PSV vs Liverpool

With PSV coach Ronald Koeman having to make do without two of his best players - Arouna Kone and Alex - when Liverpool visit the Phillips Stadion on Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie, the Reds are bound to fancy their chances. And as well they might, going into this match on the back of a 4-1 beating of Arsenal in the Premiership at the weekend.These two sides are certainly no strangers having been drawn in the same group during the initial stage of this tournament. Pool won at Anfield before playing out a creditable goalless draw here. Subsequently, Liverpool have achieved what many considered to be mission impossible - they eliminated reigning champions Barcelona - while PSV edged out Arsenal to reach the last eight.In contrast to Koeman, Rafa Benitez has a near enough full-strength squad to go to war with - Mohamed Sissoko, who is suspended, being the only recent casualty. Sami Hyypia, Steve Finnan and Craig Bellamy were all rested on Saturday, so they will be fresh. Meanwhile, Peter Crouch, who weighed in with a hat-trick against Arsenal, looks poised to start up front alongside Dirk Kuyt.Liverpool have a glittering record in this competition having lifted the coveted trophy five times, most recently in the 2004-05 season, and they are now as short as 5/1 third favourites behind fellow Premiership outfits Chelsea and Man Utd in the betting this term. Conversely, PSV are rank outsiders at a best-priced 25/1, which is indicative of the gulf in class between the sides.For PSV this is a must-win game. Liverpool are notoriously hard to master in front of the Kop, so the Dutch side need to go into the second leg with an advantage. And certainly not with a deficit. But in my opinion the very best they can hope for from this encounter is a draw, as they lack the cutting edge to trouble the visitors' defence, especially with Kone out of the equation.With this in mind, the 9/5 on offer with totesport about Liverpool keeping a clean sheet is tempting. Both 0-0 and 0-1 appeal in the correct score market, but I'd be inclined to hold out for ten minutes or so and opting for such a bet in running, as much will depend on the tempo of the game during the early exchanges. In any case, I reckon Liverpool's defence will prove impenetrable.Verdict: 2.50pts Liverpool to keep a clean sheet @ 9/5 (totesport)