or uncut gems like Mikel Arteta, Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Piqué.

Phase B has been the realisation that the majority of Spanish footballers will have a technical and tactical quotient far above their UK equivalents, will probably be cheap (Michu anyone?) and on lower wages.

But back to Phase A.

Initially, those first Spanish exports found our lifestyle, our playing style and, let’s face it, our cuisine, hard to adapt to.

Some of their key conclusions were that in the UK the referee will blow for far fewer fouls, that we have a stronger sense of ‘fair play’and even your own team-mates will tell you to ‘get up off your arse’if you are rolling around in mock agony or diving for penalties.

But as the tough kids shone, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, Roberto Martinez, Alvaro Arbeloa, Rafa Benitez, Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres at Liverpool they all brought home the message that in England you play hard, play fair and give absolutely everything.

That fan culture demands you run and try till your sweat glands are empty whether the team is winning, drawing or losing 5-0.

They, in a sense, were missionaries and what they preached when back amongst team-mates, national team coaching staff and the media was that UK football possessed something beautiful — toughness and a constant hunger to be mentally and physically strong enough to be victorious.

This was new to Spain and once the message was accepted, assimilated and applied here we began to see a fearful hybrid — modern La Liga players who were technically brilliant, could pass a camel through the eye of a needle, produced sleight-of-boot, were tactically smart and, now, were mentally and physically tough too.

So, Spain (club and country) is on a trophy winning spree of which England (and everyone else) can only dream.

Two-team league? Don’t make me laugh…

Spain, for a generation, has had a philosophy that all its age-level teams will play a brand of football and use formations which are tied to how the senior team is playing.

It’s a production line and the factory is called Las Rozas Ciudad del Fútbol. The Spanish federation has had its St George’s Park for just under a decade — quite an advantage.

Spain has vastly more professionally accredited coaches than England, and produces wave after wave of technically sublime players who now know that you have to be as ferociously tough as Piqué or Alonso and who tend not to get into tabloid scrapes over drink, drugs, girlfriends, air rifles or £20 notes.

But, as Mr Cyclops in Tunbridge Wells is presumably still fuming right now: “Spain is a two-team league!”

That’s the insult thrown in an attempt to belittle La Liga.

First of all it’s debatable how different it is from England.

Manchester City only began to remember what the title was, let alone became potential winners, once it was nicely plumped up with petrodollars. Nothing wrong with that. Manchester City are an exciting new force — especially now that they’ve hired Spaniards as Chief Executive, Director of Football and big boss on the pitch (David Silva).

But remove them from the equation and compare Spain’s title winners with England’s title winners since 2000. La Liga boasts Deportivo La Coruña, Valencia (twice) plus Real Madrid and Barcelona.

England has just three: Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

Chelsea, by the way, are owned by someone with a personal worth meaning that the debts run up by Barcelona and Real Madrid would just be loose change to him. And if Arsenal win a trophy in May it’ll be their first in eight years.

More to La Liga than El Clasico clubs

No club in Spain has Chelsea or Manchester City’s wealth. Arsenal are a club in search of new impetus — pound for pound the English league has been utterly dominated by one outfit, Manchester United, since 1996.

What’s more, those who mock La Liga because “any team can beat any other” in England but “Madrid and Barcelona win easy” in Spain are ignoring large flotillas of facts.

What about when Sporting Gijon took Jose Mourinho’s nine-year unbeaten home record by winning at the Bernabéu? Or when Numancia, a club small enough to fit in your pocket, beat Pep Guardiola’s Barça at the beginning of their treble-winning season?

In recent years Getafe, Levante, Real Zaragoza, Osasuna, Sporting, Espanyol, Villarreal, Hercules and Real Betis have all taken scalps against Real Madrid and Barça.

La Liga is competitive. It’s just that both of the Clasico clubs are very, very good.

During my 10 years in Spain, 12 different teams have qualified for the Champions League slots in La Liga’s top four positions – what’s the equivalent record in England?

And while these so-called ‘no mark’ also-ran Spanish clubs might not be capable of winning the title they have also proved hellishly difficult for the rest of Europe to defeat.

Think of Sevilla winning back-to-back Uefa Cups, and Atletico Madrid winning two out of three Europa Leagues, each time defeating the reigning Champions League holder — Inter and Chelsea in the subsequent Uefa Supercup Final, Espanyol and Athletic Club in the Uefa final, Getafe in the semi final, Villarreal eliminating Manchester United from their Champions League group, and so on and so on.

