CL 28 & 29 Aug

Tuesday's games

Liverpool are poor value at 1.33 to win against Toulouse, who only trail 1-0 from the first leg. The loss of Carragher is a major blow and Houllier's side has plenty of problems in defence, with only Hyppia of the regular back row available. Liverpool have not always found qualifying in Europe easy (they lost 1-0 to both CSKA Sofia and AK Graz in the past two years at this stage before squeezing through in the second leg) and the French side are no mugs. If they had given Elmander some better service in the first leg they could easily have snatched a draw and the handicap offered is simply too big to resist. Have a two point bet on Toulouse (+ 1 1/2) at 1.80.

[Liverpool won 4-0]

The other games do not offer any outstanding value. If I had to have one more bet I would take Rangers with a 1/4 goal start as I think they will try to grind out a draw and on the evidence of the first leg they were the better footballing side.

Wednesday's games

I've found it difficult to find a decent bet in tonight's game but I have found one small wager. Salzburg lead 1-0 from their first leg against Shakhtar Donetsk but I gather they are very poor travellers and are worth opposing tonight. They play on a plastic pitch at home which gives them a huge advantage but on their travels they tend to be outclassed, reflecting the weakness of the Austrian league. Shakhtar are a class better and are experienced European campaigners and a t a generous 1.66 odds to win the Ukrainians are worth a one point bet.

[Shakhtar Donetsk won 3-1]