Forlan Hero

Justice was done last night when Liverpool were knocked out of the Europa Cup. It's completely ridiculous that teams who come 3rd in the group stages of the Champions League are given the safety net of entry into the Europa League. Okay, I know Athletico Madrid also benefited from that crazy European loophole - but it was clearly a case of the lesser of two evils (and the fact that Forlan scored the decisive goal was poetic). Plus, for consistencies sake, I hope Fulham thump them in the final.

Final prediction

Here's hoping my uncanny ability will work one more time: Barcelona to win a disappointing game.

Bet your house on it

Given my previous record, I've been asked by some Man Utd supporters to make public my verdict on the outcome of tomorrow's tie. Happy to oblige - Utd will be knocked out and Porto will advance to the semi-finals. Guaranteed fact.

Bring on the Scousers?

For only the second time in my life, I think I might actually want those Lucky Scousers to win a game tonight (the previous occasion was a league fixture against the Geordies - the one team I dislike more – when there was an outside chance that they might actually win something for once in their miserable existence). The chance to see Man United beat (hopefully thump) them in the final, thereby shutting their fans up for ever, is just too good an opportunity to miss. Of course the nightmare scenario, where the Scousers have yet another of their lucky European nights, is simply too awful to contemplate. But this is perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sort out the ultimate bragging rights, finally and for ever. So, as much as it pains me to admit it, I think I’ll be hoping that Chelsea slip up tonight. Well, perhaps...

Have Man Utd blown it?

If Barcelona knock United out next week, it will be easy to look at the 2nd minute of the first leg as the turning point. But although Ronaldo's penalty miss was pretty unforgivable, given how important an away goal would have been, I wonder if tactically Ferguson got it wrong. In the 70s and 80s, 0-0 away from home in the first leg of a European tie was a great result - you'd then be confident of going back to your fortress and wrapping up the tie. Nowadays, I'm not so sure that it is such a good result. I think away goals have become far more important these days, and United may rue not having been a bit more adventurous at Camp Nou, especially with Puyol missing (did they have any shots on target?).

Now United have to win at Old Trafford, and should Barca take the lead, or even if United are ahead by a goal with 20 or so minutes to go, things could become very precarious. I actually make Barca slight favourites now - I can see Messi continuing to cause United problems, whilst Henry (should he play) certainly won't need any motivation to try and silence the Theatre of Dreams. It's about time Ronaldo had a big game when it really matters - if he doesn't, I suspect it could well become 'squeaky bum' time on Tuesday night.