I fully understand fans of United, Stoke, West Ham, Everton — name the club you want — who care passionately about local rivalries and about scraping together the money for a season ticket and a couple of away trips. Perhaps continental football feels less important, perhaps they simply don’t like the less robust, more scientific style.

Fair play. I have no bone to pick with that.

But I’ve lost count of the top, top professionals in both coaching and playing in the UK who, when we meet, want to know more about the science behind Spanish footballers and coaches being that good.

The shining English talents in management and those who still play top level, take in or tape Spanish football whenever they can.

They revere Iniesta, Xavi, Messi, Isco, Alonso, Ramos, Soldado, Llorente, Thiago, Ronaldo, Rossi, Falcao and Villa, home-bred brilliance and the cream of world soccer, having already imported Silva, Mata, Torres, Reina, Cazorla, Michu, Pablo, Romeu, José Enrique, Kun Aguero, Touré, Azpilicueta, Suso, Rodolfo Borrell, Rafa Benitez, Roberto Martinez, Chico, Cuellar, Arteta and many more.

Just one more thought — who’s THE most sought-after coach in world football right now.

Clue: he lives in Manhattan but he’s not American.

What really matters in football…

Okay, by now you’ve twigged that I was charged with producing a provocative, or at least thought-provoking column.

What’s more, only a fool or a PR man would argue that there isn’t a great deal which, if transplanted from England, wouldn’t automatically improve the infrastructure, health, wealth and marketabillity of La Liga.

TWO GOOD: Messi and RVP represent the best of both leagues

But what romantics like you and I really care about is the thrill of a player beating his opponent one on one, the passing movement which zips the ball from boot to boot as if it were heat-seeking and laser controlled.

The genius of invention, the routine of the ball being a footballer’s friend.

No matter what the men in grey suits argue at the Emirates Stadium right now, it’s not about being there or thereabouts all the time — it’s about vein-bulging, adrenalin-pulsing excitement, gasps, roars, fun, skill… and trophies.

Winning regularly, and winning with style.

Ladies and Gentleman, in the red corner and STILL the champion of the world… Spanish football.

• Betting: La Liga
• More from Graham Hunter

Graham Hunter is a Barcelona-based, British soccer writer whose passionate insight on La Liga can regularly be seen and heard on TV and radio. He also writes for the Paddy Power Blog on Spanish football. Follow Graham on twitter here.

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There is a full programme in Serie A with most of the games taking place on Wednesday, but on Tuesday Fiorentina host defending champions Juventus in what could be an intriguing contest.

La Viola have won their last two home fixtures, against Udinese and Catania respectively, scoring four goals and conceding just once, while Juve sit at the top of the table having won all four of their league fixtures to date.

The Old Lady also demonstrated their resolve and desire with a 2-2 draw at Chelsea in the Champions League, having fought back from 2-0 down to seal a share of the spoils.

Juve have won convincingly in both away games to date, beating Genoa 3-1 and Udinese 4-1 and the Turin outfit appear to be the team to beat in Italy in these early stages of the season.

Fiorentina do have goals in them, however, and have found the net in each of their last five games, losing just once against Napoli.  The hosts will provide a stern test for Juve but the reigning champions should just about edge this tie and the best bet in this particular fixture could well be the away victory, which is priced at 11/10.

If you think Fiorentina can dent Juventus’ title charge they’re priced at 13/5 to take maximum points and the draw is 11/5.

Bayern Munich failed to secure any silverware last season for a second successive campaign and the giants of German football have begin the 2012-13 season with real purpose, winning all seven of their games to date and scoring 22 goals in the process.

Wolfsburg visit the Allianz Arena on Tuesday and Bayern should stroll to victory against a side who have drawn their last two games and sit 10th in the Bundesliga table.

Bayern are 1/5 to win the match but it may be worth considering a Bayern/Bayern result in the half-time/full-time market, which is priced at 4/9.

Eintracht Frankfurt also have a 100% record in the Bundesliga after four games but they face their biggest test yet on Tuesday when they host reigning champions Borussia Dortmund.

Dortmund are yet to win on the road this season, with one defeat and one draw, yet they’re considered the 4/5 favourites to take all three points ahead of this fixture.

Dortmund undoubtedly have a stronger squad on paper than their opponents on Tuesday but they did lose a key player in Shinji Kagawa in the summer and could struggle to take maximum points on Tuesday.

Frankfurt look good value at 3/1 to seal the win on Tuesday and continue their fine start to the season, but the best bet could be the draw, which is priced at 13/5.

