Home Advantage key in PSG tussle

Not only do Liverpool go into their Champions League opener against Paris Saint-Germain on the back of five consecutive wins in the league, but the Reds go into the fixture on the back of some exemplary form at home.

During the course of last season Liverpool lost just a single game at home at the hands of West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup. Since then Liverpool have gotten better over time as they've grown as a team and PSG face a battle and a half as the Reds have just been devastating in Europe.

Liverpool were the competition's highest scorers in last season's campaign tallying 30 goals and were right up there with the Persians as the highest scoring teams across Europe's top leagues.

Only Sevilla and Portuguese giants FC Porto came away a result from Anfield holding Liverpool to draws on both occasions. English champions and Italian giants AS Roma were set provide Juregen Klopp's men their stiffest test, but were easily felled as the Reds proved too much when they got into their flow.

Liverpool ran out with 3-0 and 4-1 wins respectively, and after this weekend's game against Spurs should be fully ready for even the likes of PSG who don't fair so well away from home against Europe's big guns.

In previous clashes against Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich PSG have lost away from home. Even given that, you can't count them out with Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavanni and Neymar in their ranks.

The trio scored a total of 81 goals last season and picked up where they left off scoring 11 times in four games. Given the firepower on display tonight fans could be set for scintillating night of football.

And So It Begins

Real Madrid lifting their third successive Champions League title last season

Europe's premier club competition returns to our screens on Tuesday set against the backdrop of Real Madrid winning a third successive UEFA Champions League title, their fourth in five seasons, and the rollercoaster that was last season's quarterfinals.

Favourites were unexpectedly knocked out, first leg deficits were overturned and Liverpool became unexpected finalists.

With that in mind there will be a lot of intrigue as to how this competition could unfold as its anyone's guess as to which team has what it takes to become kings of Europe as we might be facing  the most competitive Champions League season to date.

THE CHAMPIONS CANT BE COUNTED OUT

With defending champions Real Madrid losing their x-factor with the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo the Champions League looks fair game for the rest of the field, but even without Ronaldo you can't count them out as contenders with the likes of Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in their line up.

The duo have had a good Start to the new season sharing 7 goals between them in the league and Bale having assisted on two of the eleven occassions Los Blancos have found the back of the net.

Not to mention they also have European player of the year Luka Modric in their ranks as well as the creative Isco, the excellent yet underrated Casemiro and the budding talent of Marco Asensio just to name a few game changers.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT

Since their take over by Qatar Sports Investments, French champions Paris Saint-Germain have transformed from perennial under achievers to the most dominant force in French football.

However, on the European front, Les Persiens have underachieved having not being anywhere near winning the Champions League despite investing heavily in signing potential superstars in Lucas Moura and Javier Pastore.

They even turned to the established players with Angel Di Maria and Zlatan Ibrahimivic to no avail. This season they'll have their best chance to finally win Europe's coveted club competition by combining the wherewithal of veteran centre forward Edinson Cavani with the guile and skill of Brazilian ace Neymar and child prodigy Kylian Mbappe.

The trio have already started the Ligue 1 season on the right note scoring a combined eleven goals between them in four rounds of football. 

PSG will now be hoping that the investment in the huge money they've spent over the last two seasons will now pay off with this more complete team spearheaded by potentially the most devastating trio in football right now.

MAN CITY OR LIVERPOOL BRINGING THE TROPHY BACK HOME

An English team hasn't won the Champions League since Chelsea stunned Bayern Munich back in 2012. Liverpool have gotten closest with their finals appearance which ended in disaster by self-inflicted means on a night they needed to be at their best.

This season the Reds should start as one of the favourites having first to test their mettle against another deadly front trio when they meet PSG for their campaign opener. Given their good start to the season and how strong they look along with Manchester City present the Premier League's best chance to bring the Champions League back to England.

WHAT OF BARCELONA?

