Opta's latest supercomputer has revealed the favourites to win the Champions League ahead of it starting up next week - and it's not good reading for one Premier League side.
The first games of the 2025-26 competition will take place next Tuesday, with the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham in action on matchday one as 36 teams go for glory again.
Paris Saint-Germain go into the competition as defending champions after thrashing Inter Milan in the 2024-25 final, while six Premier League teams will take part in this edition.
They are Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle, who finished in the top five of the competition, as well as Tottenham, who qualified as Europa League winners.
The draw has been made for the league phase, which will see each team play eight matches in a bid to finish in the top eight of the standings to qualify for the knockout stages automatically, or at least finish ninth to 24th to reach the play-off round.
And, with the return of the competition, analysts Opta have run 10,000 simulations to see who the most likely winners of this season's competition are - and it's a Premier League side.
It's the Premier League champions who are the most likely to win the Champions League, Opta say. Arne Slot's Liverpool side are given a 20.4 per cent chance of lifting the trophy for a seventh time - despite losing to PSG in the last-16 last year.
Alongside that, they are given a 34 per cent chance of reaching the final, and a mammoth 72.7 per cent chance of reaching the last-eight.
Second most likely, meanwhile, to win the trophy are Arsenal. Despite never winning the Champions League, Mikel Arteta's side are given a 16 per cent chance of glory this season.
There is pressure on the Spaniard to deliver success after coming second three years in a row in the Premier League, and they also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last season.
They are backed at 44.8 per cent to reach the same stage again next year - with PSG close behind them in terms of the most-likely to win the competition. They are given a 12.7 per cent chance of retaining their title.
Below the reigning champions is another English side in Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's team have had a tough start to the domestic season, losing two of their three games so far, but it's not predicted that that run will have an impact on their European form.
City are given an 8.4 per cent chance of winning the trophy they lifted in 2023, as well as 16.6 per cent chance of reaching the final and 31.1 per cent chance of finding themselves in the last-four.
There's then more good reading for Premier League sides, with Chelsea close behind in sixth - also behind Barcelona - given a seven per cent chance of winning the Champions League - meaning four of the top six favourites are from the Premier League.
It isn't, however, good reading for the other Premier League teams. Though Newcastle, who are returning to the competition after a year, are given a somewhat respectable three per cent chance of winning the trophy - the 10th favourites - there's even less chance for Spurs.
Thomas Frank's men, who finished 17th under the stewardship of Ange Postecoglou in the Premier League last season, are given just a one per cent chance of winning the Champions League for the first time.
They are, though, given a 22.9 per cent chance of reaching the last-eight, and do have decent fixtures in the league phase. They will kick off their campaign against Villarreal at home next week, while they will also play the likes of Monaco, PSG and Dortmund.
Elsewhere, favourites Liverpool will take on Atletico Madrid in their first match of their European campaign at Anfield next Wednesday, with Arsenal facing Athletic Bilbao in Spain the day before.
City will host Napoli next Thursday, and Newcastle will host Barcelona on the same day in a huge game for Eddie Howe's side.
The whole week has been dedicated to Champions League fixtures, with the Europa League to kick off on September 24 and the Conference League on October 2.
vuaabdipu
0
Liverpool, anything short of winning it in Budapest will be a failure
Zatbdiklmp
3
I wanna said arsenal are going to though season even this year but I wanna Sai we are gunners we are champions π π₯ π
wombeilryz
1
Liverpool winning this season Ucl
Jusdeikuz
1
Spanish teams are powerhouses in Europe, with lots of silverware, they are always favorites
Williamslad
2
Supercomputer is just a device, Liverpool players and the manager have to prove to the football world that they deserve the crown. We did maintain a 98% run last season and fell out in the last 16.
Joelinhocent
1
Iβm just tired with this supercomputer fake prediction every year.
