Winner from Premier League no flight of fancy

When boarding the midnight flight out of Milan on Tuesday, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard smiled as they passed some red-and-white signs pointing in the direction of 'Emirates'. It was for the airline, not the stadium, but the omen of an imminent encounter with Arsenal was noted by Liverpool's Englishmen - and delivered by Uefa yesterday.

Their first ever engagement in European combat was duly set up by an intriguing Champions League quarter-final draw, pairing them at the Emirates on April 2 (their 200th meeting) and then at Anfield on April 8. In case they miss each other in between, a Premier League fixture is thrown into the middle (when rotation may be seen).

	Quality: Liverpool will have to play Arsenal three times in a week following the Uefa Champions League draw

"When you play so many games against each other," observed Arsenal's manager, Arsene Wenger, "it will just be like a championship game." Liverpool fervently hope not. Carragher, Gerrard and company have struggled to live with Arsenal in the Premier League, really coming to life only in Europe.

Arsenal's pace, both speed of body and pass, could alarm Liverpool defensively but if Javier Mascherano tames Cesc Fabregas and Fernando Torres gets a glimpse of goal, the Kop should be celebrating on April 8. In Pepe Reina, Liverpool boast the better goalkeeper.

Yet if they do edge out Arsenal, and it will be desperately tight, Liverpool are unlikely to produce a match of great beauty. Manchester United vs Roma promises more fireworks, preferably on the pitch.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and the outstanding Anderson should guide United through to meet probably Barcelona, although the Catalans face a testing time against Schalke 04 and need Lionel Messi fit.

The quarter-final presence of Premier League talents of the calibre of Fabregas, Torres, Gerrard, Ronaldo, Rooney and Didier Drogba underpins Frank Lampard's belief that an English team "will win" the Moscow final of May 21. "English teams have the individuals to light up the tournament," said the midfielder whose Chelsea team should see off Mateja Kezman's Fenerbahce.

Probable last four: Liverpool v Chelsea; Manchester United v Barcelona.

原文地址：http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/03/15/sfnver115.xml