Having at one point been the best team in the world Barcelona have found the competition a little too stiff in the Champions League as the Spanish champions have time and time again been thwarted as they looked to win the trophy they covet most.

The Blaugrana were the last team to win the Champions League before Madrid began their treble of trophy wins when they had a super trio with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Having lost Neymar to PSG Barca have made a few changes to their line up this term with reinforcements in key areas. The money spent last season on Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele seems to be paying off and Barca will look to the magic of Messi and the cunning of Suarez along with their new acquisitions to claim their place as kings of Europe.

SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST

Part legend, part phenomenon and all round goal machine Cristiano Ronaldo's intentions are clear for all to see. He wants to be recognised as the greatest player of all time. To do that would require something spectacular and where else would he be more spectacular than the competition he shines most in?

Ronaldo currently tops the all time goal scorers list in European club football and in the eyes of many he is the greatest ever to strap on a pair of soccer boots. With the Ronaldo v Messi debate still on going, he looks to put himself beyond doubt by making history in all sorts of ways.

Ronaldo helping Juventus to their first Champions League win since 1996 would put him level with another Real Madrid legend in Paco Gento for the most European cup victories with six.

Not to mention he'll be emulating another European football great, Clarence Seedorf, by winning the trophy with three different teams.

And most significantly of all, he would win the Champions League with three of the most iconic teams in world football and in the process  proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is out and out the GOAT (greatest of all time).

Premier League star has what it takes to play for the world's best

Wilfried Zaha has been impressed over the last few seasons and the best still yet to come from the Palace star

First bursting onto the scene as a youngster Ivory Coast and Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha was thought to be the next big thing when he made his move from Crystal Palace to league giants Manchester United back in 2013.

However, that never panned out as he had hoped as he was sold back to Palace just two years later after making just four appearances for United.

In the time since then, Zaha's star has been on the rise as he's played an integral part in keeping the Eagles in the league scoring nine goals last season.

This prompted interest from the league's big boys as London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham had been linked with the Ivorian throughout the transfer window.

Zaha has so far justified that interest making a fast start to the new season scoring two goals in the league so far, and indeed the best still looks yet to come from Zaha which has lead some to speculate about the forward's potential.

Speaking to Yahoo Sports Crystal Palace legend Clint Morrison believes that Zaha is capable of playing for the world's best.

“He’s a superstar. I’ve been speaking to him and he said it’s different this season trying to adjust his game.

“He’s been playing upfront off (Christian) Benteke, instead of coming from the left and you can see him getting frustrated.

“He’s a top, top player, I believe he could play for one of the top four teams or even Barcelona or Real Madrid."

The Contest of Would-be Champions

Tottenham and Liverpool set to tussle in race for league honours

Iron sharpens iron in Saturday's early kick-off as the English Premier League returns with a mouth watering clash between title hopefuls Tottenham and Liverpool. After the last round of fixtures both sides come off contrasting results with Liverpool keeping their momentum going with a fourth straight win, albeit in a shaky second half performance, against Leicester.

Spurs had their winning run ended at the hands of this season's surprise package Watford. 

Despite this early season setback Spurs go into Saturday's fixture with confidence knowing they managed to take four points of this weekend's visitors last season. In fact in this very fixture last season, Spurs inflicted one of Liverpool's worst defeats of the league as they ran out 4-1 winners and haven't lost a home to Liverpool on the last three occasions.

More importantly, against the top six since taking temporary residence at Wembley, Spurs have only lost to Chelsea and Manchester City at home which says much about their big game mentality.

Liverpool on the other hand, despite being early season favourites didn't fair well against their top six rivals last season. The Reds won just two games against teams in the top six when they hammered a struggling Arsenal and produced an eye-catching performance to stun Manchester City. Unfortunately, those wins came at home as the Reds didn't fair so well away from Anfield collecting just a solitary point on their travels.

This begs a question about Liverpool in big matches as we know all clashes against the league's big sides are often what decides who wins the league and who doesn't. Essentially the clichéd saying to be the best you have to beat the best aptly applies.