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Steel City Battle for Automatic Promotion

The second promotion spot behind Charlton is between Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United, and both face already-relegated teams on the final day. Wednesday, who hold a one-point advantage that ensures their fate is in their own hands, welcome Wycombe to Hillsborough and you would expect a promotion party come final whistle (Sheff Wed 2/9, draw 5/1, Wycombe 12/1 Match Betting).

United held the upper hand for most of the season, but it’s a long trip to face Exeter and Danny Wilson will hope to end with a win that means either they take advantage of an Owls slip, or go into the play-offs with some confidence (Exeter 9/2, draw 16/5, United 4/7 Match Betting).

The Play-Off Picture – 3 into 1 Doesn’t Fit

Stevenage are in pole position to get the one play-off spot remaining and a home win over Bury would set them up nicely (Stevenage 4/9, draw 10/1, Bury 6/1). Any slip-up could let Notts County – only behind on goal difference and who welcome Colchester to Meadow Lane – take advantage, while Carlisle in eighth are only a point behind and a win for them at Oldham, coupled with some help from elsewhere, could see them jump to seventh.

None of the three sides in contention are benefitting from easy matches on the final day, but Stevenage are without a win in four and it could be Notts County who seal that final play-off position as a draw could be enough (Notts County 8/13, draw 14/5, Colchester 9/2).

Triple Threat for League Two Automatic Promotion

Another three-way tussle exists down in League Two as Crawley Town (81 points), Torquay United (81) and Southend United (80) are battling to get that automatic spot behind Swindon and Shrewsbury.

Crawley boast a superior goal difference over Torquay and a win at Accrington (Stanley 9/2, draw 14/5, Crawley 8/13) should guarantee their spot, but they did go down 3-0 to struggling Hereford last time out. Torquay face that Hereford side at Edgar Street, with their opponents desperate to get the points as they look to leapfrog Barnet and save their football league skins.

Southend face already-relegated Macclesfield and would need help from elsewhere to get third spot, but it looks like Crawley’s to lose and Torquay’s to win.

One Play-Off Spot Up For Grabs

Crewe look on course to secure the final play-off spot going and victory at home to Aldershot would seal an extended campaign for them. Any mistakes and Oxford will be desperate to take advantage, as they travel to Port Vale boasting a superior goal difference.

The three-point gap Crewe have on Oxford means it’s in their hands and a point should be enough for them (Crewe 4/6, draw 11/4, Aldershot 4/1).

Who Will Drop Out of the Football League?

Perennial strugglers Barnet (Burton Albion 2/1, draw 5/2, Barnet 5/4) are battling with Hereford to avoid dropping out of the Football League and both have chosen the final weeks to find some form after dismal runs before that.

A 4-0 win at Underhill over AFC Wimbledon means Barnet hold a two-point advantage over the Bulls, who had won 3-0 at promotion-chasing Crawley. It seems to be an annual event that Barnet are fighting for their lives on the final day but they could benefit from the fact Hereford face a Torquay side looking for the points to get them the final automatic promotion spot.

The final fixtures normally throw up some surprises, but expect no shock as Barnet retain their League Two spot and Hereford to wave goodbye to the Football League.

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Kidderminster v Fleetwood

Conference table-toppers Fleetwood look well priced at evens to collect maximum points away to Kidderminster on Friday. The Cod Army have not lost on the road since early September last year and have only conceded two goals in their last six away trips. They could go eight points clear of nearest-challengers Wrexham at the top of the Blue Square Premier and in midweek proved the can go to the final whistle when securing a last-gasp win at home to Grimsby Town.

Andy Mangan and Jamie Vardy have more than 40 goals between them so far this season and, given that Kidderminster have not kept a clean sheet at home in five in the Conference, will again be looking to get among the goals.

Even relegation-threatened Hayes and Yeading managed to find the net at Aggborough Stadium and the recent home form about Steve Burr’s men does not bode well for the visit of the league leaders. Harriers (9/4, draw 9/4 – totesport match prices) have lost their last two on home soil and have only won one of their last seven games in all competitions.

Chievo v Inter Milan

Claudio Ranieri will roll out his big guns when Internazionale make the trip to the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi in Verona to take on Chievo attempting to end a nine-game winless run. The Nerazzurri ended a five-game losing stretch with a come-from-behind 2-2 draw against Catania last Sunday, but it was not enough to stop speculation about the future of under-pressure coach Ranieri.

