Champions League odds: Liverpool favoured ahead of Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona after league phase concludes

The Champions League league phase concluded on Wednesday with all 18 matches taking place at the same time. When it was over, Liverpool finished top of the table and as the favourite to win the competition. The Reds were 9/2 on Betfair to win the Champions League on Wednesday evening, shortly after the matches concluded.

Barcelona, Real Madrid and Arsenal are next in the odds at 6/1. Advertisement Champions League odds Here’s a look at some of the favourites and other interesting odds on teams to win the Champions League after the league phase. Liverpool Seven wins out of seven but not eight out of eight.



That’s got to have stung a little, but Arne Slot’s troops have bigger fish to fry, especially when a Premier League title is within touching distance. PSV proved that kinks exist in the Reds’ setup; they are not infallible. How will the league leaders fare against a more formidable foe? The familiar high line has been a hallmark of the Merseysiders’ attack since the early Jürgen Klopp era, just not always to their benefit.

Fortunately, you can be forgiven for a few risks when you have a Mohamed Salah on hand — which is why they’re still my favourites to grab a seventh Champions League trophy at the Allianz Arena come May. Odds: 4/1 Outlook: Not necessarily the clear favourites, but they still make our top pick. Click here to follow Sports betting on The Athletic and get relevant stories in your personalised feed.

Barcelona There is a certain je ne sais quoi about the way Hansi Flick’s men operate — abandon all care for what a high defensive line might invoke. They have a fearsome attacking threat, and they will carve you open at any given opportunity. It doesn’t matter that Wojciech Szczęsny is committing crimes between the sticks.

Lamine Yamal and Raphina are working miracles at the other end of the pitch. For that, they deserve to be in the mix. Odds: 6/1 Outlook: A very optimistic forecast given that Barca are trying to rebuild in the post-Xavi era.

Their attacking arsenal makes them appealing to wager on, even if the back line looks incredibly suspect. Real Madrid Madrid do what they do best — stumble through the group stages and somehow cruise to the big prize. Manchester City could be a potential matchup in the next round, but as Taylor Swift put it best, we’ve seen this film before and didn’t like the ending.

If Los Blancos can make it through the knockout bracket, I’d wager they’ll be ruffling quite a few feathers. Lucas Vázquez, the modern-day Dirk Kuyt, might also have something to say about it. Advertisement Odds: 6/1 Outlook: Not bad, at least if you consider the questionable performances and results this season.

But perhaps Real are saving their big guns for the latter stages of the competition. Bayern Munich Thomas Müller, you can always count on him, right? Let’s forget for a second that Bayern are lurking deep in the basement of the league standings. Goals clearly haven’t been the issue; Harry Kane has ensured that.

Defensively, however, Vincent Kompany’s players have looked average. Bizarre substitutions, whacky out-of-possession pressing traps, and individual errors led to three consecutive away Champions League defeats for the first time in the club’s history back in October. Troubling times seem to be on the horizon, but just ask the English — you never write off the Germans.

Odds: 9/1 Outlook: They’re six-time European champions but haven’t looked like prime Bayern these last 12 months. Even so, these odds are still favourable. Who can deny that Kane, Müller combination? Paris Saint-Germain The hat-trick hero, Ousmane Dembélé, did it again this week — this time, the victims were Monaco.

Are we going to believe that this team can go the distance after billions of pounds and countless (3546713?) attempts? There’s no Neymar Jr. this time, but Luis Enrique’s cavalry are on his side. Between Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué, things are looking more optimistic for the French.

We’ll consider them a tentative addition to our Champions League winner predictions. Odds: 12/1 Outlook: This is risky because of PSG’s track record in this competition. But there’s always hope, especially with the new talent Enrique has recruited.

Inter Milan Marcus Thuram should come with a warning. The 27-year-old has blitzed his way through this year’s Champions League scoring charts, as well as ripping up the script in the Serie A alongside Lautaro Martínez. Monaco had no answer for the pair, allowing Martínez to score a hat trick in Wednesday’s league stage finale at the San Siro.

Who will be able to snuff out their flame? Liverpool have had their blips, Barcelona live dangerously with their defensive high line...

Simone Inzaghi is a worthy foe for any of the listed favourites. Advertisement Odds: 14/1 Outlook: A solid payout, given that many people will be looking to more familiar names such as Liverpool and Barcelona. But where there’s a reward, there’s a risk.

Expect surprises. Atletico Madrid Antoine Griezmann might be 33, but you wouldn’t be able to tell. Aside from his 12-step skin-care routine, the French international plays silky football, sets up his pals, and scores for fun.

Bayer Leverkusen got a double dose in the midweek clash on Madrid turf as the competition’s top scorer clicked through the gears. Giuliano Simeone warrants a mention, too — he nabbed an assist and gave the opposing left-wing defence several headaches. You only have to look at Atleti’s La Liga form this season to grasp why they’re so high on our favourites to win the esteemed European Cup.

Odds: 20/1 Outlook: Pretty decent numbers, given that they might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but perhaps that’s what makes this a lucrative wager. Atalanta Atalanta deserve their flowers, especially where Éderson dos Santos is concerned. The Brazilian tactician is proving that fast counters work.

Sitting ninth on the table, La Dea have the necessary tools to be a dark horse — a transition team to keep at arm’s length. Odds: 28/1 Outlook: It’s a long shot, but we already know that. The chances of a big payout are on the cards, especially when so many other ‘supposed’ big teams are cracking.

(Photo of Arne Slot: Nicolas Tucat / AFP via Getty Images).