Chelsea Lucky, Familiar Foes for Arsenal, City

Arsenal

A familiar foe for Arsenal in recent history, Borussia Dortmund join the Gunners in Group D.  Group mates in three of the past four seasons, Arsenal and Dortmund won their respective away games against each other last year.  Even with the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze to Bayern Munich, Dortmund are still an extremely dangerous team in this competition.  

However, the bottom half of the group is much easier for Arsenal than the likes of Napoli and Marseille were last season.  Anderlecht, having won the Belgian championship three years running, will likely be the whipping boys of the group; they have only progressed past the group stage twice in their history.  Galatasaray, under new manager Cesare Prandelli, will look to play spoiler here, but it’s difficult to imagine them upsetting either Arsenal or Dortmund.  

Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers will be happy with Liverpool’s favorable draw in Group B.  Sure, they’ll have Ronaldo and the boys to deal with twice against Real Madrid, but advancing past the likes of Basel and Ludogorets should be a formality.  Expect Liverpool to finish second in this group, with an outside chance of ruining Los Blancos’ expected finish atop the group.  

Bulgarian side Ludogorets will be happy taking any points from this group, but Basel have adequately played the spoiler role in the Champions League in recent years.  However, I see Brendan Rodgers having a lot of success in European competition in years to come.  Rodgers is such an excellent tactician, partnered with his shrewd business in the summer.  Many of the players he has signed have Champions League or Europa League experience and are comfortable in the European game.  

Manchester City 

The Citizens finally progressed past the group stages in last years competition, but were disposed of rather easily by Barcelona.  This year, the draw isn’t much easier, but Manuel Pellegrini will expect his team to go through and perhaps even challenge Bayern for the top spot in the group (assuming his math is correct this time ‘round).

CSKA Moscow and Roma round out the bottom half of the group, both of which are respectable Champions League opponents.  Traveling to Moscow is never easy, while Rudi Garcia continues to build an impressive foundation at Roma.  Pellegrini has added more depth to his team in the summer, showing he is ambitious to make some noise in the Champions League this season.  However, this is probably the hardest group in the entire competition, so don't count on chalk here.    

Chelsea

By far the easiest draw of any premier league side, Chelsea should have no problem not only advancing but winning this group easily.  Jose Mourinho has depth at every position, and could feasibly change all 11 starters from a premier league game and be fine against these teams.  

Sporting Lisbon look a dangerous side with Nani in the fold, but last year was truly a revelation in the Portuguese league and I don’t expect them to hit the same form again this season, especially if William Carvalho leaves before Monday.  Maribor impressively eliminated Celtic, but will be the bottom-feeders in this group.  Schalke have a good record in European competition, but with the emergence of Bayer Leverkusen will be happy to just be back in the Champions League next year and likely focus on the Bundesliga.  

Can and Moreno Would Help Liverpool

Manchester City have achieved the ultimate level of stability.  This summer, coming off a title triumph, they managed to not lose any significant contributing players and have strengthened the areas of concern.  Equialim Mangala joins the Citizens and makes an aging defense more youthful, while Fernando impressed in his premier league debut last weekend.  

Liverpool have had similar fortune in the transfer market, securing the services of many young talents in the wake of Luis Suarez’ exit from Anfield.  What gives Manchester City the advantage apart from the obvious Etihad effect is that they didn’t lose their best player this summer.  

Don’t expect Liverpool to struggle as Tottenham did in the months following Gareth Bale’s mammoth move to Real Madrid.  However, questions still remain as to whether or not Liverpool are at the level they were last season.  Suarez contributed with and without the ball, and was loved unconditionally by the Anfield patrons.  

Losing such a mercurial talent and personality typically puts a dent in a squad’s level of play, but Brendan Rodgers has done an exceptional job at replacing his impact.  Two names who could feature at the Etihad Stadium today are Emre Can and Alberto Moreno. 

In a performance that lacked steel in the midfield last weekend against Southampton, Lucas looked way out of depth.  Emre Can, as I speculated last week, could be an inclusion for the Reds who will bring more physicality and energy to the midfield.  Can’s influence would decrease the duties of Steven Gerrard but more importantly inject inspiration into a midfield who will certainly need reinforcements in a longer season.  

Similarly, Alberto Moreno should feature for Liverpool and make his premier league debut.  Moreno was unlucky not to be on the plane to Brazil with La Roja this summer, but that should only encourage the Spaniard to elevate his play further.  Javier Manquillo struggled against Ryan Bertrand and Dusan Tadic and could make way Glen Johnson, who started on the left last weekend, or Jon Flanagan.  

Fernando’s holding presence in the midfield should further allow Fernandinho and/or Yaya Toure to push forward and contribute to Manchester City’s already impressive attack.  His positioning was on-point against Newcastle in the opening premier league fixture and atoned for his embarrassing stumble against Arsenal in the Community Shield.  

Sergio Aguero should be back to full fitness, and David Silva looked a menace in midfield against the Magpies.  The question for Liverpool will be whether or not they can handle such an attack in a hostile environment.  Dejan Lovren is already proving to be a huge upgrade but the second center back position remains a question for the Reds.  

If Martin Skrtel can stay disciplined alongside Lovren, Liverpool could have a chance to take points away from today.  It’s almost inevitable that City will put goals on the board, so Liverpools speedy attack must be on point when they are granted chances by the Blues’ defense.  

Even in such a massive fixture, it’s still early in the season and should bear much determination on the title race.  Then again, earning points is a priority for both sides.  I would be surprised if Manchester City didn’t earn three points at home, but won’t rule out a resilient performance from Liverpool in which Emre Can and Alberto Moreno star.  3-2 Blues in this one for me.