Steven Gerrard and 5 pundits predict Champions League winner as Liverpool takes on PSG

Six football pundits including Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard have made their predictions for who will win the Champions League with Liverpool facing PSG in the quarter-finals

The concluding stages of the Champions League are poised to take centre stage when club football returns following the March international break.

Just two of the six English sides managed to navigate the round of 16 and book their places in the quarter-finals, with Liverpool producing an impressive comeback triumph over Galatasaray and Arsenal overcoming Bayer Leverkusen.

All eight teams made compelling arguments when securing their spots in the quarters, and pundits have put forward various predictions about who might ultimately lift the trophy. It hasn't all followed the script, either, with three sides still in the competition despite finishing outside the top eight in the league phase.

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One of these sides is Paris Saint-Germain, who claimed the tournament last season despite a disappointing 15th-place finish in the league phase. They eliminated Liverpool on penalties during that campaign and now face a rematch after progressing through ties against Monaco and Chelsea.

Real Madrid (9th) and Atletico Madrid (14th) are the other sides from outside the top eight to progress, seeing off Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur respectively in the round of 16. Los Blancos are now set to meet Bayern Munich, while Atleti face a Barcelona side who demolished Newcastle 8-3 on aggregate.

The quarter-finals conclude with Arsenal facing Sporting CP, a rematch of their thrilling 2022/23 Europa League encounter which saw the Portuguese outfit triumph on penalties. Pundits have been sharing their forecasts throughout the knockout rounds, with various contenders emerging as potential champions.

Jamie Carragher

Between the two legs of the round of 16, Carragher outlined his predictions for the entire draw. He envisaged a PSG versus Arsenal final, with the English club prevailing this time after their semi-final defeat to the French side in 2025.

"Most people will say Bayern are a better team than PSG this season but that will not sway me. PSG will be in the final" Carragher stated on CBS Sports.

"That high line will cost Barcelona in the semi-final against Arsenal," he continued. "So a PSG-Arsenal final and then the winner will be... Arsenal will win the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Thierry Henry

Should Carragher's forecast materialise, Henry might find himself torn. The 48 year old acknowledges the credentials of his former clubs Arsenal and Barcelona, while also accepting Bayern Munich could surpass both.

"[Barcelona] need to find that consistency and that balance if they want to win and be considered one of the hot favourites to win it – I still think they are," he commented before the Catalan side comfortably dispatched Newcastle in the second leg of the preceding round. "But that balance sometimes that they don't have make me turn a tiny bit more to Bayern and Arsenal." He lavished praise on Bayern as they trounced Atalanta in both legs, hinting that they might have the best shot at clinching the title. "You will see, whoever it is - it can be the winger inside, the striker like we saw with Nicolas Jackson on the right - [Bayern] know what they need to do, they press well, they're very difficult to beat at times," he observed.

Micah Richards

Richards joins Carragher as the second pundit to back Arsenal. Despite falling short against PSG last season, the Gunners, who are leading the Premier League and ended the European league phase with a flawless record, should consider themselves among the favourites.

"They're top of the Premier League and I think Arsenal are the favourites for the Champions League because I think it will suit them more than the domestic games," Richards opined on The Rest is Football. "In the Champions League the games might get a little bit more stretched whereas in the Premier League everyone is going to that low block against them."

It's important to note that his prediction was made in early March, prior to Arsenal's defeat to his old team Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. Now, they have the opportunity to ensure that the Wembley disappointment doesn't derail their remaining season.

Paul Merson

Ex-Arsenal midfielder Merson has grown increasingly pessimistic about the Gunners' prospects following their Carabao Cup final defeat. While he refrained from explicitly tipping any particular side for glory, he struggles to see Mikel Arteta's squad getting past Barcelona if both teams reach the semi-finals.

"I look at Barcelona – who Arsenal are on course to play in the semi-finals – and Arsenal haven't got the pace to trouble Barcelona's high line," he remarked on Sky Sports. "The forward players aren't electric – they're not like Anthony Elanga or Anthony Gordon who caused Barcelona problems in the last 16. I dread to think what Barcelona could do to Arsenal."

Owen Hargreaves

TNT Sports analyst Hargreaves originally backed his old side Bayern Munich. However, after examining the draw more thoroughly, he switched allegiances and plumped for Barcelona to lift the trophy.

"You know what, I'm going Barca," the former England international declared. "I think with the draw, obviously it favours that side."

"[Lamine] Yamal, [Robert] Lewandowski, Raphinha, Pedri, [Frenkie] De Jong, the manager [Hansi Flick] has already won it, they play super aggressive. When it gets to those games, they will probably play a little bit deeper. Barca could beat anybody on their day."

Steven Gerrard

Ex-Liverpool skipper Gerrard, who hoisted the Champions League trophy with the Reds in 2005, is not ruling out a repeat despite inconsistent league performances. With only eight teams remaining in Europe, Gerrard believes Liverpool have as good a chance as any.

"I think Bayern and Liverpool could be the ones people don't think can get there, but they can," he declared. "I would be inclined that way [PSG] as well, if they can get everyone on the pitch."

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