While its still early in the season to measure the impact of this fixture for both sides, a win for either team will serve as a springboard to mount a credible challenge for the title and will also act as a psychological boost.

This will pretty much set the tone of the next few weeks of the season and in Liverpool's case they need the win more than Spurs considering the hectic run of fixtures coming up.

Reds to face thorough examination of league credentials

Top of log and firing on cylinders Liverpool will put their title aspirations on the line in upcoming weeks

After a productive opening to the Premier League season, Liverpool are living up to expectations of being the team most likely to push champions Manchester City for the Premier League title.

The Reds currently sit pretty at the top of the standings with four wins from four games, and have been playing like a team that could give even City a run for their money. Not only have the results been good, but the Reds have impressed displaying the different aspects that would-be title contenders would be expected to possess.

With their front three Liverpool have arguably the most potent attack in world football right now, and have started the season on a good note with 9 goals in four matches, but there's been a marked improvement in Jurgen Klopp's side with regards to their defence and midfield.

Liverpool have conceded only just a single goal so far this season and have also added some game management to their potency in front of goal as their no longer the frantic side that tries to run through teams, but look a bit more composed picking when to attack and exploit the oppositions' weaknesses.

While the omens are looking good for Liverpool at the moment, it will take more than that for them to end their Premier League drought.

To win the Premier League takes more than talent. A  team needs mental fortitude, resilience and persistance as the intangibles that all champions need to succeed.

And we will find out whether Liverpool have those intangibles as they are set to be tested in the upcoming weeks.

Upon resumption of the league the Reds will have to make a trip to Wembley to face Tottenham, who previously had their winning run halted at Watford, in a fixture they won't have fond memories of after Spurs ran out 4-1 winners last season.

With the start of the Champions League Liverpool will open their campaign against French giants Paris Saint-Germain who harbour European hopes with their own deadly front three and a well assembled team.

Liverpool would get some respite with a home fixture against Southampton, but even that could be a tricky fixture. Then they follow up with a double header against Chelsea first in the league cup and then again in the league just a few days later.

A dance with Napoli follows in the Champions League and their trial eventually culminates with a big showdown with champions Man City at Anfield.

From the looks of it the next few weeks could go some way in making or breaking Liverpool's title aspirations while at the same time telling us more about Klopp's experiment at Liverpool.

Now the title race can truly begin

Another journey to the league has begun and the upcoming month could go on to shape the rest of the season

The English Premier League concluded its last round of fixtures before the international break with Liverpool, Watford and Chelsea currently sitting top of the log with a 100 percent record with champions Manchester City following close behind.

After an eye opening first month it is in the next month where the championship pedigree and title winning credentials of the league's big guns will truly be tested. 

September will be a monumental month for the Premier League's title ambitions with the UEFA Champions League also set to begin and for a team like Liverpool the stakes couldn't be higher. The Reds now face a run of tough fixtures across three competitions which begin with a clash with top six rivals Tottenham and finish with a block buster fixture against league champions City.

Speaking of the champions, City have a far kinder fixture list as they've been drawn in a relatively winnable Champions League group and face two of the newly promoted sides and Brighton in the lead up to their showdown with Liverpool at Anfield.

This will all but likely play into their hands as they seek to retain their league title.

Chelsea under Mauricio Sarri boast one of the most impressive midfields, at least on paper, in the league and begin their Europa League campaign with winnable fixtures. They also face two winnable fixtures against Cardiff and West Ham before their double header against fellow league hopefuls Liverpool.

Tottenham who recently lost their 100 percent record at the hands of Watford will have a stern test on their hands as they look to get their league campaign back on track with a clash against Liverpool. They also have a reasonable run of fixtures to help them get back on the title trail.

In all likelihood September will most likely be the month that pretty much sets the tone for the season as the league heads into the crunch period towards the end of the year.