CLASH OF THE MIDFIELD TITANS: The form of Arsenal's young Francesc Fabregas (above) and Liverpool's seasoned Steven Gerrard on the day could decide the outcome.

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WHENEVER the Big Four English clubs insisted they did not mind who they played in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, few believed them.

So, despite their public pronouncements, a few expletives may have been aired in the Arsenal and Liverpool camps when they were paired in the last eight.

While Manchester United face Roma again and Chelsea have the altogether preferable task of taking on Fenerbahce, the other two English representatives face each other.

As the two Champions League ties sandwich a Premier League clash, they will meet three times within eight or nine days.

And, as Arsenal eliminated Liverpool from two Cup competitions at Anfield last season and enjoyed the better of their meeting there this season, they have the greater grounds for optimism.

"We were probably destined to meet Man United again, and we're ready to take revenge. We won at Real Madrid this season. We know we can beat any one." ROMA MIDFIELDER DAVID PIZARRO, whose side were thrashed 1-7 last season in the second leg of the quarter- final ... more CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER- FINALS Arsenal v Liverpool AS Roma v Manchester United ... more

Recent history favours Arsene Wenger's men, whose uniquely brilliant brand of football surprised AC Milan in the last 16.

But Liverpool have the Champions League pedigree, especially as the second leg will be at Anfield, where Chelsea twice exited the competition.

Now it is Arsenal's task to prosper in such a hostile environment, where Liverpool excel in holding their nerve.

The peculiarity of Rafael Benitez's team is that, for all their domestic inconsistency, they can be close to unbeatable in Europe.

Arsenal, in contrast, can struggle to replicate their Premier League form in Europe, though the 2005-6 campaign, when they reached the final, was a notable exception.

Arsenal, 10 points better off in the Premier League, start as the favourites. The hunch, however, is that Liverpool will prevail.

And it opens the possibility of a third semi-final meeting in four seasons between Liverpool and Chelsea. Indeed, if the London club beat Fenerbahce, there is the guarantee of an English finalist for the fourth successive season.

Trips to Turkey are always approached with some trepidation, but the reality is that Fenerbahce have overachieved while Chelsea have six successive Champions League clean sheets.

Avram Grant dreams of doing what Jose Mourinho could not by reaching the final and thus keeping his job. With the simplest draw in the quarter-finals, Chelsea stand the best chance of the English quartet.

But none will relish their draw as much as United, who have a rapid reunion with Roma.

Though their meetings in the group stages were less memorable than the 7-1 thrashing inflicted upon the Italian side in the quarter-final last year, Roma could be forgiven for being psychologically scarred by the brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick 11 months ago.

For all Roma's technical qualities, United also possess power and pace, which they may need given the potential of a meeting with Barcelona in the last four.

The immediate relief for all four English clubs is that they avoided the most talented team in the competition in the quarter-finals.

Instead, Barca are red-hot favourites to beat Schalke, only fifth in the German league.

They should be the exceptions in the last four. As England remains in the ascendant in Europe, the Premier League should have three semi-finalists. The big question is who will be the odd one out - Arsenal or Liverpool?

stsports@sph.com.sg