ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Europe Midweek

Star Sports football ambassador ALEX CROOK previews the European midweek action…

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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 LIVERPOOL v VILLARREAL 🇪🇸
Tuesday, 8pm, Amazon Prime Video

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Liverpool were aided by not one but two Brentford red cards as they came from behind to win 2-1 at the Gtech on Saturday.

While their performance was far from convincing, at least when it was 11 against 11, Andoni Iraola’s men have now racked up six victories from their last eight games in all competitions.

That impressive run includes a 6-3 triumph at Austrian minnows LASK last week, but Villarreal will take heart from the fact Liverpool have won only two of their five matches at Anfield this season.

The Yellow Submarine warmed up for their trip to Merseyside with a disappointing 0-0 draw against Elche at the weekend, and they have struggled on their travels of late.

The absence of Dominik Szoboszlai with a muscle injury is a significant blow for the home side, however they should have more than enough quality at the top end of the pitch to make it three wins from three in the Champions League.

I fancy the Reds to come out on top in what could be a high-scoring affair so my build-a-bet is Liverpool to win, over 3.5 goals, Alexander Isak to score and Alexis Mac Allister to be shown a card which returns 12/1 with starsports.bet.

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🇮🇹 COMO v MANCHESTER UNITED 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Wednesday, 5.45pm, TNT Sports 2 and HBO Max

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Como is a beautiful place for a holiday but perhaps not the ideal trip for Michael Carrick and his stuttering United right now.

It has been a testing time for Carrick in the wake of last week’s 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid and Lisandro Martinez’s explosive post-match rant.

United did at least pick up a point from a tough trip to Leeds on Sunday but have managed only two wins in all competitions this season.

Failure to pick up three points in Italy would really ramp up the pressure on Carrick ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

Cesc Fabregas’s Como are new to the Champions League and, like United, have made a mixed start, beating RB Leipzig 4-1 and losing 3-2 to Feyenoord last time out.

Their form in Serie A has been pretty solid as they look to build on last season’s fourth-place finish and are yet to taste defeat at home, so United’s task is far from straightforward.

Carrick will take heart from his side’s reaction to conceding inside a minute in Madrid and their battling performance at Elland Road.

If they can cut out the silly defensive mistakes that have cost them points and be more clinical in attack then United to win at 15/8 with starsports.bet may be worth backing.

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🇩🇪 BAYERN MUNICH v ARSENAL 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Wednesday, 8pm, TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max

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PSG v Barcelona apart, Wednesday’s clash between the champions of Germany and England is the most eagerly-anticipated of this round of matches.

Arsenal made it 14 successive league phase wins with a 3-0 beating of Lille last week before a tepid 1-0 triumph at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta’s side give the impression they are not firing on all cylinders but have still racked up ten wins in their last 11 outings, with a 3-0 defeat at in-form Brighton the only blot in their copybook.

Bayern find themselves in their customary position of top in the Bundesliga and put six past RB Leipzig on Saturday thanks in part to a Luis Diaz hat-trick.

They did survive an almighty scare away at Norwegian champions Viking last week, battling back from 2-0 down at one stage to draw 3-3.

Vincent Kompany’s side are also missing Michael Olise due to suspension, which may aid Arsenal’s quest to stop them scoring for an impressive 24th successive game in this competition.

If any team is capable of keeping Harry Kane and company out then it is Arsenal, whose hunt for trophies this season looks once again likely to be built around a stubborn defence as opposed to a free-flowing attack.

The Gunners are also attempting to become the first side to beat Bayern on home turf in the Champions League in 40 attempts, a run dating back some THIRTEEN years!

The biggest issue I can see for Arsenal is how to stop Harry Kane getting on the scoresheet.

The England captain is only one goal away from double figures this season and it is not often you can back Kane to score at any time at 20/21 with starsports.bet.

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🇹🇷 BESIKTAS v CRYSTAL PALACE 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Thursday, 8pm, TNT Sports 2 and HBO Max

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Palace boss Pierre Sage is already facing a battle to save his job as last season’s Europa League winners travel to Turkey for their third Europa League fixture on Thursday.

Sage admitted he was ‘ashamed’ after Palace were thrashed 5-0 at Brighton on Sunday, meaning they have now conceded 17 goals in the Frenchman’s first seven Premier League games.

While the Palace hierarchy ideally want to give Sage more time to succeed, this game in Istanbul and Sunday’s home game with out-of-form Newcastle feel crucial.

Palace, beaten 3-2 at Lyon last week in the John Textor derby, are going to have to battle a hostile home crowd as well as an in-form opponent.

The Eagles’ mid-week hosts have made an excellent start to their European campaign, hammering Marseille 4-1 and then picking up a very decent 3-2 win at Hoffenheim.

I think it might get worse before it gets better for Sage and like the look of Besiktas to win and over 3.5 goals at 3.33/1 with starsports.bet as Palace are simply far too open at the back.

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RECOMMENDED SELECTIONS
1⃣ BEST BET: Harry Kane to score at any time 2pts at 20/21 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
2⃣ NEXT BEST: Manchester United to win 1pt at 15/8 (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
🎲 LONG SHOT: Besiktas to win and over 3.5 goals 1pt at 3.33/1 with starsports.bet
📊 BUILD-A-BET: Liverpool to win, over 3.5 goals, Alexander Isak to score and Alexis Mac Allister to be shown a card 1pt at 12/1 with starsports.bet
🚀 ALEX ACCA: Fenerbahce, Wolves, Leicester, Real Betis 1pt at 13/2 (boosted from 5/1) (⭐️ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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ALEX’S PROFIT/LOSS (OCT 2026): -1.69 points

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