Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Mon 6 April 2026 11:26, UK

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Arsenal and Liverpool will hope to start their Champions League quarter-final ties in the right way this week.

The Gunners progressed past Bayer Leverkusen to set up their clash with Sporting CP, and they will travel to Estadio Jose Alvalade for the first leg.

Liverpool got over a first-leg defeat in the last 16 to surpass Galatasaray and set up a meeting with European champions PSG.

The Reds will also need to travel for the first leg, and will hope to return to Anfield next week without a deficit to overcome.

Liverpool’s form has suffered amid the pressure surrounding Arne Slot, but they will be confident of standing up to the test of the French champions.

Champions League kick-off times revealed

Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness exclusively told Football Insider last week that Slot is on the verge of being sacked at Liverpool.

The Dutchman’s second season has been disastrous, and made all the worse by the expectations he set in the first year of his tenure.

Slot’s side won the Premier League at a canter last season but have looked a shadow of the team, despite adding nearly £450million worth of talent.

Exit from the Champions League could be the final straw for decision-makers, with the competition providing a last hope for the 47-year-old’s tenure.

Mikel Arteta faces pressure of a very different nature at Arsenal. The Gunners have been knocked out at the final stages of both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup in the last few weeks, with their chance of finally lifting silverware now resting entirely with the Premier League and the Champions League.

That pressure has seen Arsenal struggle to be at their flowing best for much of the year, with the upcoming games set to be crucial.

The North London club will kick off on Tuesday at 20:00 BST, while Liverpool’s game will be at the same time on Wednesday.

How to watch Champions League games

While Liverpool undoubtedly face the more difficult of the two opponents, Arsenal will be aware that Sporting CP are no pushovers.

Viktor Gyokeres’ replacement, Luis Suarez, is among the most in-form strikers in Europe, netting 33 goals across all competitions this season.

He scored as Sporting CP did the unthinkable in the last 16, overturning Bodo/Glimt’s 3-0 lead from the first leg.

Arsenal will be confident, however, having gone to the Estadio Jose Alvalade last season and emerged 5-1 winners.

The Gunners will be available to watch on Amazon Prime Video on Tuesday, while Liverpool’s game will be shown live on TNT Sports 1.