The Champions League draw was held on Monday. All four Premier League teams progressed to the round of 16. Chelsea, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspurs topped their respective Group.
Liverpool was the only English Team that finished second in his group behind Napoli.
Chelsea and Manchester City had a German opponent in Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig respectively. Tottenham will face Italian Champions AC Milan. Liverpool were handed the hardest draw among all the English Team as Jurgen Klopp’s side faces last year’s Champions League winners Real Madrid.
Chris Sutton predicts Chelsea, Manchester City, and Tottenham to progress to the next round but expects Real Madrid to win the tie against Liverpool.
What did Chris Sutton say?
The former Chelsea player said: “Manchester City are favorites to win this tie, but anyone who says it is a foregone conclusion is doing a disservice to RB Leipzig. They are a talented team — one that beat City 2-1 in the Champions League group stages last season.
“Head coach Marco Rose took over from Domenico Tedesco in September and has got them playing front-foot football, with French striker Christopher Nkunku their chief threat. Leipzig are very capable of doing damage if given the chance by City.
“Tottenham are inconsistent but totally capable of winning this tie. Antonio Conte does not have the greatest Champions League record and Spurs only got out of their group by the skin of their teeth when they won in Marseille, but now they are here they need to embrace their chance against a threatening Milan team.
“This tie brings back memories of 2011 — the infamous Gennaro Gattuso and Joe Jordan brawl. Conte will bring the aggression on the touchline this time around, I’m sure.
“And it adds some spice that he previously managed Inter Milan for two seasons with great success. I’m predicting Tottenham go through but not without plenty of drama.
“What worries me about Chelsea is they do not seem to know what they are. They looked like a team without an identity in their 1-0 loss to Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
“Manager Graham Potter has used six different starting formations during his 12 games in charge — a true tinker man. Maybe by February, he will have discovered his preferred team and tactics.
“Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang only managed eight touches in his reunion with Arsenal and Potter needs to get him much more involved on his return to Dortmund. Though they have their problems, I’m backing Chelsea to win.”
Jurgen Klopp’s side had faced Real Madrid four times in the last six seasons and the 14times Champions League winners have also been the better side in those ties.
Champions League round of 16 fixtures and Date
4 February (first leg) / 8 March (second leg)
AC Milan (ITA) vs Tottenham Hotspur (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) vs Bayern (GER)
15 February / 7 March
Club Brugge (BEL) vs Benfica (POR)
Dortmund (GER) vs Chelsea (ENG)
21 February / 15 March
Liverpool (ENG) vs Real Madrid (ESP)
Frankfurt (GER) vs Napoli (ITA)
22 February / 14 March
Leipzig (GER) vs Manchester City (ENG)
Inter (ITA) vs Porto (POR)