Goals have become a major issue for Inter – prior to last weekend they had not scored in five games in all competitions – but the Italian will again turn to Diego Forlan and Diego Milito for a solution. Inter also have the small task of overturning a 1-0 first-leg defeat by Marseille in the Champions League next week, but Ranieri cannot afford to be tinkering at such a critical stage of his Nerazzurri tenure.

Chievo must not be underestimated home – they have only lost three in Serie A all season – but they have only scored 11 goals in the top flight in Verona, only Cesena (nine) have scored less goals at home, so it may play to go with a low-goals projection.

Stuttgart v Kaiserslautern

Free-scoring Stuttgart will view the visit of basement club Kaiserslautern as a perfect opportunity to make it three wins on the bounce at Mercedes-Benz-Arena.

The recent visits of fellow strugglers Hertha Berlin and Freiburg can be used as collateral lines of form and Die Roten run out comfortable winners, prevailing 5-0 and 4-1 respectively, with in-form striker Martin Harnik helping himself to five goals over the two games.

Kaiserslautern simply do not travel well – they have won only one game on the road this season – and have conceded in every away trip in Bundesliga. They have only won three top-flight games all season and not scored in 180 minutes, while they are also the joint-lowest scorers on the road with Nurnberg with nine.

As such Stuttgart are priced accordingly (4/7 draw 14/5 Kaiserslautern 9/2 – totesport match prices), but it may pay to follow the 5/4 about Stuttgart half-time/full-time given that this would have landed in their last two games.

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Southend

Southend United v Rotherham United

Southend have hit a wall in recent weeks and are without a win in three in all competitions but have a chance to reinvigorate their promotion push when out-of-form Rotherham head to Essex.

Paul Sturrock pulled no punches with a damning assessment of his players’ second-half performance against relegation-threatened Plymouth, when they let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 in the last five minutes, and will demand a response.

He told BBC Essex: “In the first half we were so dominant. We were in their faces and the right positions.

“We decided that 2-0 is what it’s about and you can’t do that. We decided we were a football team and played it square and back. We’ve paid the price.”

The Millers have only won one in five in League Two and have slipped to 13th in the table, while they have only won four away from South Yorkshire.

The 10/11 about the Shrimpers to collect maximum points (5/2 draw 3/1 Rotherham – match prices) and go, temporarily at least, to the top of the table is good enough.

Wolfsburg v SC Freiburg

It is difficult to make a case for Germany’s rock-bottom club SC Freiburg at odds of 3/1 (8/11 Wolfsburg 5/2 draw – match prices) at the Volkswagen Arena on Friday.

Breisgau-Brasilianer returned from the winter break with an encouraging win against fellow basement dwellers Augsburg but have not won in two since.

The Wolves were not disgraced when losing 2-0 to Bayern Munich and last week held Borussia Monchengladbach to a goalless draw in Lower Saxony.

They have not lost a home game in all competitions since a 3-2 defeat by Hertha Berlin at the end of October but, either side of that, have been a tough nut to crack on home soil and the return of Mario Mandzukic (11/10 – Score Anytime) will boost them in the final third.

FC Twente v Heracles Almelo

Steve McClaren’s FC Twente have been in sparkling form since the return of the top flight in the Netherlands – scoring nine and conceding once – and can go level on points with PSV and AZ with victory on Friday against Heracles at De Grolsch Veste.

The match prices – FC Twente 2/9 draw 21/5 Heracles 17/2 – would indicate this is a formality for the Tukkers and even a cursory look at Heracles’ shambolic recent away form would back this up.

Heraclieden have not win in five on the road in the top flight and McClaren’s men should have little trouble franking their recent form.

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The Latics sit comfortably in mid-table at present, 10 points clear of the relegation zone and seven points away from the play-off spots.  Oldham boss Paul Dickov is expected to name his strongest possible line-up for the trip to Anfield and former Blackburn and Newcastle striker Shefki Kuqi will lead the line. Finnish frontman Kuqi is Oldham’s top scorer and his size and presence could trouble the Reds defence – if the Latics can provide him with the service he needs.

However, it is hard to see anything other than a Liverpool victory in this particular fixture, even if boss Kenny Dalglish chooses to rest his star men. Youngsters such as Sebastian Coates and Jonjo Shelvey are expected to be included in the starting line-up as Dalglish shuffles his pack, but talisman Steven Gerrard may feature in some capacity as he continues to work his way back to full fitness following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez could be involved in the starting XI after struggling to secure regular action this season, while Alexander Doni will replace Pepe Reina in goal. Liverpool are 1/8 to secure the win, while the draw can be backed at 7/1 and an Oldham victory, which would be a massive upset, is priced at 18/1.  Liverpool can be backed at 7/1 to land the FA Cup this season, Chelsea are 5/1 and Manchester City are priced at 13/2.

