Champions League betting tips: Preview, predictions & latest odds for Salzburg v Liverpool & Chelsea v Lille

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2pts Liverpool to win & both teams to score v Salzburg at 15/8

1pt Inter to beat Barcelona to nil at 21/10

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FC Red Bull Salzburg v Liverpool

• 5.55pm GMT BT Sport 3

It’s pretty simple for Liverpool as they head to Austria just needing to avoid defeat to progress through what has turned out to be a tricky group, in which Napoli have proved to be their nemesis again.

Salzburg, and Erling Haaland in particular, showed at Anfield that they’re more than capable of testing Jurgen Klopp’s side and they can still go through with a victory so they’re sure to give it even more of a go than usual.

Jesse Marsch’s side have scored more than anyone bar Bayern and Tottenham in the group stages, and were unlucky to lose to Napoli 3-2 at the Red Bull Arena – that and the reverse at Anfield are their only two defeats of the season.

The Reds got their first clean sheet in 14 games against Bournemouth, but while they look invincible domestically they’re a bit more uneasy in Europe despite being the defending champions.

This is a dangerous game for Liverpool and you’ve got to be on the side of goals as neither has a clean sheet in the Champions League and their combined record sees almost four-and-half goals in every game.

Salzburg should score, and scare the visitors, but every time Klopp has needed a job doing his side have responded in recent times and, although a score draw shouldn’t be ruled out, the hosts’ attacking fervour could play into Liverpool's hands on the break.

Prediction: Salzburg 1-3 Liverpool (Sky Bet odds: 12/1)

Best bet: Liverpool to win & both teams to score at 15/8

FC Red Bull Salzburg v Liverpool Opta stats

• Liverpool have only won two of their last 11 Champions League away group stage games (W2 D3 L6), losing four of the last five (W1). The Reds last won consecutive away group games in the competition back in September 2008 under Rafa Benitez.
• FC Salzburg have won 15 and lost just one of their last 20 home games in European competition (inc. qualifiers), with that defeat coming last time out on home soil vs Napoli.
• Neither Liverpool or FC Red Bull Salzburg have kept a UEFA Champions League clean sheet this season. The Reds could become only the second reigning champion to fail to keep a clean sheet in their first six matches of the following campaign, after Real Madrid in 2016-17 (first 10 games).
• FC Salzburg striker Erling Haaland has scored in all five of his UEFA Champions League games so far, scoring eight goals and averaging a goal every 37 minutes. No player has ever scored in their first six appearances in the competition.

Chelsea v Lille

• 8pm GMT - BT Sport 2

Chelsea just seem to have hit a flat spot under Frank Lampard with some believing that teams have figured them out, while it could just be a case of his young team just displaying the inconsistencies of youth - either way this is a game that they can find some form and confidence from.

With Valencia playing Ajax in the other match, it means just a win will be enough to see the Blues through to the knockout stages, which in itself is a decent achievement. As long as the pressure of that and their recent blip doesn't weigh too heavy on their shoulders they should have enough firepower to see off the French challenge.

Christian Pulisic in particular will be a threat - this is his competition as he's got plenty of experience from his time in Dortmund, and he can feast on a team that can't even qualify for the Europa League and has already shipped 12 goals in five games.

Pulisic should score, but when you can get the same price as two shots on target, that seems a safe route to glory since the American loves cutting in and shooting - he's had three shots and one goal in two Champions League games and now faces the weakest team in the group at home.

Chelsea haven't won in their last five Champions League games at Stamford Bridge, but against a deflated Lille with nothing to play for it should be a nailed-on victory. With just three goals in five Champions league games for the visitors, it could even be a rare clean sheet for the hosts.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Lille (Sky Bet odds: 11/2)

Best bet: Christian Pulisic to score anytime at 8/5

Chelsea v Lille Opta stats

• Chelsea and Lille’s only previous competitive meeting in any competition came in October of this season’s Champions League, with the London club earning a 2-1 win.
• Lille’s only win in six away games at English sides across all European competitions came at Aston Villa in the Intertoto Cup in August 2002 (2-0) – they have failed to score in each of their other five such matches in England (D1 L4).
• If Chelsea qualify to the knockout stages following this game, Frank Lampard will be the first English manager to progress a team from Champions League group stage – having taken charge of all six group games – since Harry Redknapp with Spurs in 2010-11.
• Lille have taken just one point in the Champions League this season (W0 D1 L4) – under the current group stage format, the only French side with fewer in a single campaign in the competition was Marseille in 2013-14 (0).

Inter v Barcelona

• 8pm GMT - BT Sport ESPN

A fascinating contest in Milan on Tuesday sees confirmed group winners Barcelona face an Inter side that needs to match Dortmund's result at home to Slavia Prague (most likely a win) to make it through to the last 16. With their path already confirmed the visitors' team selection will make for interesting reading.

The bookies obviously expect Barca to make changes with the Spaniards being as big as 4/1 to win, and with Lionel Messi set for a rest and question marks about the make-up of Ernesto Valverde's team, Inter will fancy getting the job done.

The caveat to all games like this is of course the team-sheet, but if the line-up is anything like what we expect, then a home win is the only way you can confidently play this game.

Inter have scored twice in four of their last five home games and have lost just once, to Juventus, on home turf since March, so it's hard to even envisage a much-changed Barcelona line-up being able to make many inroads into a desperate team that's so powerful at home.

The Italians almost came unstuck in their home game against Slavia, but that was the wake-up call they needed and they kept Dortmund out in a 2-0 win against the Germans - that sounds about right here against a makeshift Barcelona side that has nothing to play for.

Prediction: Inter Milan 2-0 Barcelona (Sky Bet odds: 8/1)

Best bet: Inter Milan to beat Barcelona to nil at 21/10

Inter Milan v Barcelona Opta stats

• Inter have never lost a home game against Spanish teams in the Champions League/European Cup (W6 D6 L0). Inter have played more Champions League/European Cup home games against Spanish teams without losing than versus sides from any other nation (12).
• Victory for Inter will see them reach the knockout stages of the Champions League for the ninth time in their last 10 participations in the competition, with the Italian side falling at the group stage last season.
• Barcelona have already failed to score in two Champions League games this season (0-0 vs Dortmund on MD1 and 0-0 vs Slavia Prague on MD3). They’ve never failed to score in three different group stage games in a single edition of the competition before.
• Lautaro Martínez has scored in each of his last four Champions League games for Inter this season, netting five goals in total. No Inter player has ever scored in five consecutive European Cup/Champions League appearances in their history, with Samuel Eto’o in 2010 the last to do so in four.

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Odds correct as of 1455 GMT on 09/12/19

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