Statistics Predict Liverpool Vs. Chelsea Semi-Final

According to stats published in the Daily Mirror, Liverpool and Chelsea are statistically most likely to be facing off in the Champions League semi-finals at the end of this month.

Based on what has happened in all previous Champions League knockout games, the statistics reckon that teams who play away first and grab a 1-1 draw, as Liverpool did, will progress 77% of the time.

That doesn't make good reading for Arsenal fans, whose side are statistically reckoned to have just a 23% change of going through now. Had Emmanuel Adebayor's opener been the only goal of the match, however, the Gunners' chances would have stood at 58%.

Despite their loss in Turkey Chelsea remain favourites to go through in their encounter - the research shows that 53% of sides who lose 2-1 in the first away leg manage to turn their fortunes around in the return match. If results go by the form book we will see Liverpool and Chelsea square off in a Champions League semi-final for the third time in four years.

Needless to say that in the other half of the draw Manchester United's and Barcelona's away wins give them an extremely good chance of making the semi-finals and facing each other at the end of this month.

Jimmy James