Manchester City have been told which teams are most likely to deny them a first Champions League trophy, with Liverpool rated as their closest challengers.
Pep Guardiola’s side are the favourites to go one step further than last season after suffering defeat to Chelsea in the final.
If, as expected, they make it through their last-16 test against Sporting Lisbon after a rampant 5-0 first leg win, they’ll face some stiff competition in the latter rounds.
And former City midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who has backed his old side as the favourites, believes their Premier League rivals Liverpool will provide their biggest challenge.
“I think Liverpool with Manchester City, for me. They’re the two favourites in the competition,” Hargreaves told BT Sport.
“Bayern Munich are probably in and around that then I think Real Madrid. Paris Saint-Germain maybe but the balance of that team isn’t right.
“I think the two strongest teams in the competition are Man City and Liverpool. Liverpool have as good a chance as anyone.”
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Chelsea have struggled to keep pace with City and Liverpool in the Premier League this season, and while Hargreaves doesn't believe they're at the same level as their domestic rivals, he claims City would be foolish to ignore Thomas Tuchel's side's threat.
“I just don’t think they [Chelsea] have the form that they had last season,” Hargreaves added.
“Manchester City and Liverpool are in a different bracket but don’t bet against Thomas Tuchel and that Chelsea team. They’ll be a dangerous underdog to underestimate.”
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