There are two other domestic fixtures on Friday night and League One title chasers Huddersfield will be looking to put the pressure on the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton Athletic when they travel to lowly Wycombe.  Wednesday and the Addicks are both involved in the cup so Huddersfield can close the gap at the top if they manage to secure all three points.

The Yorkshire outfit have drawn their previous two matches and will be desperate to get back to winning ways to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive. In contrast, Wycombe are involved in the relegation dogfight and are currently two points adrift of safety. The Chairboys have lost their previous two fixtures and have failed to score in both, and their struggles could well continue when Huddersfield visit.

Town striker Jordan Rhodes is in sensational form at present and can be backed at 5/4 to score at any time, or 7/1 to score two or more.  Huddersfield are 10/11 to take all three points, while a Wycombe win is available at 11/4 and a draw can be backed at 13/5.

In League Two Burton Albion host Accrington Stanley in a crucial promotion encounter. Burton currently occupy the last play-off spot in the table and Stanley are just four points behind Paul Peschisolido’s side, who have slumped of late. The Brewers slumped to a 2-0 defeat at home to relegation threatened Hereford last time out and have managed just one win in their last four games.

While Burton are struggling Accrington are in the midst of a rich vein of form and are unbeaten in their last nine fixtures, winning six and drawing three. Burton are 10/11 to take all three points but considering Stanley’s recent form an away win at 12/5 could well be the best bet in this Friday night contest, the draw is available at 12/5.

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Npower League One
Huddersfield v Carlisle

Huddersfield suffered two losses in a row, to Charlton and Bournemouth, earlier in December as their 43-game unbeaten league record came to an end. It was always going to be difficult for Lee Clark’s men to bounce back but a morale-boosting 4-4 draw away to Sheffield Wednesday and a win over Chesterfield means they are getting back to their best. Carlisle themselves are sitting only three places behind and are unbeaten in three games, but expect Huddersfield to be too strong.

Prediction: Huddersfield to win @ 4/6

Tranmere v Bury

Tranmere saw their Boxing Day game with Rochdale postponed due to structural damage at Prenton Park, but hopefully they will be able to play on Friday. On the pitch, it has been eight games without a win and they welcome a Bury side that are great on their travels – winning six and drawing one on the road this season. It could mean more misery for Les Parry’s team.

Prediction: Bury to win @ 9/4

Npower League Two
Cheltenham v Rotherham

Cheltenham are riding high in the league and it has been only one defeat in their last six games, and three wins and a draw in their last four home matches. With only two home defeats and a mere six goals conceded on their home patch Cheltenham are consistent, which cannot be said of Rotherham of late.

Prediction: Cheltenham to win @ evens

Crawley Town v Barnet

Crawley sit at the top of League Two and face the perennial strugglers from North London. Even though Steve Evan’s men lost at home to Gillingham you should not expect Barnet to pull off a big shock as Crawley look for momentum to boost their push to League One.

Prediction: Crawley to win @ 4/11

Dag & Red v Gillingham

It is now five home defeats in a row for poor Dagenham and Redbridge, which has left them sitting level on points with the bottom two of Northampton and Plymouth. Confidence is low and they welcome a Gills team who thrashed Bristol Rovers and won away at league leaders Crawley in their last two games. All the signs point to a miserable end of 2011 for John Still’s team.

Prediction: Gillingham to win @ 21/20

Hereford v Accrington Stanley

It is eight games without a win for Hereford and only two points taken in that stage, and they really need to stop losing leads and start picking up points at Edgar Street. They welcome an Accrington side who have only won twice on the road all season – and those two wins have come in December. Stanley have drawn seven of their 11 matches away from home and this could be magical number 12.

Prediction: Draw @ 12/5

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Fortunately there are plenty of games this weekend and here are a couple of matches for your consideration, before the two top European leagues take their annual winter breaks.

Spanish league leaders Barcelona don’t have a fixture this weekend due to their involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan so third-placed Valencia have a chance to close the gap at the top of the table.

Los Che host Malaga on Sunday evening in what could well be an entertaining affair. Only Real Madrid have come away from the Mestalla this season with all three points and the hosts should be too strong for Malaga, with a Valencia victory priced at 4/5.  Malaga are 10/3 to take all three points, while the draw can be backed at 13/5.

