Manchester United and Chelsea show Liverpool how it's done

While Liverpool suffer from the woes of four defeats in a row and will struggle to make the knock-out phase of the Champtions League, Manchester United and Chelsea sail serenely onward, and have both almost secured qualification for the next round.

United travelled to Moscow and, despite the potential trip-hazard of the plastic pitch, managed to silence the home crowd and quell the enthusiasm of the home team before eventually coming up with an 86th minute Antonio Valenica winner to head Group B with maximum nine points. Wolfsburg, in second, have only four points.

Chelsea welcomed visitors Atletico Madrid (and on Madrid's performance last night, Chelsea would welcome them again!), and won convincingly, 4-0, in front of a 40,000 crowd. Goals from Kalou (2), Lampard and a Perea own goal put Cheslea on top of Group D, with nine points; Porto are the nearest challengers with six points, but Apoel Nicosia and Atletico have only one point each.

Both United and Chelsea can relax into the second half of the group games. Only the most amazing slip-up would see them fail to qualify from their current positions.

For Liverpool, it's a whole different story. In Group E, they have three points and lie third, behind Lyon and Fiorentina, having lost to both of them. It would seem that only three wins from two away games (at Lyon and Debrecen) and a home game will be enough for them to qualify. A Europa League consolation spot from third place looks much more likely.