Wotamita
1
this opta is laughing their sh*t,where are barca and Madrids?bayern,Napoli, inter n juve!plz can someone wake this poster up that day dream is too early
Mrbank
0
arsenal will lift trophy this season
kmuguna
2
I'm surprised supercomputer knows the truth ππͺ
izacksen
0
De play
wait for Newcastle to destroy Barcelona
GodCool
0
When arsenal are named one of the favourites for a trophy, let alone it's a European trophy, you know this is bullcrap
elkay23
0
Spain is bagging it, I wonder whether the super computer was made in England.May your dream come true one day super computer
Vetabciktu
2
Supercomputer has brains I'm must be honest with the prediction, it's spot onπ―πYNWA
AFerusmc6546
1
you talk anyhow,you must be a Barcelona fan,I can't remember the last time your team won it,stop hiding behind real Madrid's glory,since 2019 3 English team have won it and the only team that have been there about, either win or close was Real Madrid, PSG are the current holder and they have to see off English teams at every stage enroute to winning it and there's no problem with the English teams either,when the name Liverpool, Chelsea and Man city are being mentioned in the competition everyone sits up
Go win epl since conte
AFerusmc6546
1
you talk anyhow,you must be a Barcelona fan,I can't remember the last time your team won it,stop hiding behind real Madrid's glory,since 2019 3 English team have won it and the only team that have been there about, either win or close was Real Madrid, PSG are the current holder and they have to see off English teams at every stage enroute to winning it and there's no problem with the English teams either,when the name Liverpool, Chelsea and Man city are being mentioned in the competition everyone sits up
Even if it long barca has more than Chelsea and bigger so cry
AFerusmc6546
0
Liverpool is winning this trophy hands down
De play
Jezaeklnoz
6
Liverpool is winning this trophy hands down
midestivah
0
continue dreaming. no PL team will win this cup soon. problem with English football is that it's played on the radio, TV, and social media and never played on the actual ground. look out for Spanish teams this year.
also want to remind you what drives Chelsea,the underdog name tag is what push Chelsea to trive
midestivah
1
continue dreaming. no PL team will win this cup soon. problem with English football is that it's played on the radio, TV, and social media and never played on the actual ground. look out for Spanish teams this year.
you talk anyhow,you must be a Barcelona fan,I can't remember the last time your team won it,stop hiding behind real Madrid's glory,since 2019 3 English team have won it and the only team that have been there about, either win or close was Real Madrid, PSG are the current holder and they have to see off English teams at every stage enroute to winning it and there's no problem with the English teams either,when the name Liverpool, Chelsea and Man city are being mentioned in the competition everyone sits up
maekmnz
2
continue dreaming. no PL team will win this cup soon. problem with English football is that it's played on the radio, TV, and social media and never played on the actual ground. look out for Spanish teams this year.
Dmoney111
1
Ogun go kpai that supercomputer
Given77
1
Haaland in the picture very surprised with percentage given
AFerXqsJ4187
1
This super computer got issues
Kinetics231
2
If FAVORITE & MOST LIKELY were trophies, Arsenal would have been champions long time π€£π€£π€£ because that's the only place they are always pronounced
tikeklpu
2
Like Real Madrid playing basketball lol
AFerofRi6246
0
Liverpool is actually the best this year. But it was the same case last year, everything is possible ππΎππΎππΎ
2muchmoney
5
The same super compute who predict Benfica to win the club World Cup same computers who had been falling in its productions for over 3 years now same computer who changed itβs predictions every months ππ what I love about the computer is anyone who they predicted never even get to final not to talk of winning it π
Nubabdlpz
1
Beast
Lekbenopsu
3
Real Madrid noΚ» 16
Kebbdeyz
2
the very super computer that predicted Nottingham Forest would relegate 3 yrs ago
KANYIRINGSUMA7
0
useless supercomputer prediction don't worry time will tell you think your emotional selection will come true fake reality
After first matches it's predictions will change, so I also see nothing super about this machine!
dieshe
1
no matter how hard the opt they can't get the right prediction
kmuguna
2
So supercomputer works just like a normal human being?β₯οΈπ
Zuodisty
1
useless supercomputer prediction don't worry time will tell you think your emotional selection will come true fake reality
lioabciors
1
Stupid supercomputer fake prediction