Villarreal are struggling at the wrong end of the La Liga table after a nightmare start to the campaign and the Champions League regulars are still seeking their first victory on the road.

The Yellow Submarine travel to the Reyno de Navarra on Sunday where they will face an Osasuna side who are yet to be beaten on home soil this season.  Villarreal’s away-day blues look set to continue against an in-form Osasuna outfit, the hosts are priced at 11/10 to secure the win, the draw is available at 9/4 and a Villarreal victory is 12/5.

In Italy Juventus have a fantastic opportunity to head into the winter break as the league leaders – and expect the Old Lady to grab the chance with both hands.

The Turin club are yet to taste defeat at home this season and it is highly unlikely that minnows Novara will inflict a first home Serie A loss on Juve.  A Juventus victory is priced at 2/9, while Novara are a massive 14/1 to take all three points and secure their first win on the road of the season. The draw is 9/2.

Parma host bottom-of-the-league Lecce in what should be another fairly straightforward home win.  A Parma win is priced at 4/6, or if paired with a Juve victory the double is priced at evens – which seems like a bet worth placing in this weekend’s Serie A.

Napoli’s Serie A form has been hit by their involvement in the Champions League but they can get another win under their belts when they host an out-of-sorts Roma on Sunday.

Roma are only three points behind fifth-placed Napoli but they have struggled on the road this season with four losses from their seven games to date, while Napoli are a formidable outfit at home and should seal the win on Sunday night, with a Napoli victory priced at 10/11.

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Man City can win ugly

The Blues may have been pushed all the way for the win at Queens Park Rangers at the weekend, but win they did which is more than title rivals Chelsea can say this season.

Loftus Road’s tight stands might just shock a few closeted Premier League players this season, however City proved they can grind out three points on the road and that’s no mean feat given their League Of Nations-type squad.

Last term City, who are 10/11 title shots, scored 26 away goals all season and they’re just three short of that tally after six matches away from the Etihad Stadium – enough said.

Fabregas is proving doubters wrong

It’s early days but Cesc Fabregas will want his honeymoon period at the Nou Camp to go on forever after managing to get among the goals since his switch from Arsenal.

For a player not blessed with lightning pace, Fabregas found himself something of a “man for all seasons” at the Emirates rather than getting on the end of things in the box.

But times have changed for the 24-year-old who has already won 60 caps for Spain - no mean feat given his country’s embarrassment of riches.

Fabregas didn’t win enough with the Gunners but he will with the Catalans now he has gone home, with Barca 7/4 for more Champions League glory.

Capello has a duty of care

For a coach who is departing after Euro 2012 next summer it seems stranger that he is looking at youth against Spain this weekend and Sweden next week.

But the Italian has drafted in the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Phil Jones, Danny Welbeck and Jack Rodwell for the friendlies in order to “see something different”.

The last time England played Spain was in February 2009 in Seville and the Three Lions were outclassed by Iniesta, Villa and Xavi so Capello must be careful he bloods his youngsters without destroying their confidence.

England are 9/1 shots to end their long wait for silverware by claiming Spain’s European crown next summer.

The Bhoys are behind Lennon

To say Neil Lennon has endured somewhat of a roller-coaster time as Celtic boss would be a massive understatement.

Off-pitch incidents have left a sour taste in the mouth and have forced the Scottish government to look into implementing some anti-sectarian laws. On the pitch the Parkhead outfit have started the season miserably – crashing out of the Europa League meekly before being reinstated because FC Sion fielded ineligible players.

Celtic have also slipped behind Rangers in the SPL title race, however their come-from-behind, never-say-die win at Motherwell was encouraging and shows everyone is pulling in the same direction.

Lennon’s men are 9/4 for SPL glory this term.

Harry’s not always the boss

Being the football man he is from a certain era, Harry Redknapp was bullish about his return from heart surgery last week by claiming the international break had come at the right time so he could be in charge of Spurs against Aston Villa on November 21.

However, the amiable 64-year-old appears to have jumped the gun and it now seems he will not be back until December at the earliest.

Thankfully, the former West Ham and Portsmouth chief seems to have heeded the advice of the medical professionals and looks set to be getting under wife Sandra’s feet for a few more weeks.

But these things have to be handled properly and Redknapp is doing the right thing as Spurs tick over nicely without him.

Spurs are evens to finish in the top four this season.

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