Hod’s law that one from four will fall at first hurdle

GLENN HODDLE fears most for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool as Europe’s elite resume hostilities.

All four English clubs and their managers involved in the Champions League this month are desperate to light up the competition, according to Hoddle.

Yet who needs success most just now is up for debate as the pressure mounts on Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Graham Potter and Antonio Conte.

Ex-England boss Hoddle (below) said: “All four of them need it exactly the same. It’s incredible really.

“Pep hasn’t won the Champions League with City.

“He actually hasn’t won it without a little fella called Messi.

“So there’s something he needs to do.

“Conte and whether he stays at Tottenham… if they go long and deep, confidence comes and then they get top four. He needs it.

“And the Champions League could be a turning point for Chelsea. If they reach the quarters or semis, that should be enough for the owners to keep Graham.

“And Klopp… my word. Imagine Liverpool knock out Real Madrid, that would turn everything on its head.”

But while backing Man City to beat RB Leipzig and his former clubs, Chelsea and Spurs, to progress past Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan, respectively, Hoddle is concerned for Klopp’s strugglers against holders Real Madrid.

He said: “They have been two heavyweights but Liverpool have come down a weight. That’s the English team I’m fearful for. I think the other three will go through.

“Spurs have a good tie. Milan are not the team they were yesteryear.

“Whether they can set their sights on winning the competition, I don’t know.”