Liverpool have been tipped as the frontrunners to win this season’s UEFA Champions League, according to Opta’s supercomputer, as Europe’s most prestigious club competition kicks off next week.
The 2025/26 campaign begins on Tuesday, with Arsenal and Tottenham among the sides in action on matchday one.
Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will also look to retain their crown after dismantling Inter Milan in last season’s final.
England boasts six representatives this year: Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Newcastle, and Europa League winners Tottenham.
The expanded league-phase format remains in place, with each club set to play eight games.
The top eight teams will qualify automatically for the round of 16, while those finishing ninth to 24th must battle through a play-off to secure their knockout place.
Opta’s model, which simulated the tournament 10,000 times, places Arne Slot’s Liverpool as the team most likely to triumph.
The Reds are handed a 20.4% chance of lifting their seventh European crown, alongside a 34% probability of reaching the final and a 72.7% likelihood of making the quarter-finals. Their strong numbers come despite falling to PSG in the round of 16 last season.
Arsenal follow as the second favourites, with Mikel Arteta’s men given a 16% chance of finally securing the club’s first-ever Champions League title.
The Gunners, who reached the semi-finals last season and finished runners-up in the Premier League for three straight years, are backed at 44.8% to make the last four again.
Reigning champions PSG are next with a 12.7% chance of defending their crown, while Manchester City, European winners in 2023 – sit close behind. Despite a shaky start to the domestic season, Pep Guardiola’s side are still considered strong contenders, given an 8.4% chance of winning, 16.6% chance of reaching the final, and 31.1% probability of making the semi-finals.
Barcelona also feature among the favourites, narrowly ahead of Chelsea, who still secure sixth spot with a 7% chance of glory.
That leaves four Premier League teams inside the top six most-favoured clubs to win the competition, underlining England’s continued strength on the European stage.
