Champions League Tips: Joe Cole's 4 Bet Builders for Wednesday

Wednesday is crunch time in the Champions League as the final round of matches in the league phase gets underway! Liverpool are home and dry into the Round of 16 knockouts, but Arsenal and Aston Villa have work to do, as Manchester City face a showdown just to make the playoffs.

Paddy Power pundit Joe Cole joined us this week to look at four of the games involving Premier League teams at this crucial stage. He has also included a host of player picks in here, too, so Paddy’s Super Sub promotion will kick in if they’re replaced during the match, meaning the bet will carry over to their replacements.

Wednesday Champions League tips

PSV v Liverpool
Liverpool to win
Darwin Nunez to score
Darwin Nunez 2+ shots
Alexis Mac Allister to be booked

A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 20/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.

Man City v Club Brugge
Man City (-1)
Over 3.5 goals
Phil Foden 3+shots

A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 2/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.

Girona v Arsenal
Arsenal to win
Both teams to score: Yes
Over 3.5 goals
Kai Havertz to score or assist

A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 5/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.

Aston Villa v Celtic
Aston Villa to win
Both teams to score: Yes
Ollie Watkins to score
Over 4.5 cards

A Bet Builder with these bets pays at approximately 7/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.

PSV v Liverpool

8pm (TV: TNT Sports 3)

Liverpool have been absolutely sensational so far this season, they are flying in Europe. PSV are 19th in the table and they have not kept a clean sheet in their last five matches, so I expect Liverpool to win here.

Sometimes, you have to start thinking outside the box in these games, because Liverpool have got important players missing like Diogo Jota, so I think Darwin Nunez will come into the team.

When he starts, he averages two or more shots, so he will be a threat. Even with Liverpool resting players, I do think they will get the win, and I’m backing Nunez to get those two shots.

I also think Alexis Mac Allister to be carded is an option, he’s picked up four yellows in six Champions League games so far this season, so he’s one to look at.

Alongside that Nunez shots bet, I’m going for him to score, as part of a Liverpool win.

Man City v Club Brugge

8pm (TV: TNT Sports 2)

This is must-win for Manchester City to make the playoffs, they need to bounce back from that defeat to Paris St-Germain, but this team is full of experience.

You look back to games where they’ve had to win to take the Premier League title on home turf and they always get it done. I think this is the NAP of the week, they were superb against Chelsea.

It will be interesting to see how Brugge approach this because if they avoid defeat they can progress and knock out Manchester City. They’ve been quite strong in this competition.

I’m going for Man City to win (-1) and going for Phil Foden to have an impact – he’s averaging 3.7 shots per game in the Champions League this season, so I’d back him to hit over three. I’d be more than comfortable with predicting four or five goals scored in this game.

Girona v Arsenal

8pm (TV: TNT Sports 4)

Girona were incredible last year but their team’s been decimated as a result. They’ve sold a lot of players and are 31st in the league with no chance of progressions.

They’re just playing for pride and lost 2-1 in La Liga after being ahead at the weekend.

I can only see an Arsenal win here, it’s tough to predict a goal scorer for Arsenal, but I’m going with Kai Havertz to score or assist.

He’s had four goals and an assist in six Champions League games this season. He enjoys this tournament, we know that from his time at Chelsea.

I think there will be plenty of goals and a busy night for the Girona goal keeper Paulo Gazzaniga. I fancy Arsenal to win this 3-1 and Gazzaniga’s been facing over 4 shots per game so far.

Aston Villa v Celtic

8pm (TV: TNT Sports 1)

This game is really nicely poised because Aston Villa are ninth in the table after losing last time at Monaco and Celtic are 18th and are unbeaten in their last six games in this competition.

Crucially, they didn’t have a game at the weekend so they’ve had a full week to prepare for this. Celtic also have brilliant momentum because of that last-minute winner last week.

It’s another battle of Britain so I think it’s going to be fiery and plenty of cards are an option, so I’m going for over 4.5 in total, but I fancy the Villa crowd to roar them on to a win.

I’m a big fan of Ollie Watkins, he’s one of my favourites, so I’m backing him to score, but I do think Celtic will cause problems and get a goal.