Champions League Quarter-final Preview


Liverpool vs Arsenal

Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant is set to miss the quarter-final game against his former club Arsenal after sustaining a hamstring injury in Saturday's 1-1 Premier League draw, ironically, at the Emirates Stadium.

The 25-year-old joins long-term casualties Daniel Agger and Harry Kewell on the sidelines. Other than that, Rafael Benitez has a full squad to choose from.

Arsenal will be missing midfielder Tomas Rosicky for the clash at Anfield tonight, with the Czech international picking up a knee injury in the Gunners' FA Cup victory over Newcastle way back in January. The 27-year-old has not played since.

Full-back Bacary Sagna is the other notable absentee for the Gunners.

There is some good news for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, as forward Robin van Persie is fit for selection after overcoming a thigh problem he has been suffering lately. He joins leading scorer Emmanuel Adebayor, Alexander Hleb, Gael Clichy and Philippe Senderos in the trip up north.Liverpool and Arsenal drew 1-1 in the first leg and Benitez has said his team will not sit back and defend in this match.

Chelsea vs Fenerbahce

Petr Cech suffered a terrible training ground accident, clashing with Israeli centreback Tal Ben-Haim that needed 50 stitches to patch up.The Czech international has since had surgery on his lips and chin, but this injury sets the goalkeeper back another two weeks before he is able to resume play for the London club.Striker Didier Drogba and centreback Ricardo Carvalho should figure in Chelsea boss Avram Grant's plans when they take on Fenerbahce.For the Turkish club, striker Colin Kazim-Richards is set for a place on the bench, despite his heroics in the first leg of the competition. Fener are set to go on the defensive away from home to protect their 2-1 advantage.

Manchester United vs AS Roma

The Red Devils will miss out on the services of centreback Rio Ferdinand, after the 29-year-old limped off in their 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough and left the Riverside with his foot in protective plastic casing.Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is said to be looking at Gerard Pique as the possible replacement for Ferdinand in the centre of defence while the England international sits out.Roma coach Luciano Spalletti is the more worried manager of the two sides, his AS Roma team will be without playmaker and skipper Francesco Totti.The Giallorossi have confirmed Francesco Totti will not travel with the squad, the club's top scorer sidelined with a thigh injury since the club's 1-1 draw with Cagliari on the 29th of March.The Red Devils have a 2-0 advantage from the first leg in Rome and look to score more at Old Trafford to secure passage into the semi-finals.

Barcelona vs Schalke 04

Frank Rijkaard may have forward Lionel Messi available for the second leg against Schalke at the Nou Camp. The Spanish giants currently lead the tie 1-0, courtesy of an early strike from Bojan Krkic.The Catalans are still missing playmaker Ronaldinho through injury, but the Brazilian might not have played anyway even if he was fit, with the broken down relationship he has with the staff of the Blaugranes.Schalke boss Mirko Slomka will hope that striker Kevin Kuranyi will rediscover the form that made him so lethal in front of goal. The German international could not get near any of the crosses Schalke sent into the penalty area and had to be replaced by Vicente Sanchez on the hour mark.