PAUL McGRATH COLUMN: United can rule Europe but no cup joy for Kop

PUNTERS are already talking with excitement about the possibility of an English side winning the Champions League - but I reckon there's only one team in red shirts equipped to do so.

For a while now I've thought Manchester United can make this the year they they win their third European Cup. And what I saw of them last Tuesday evening in Spain did nothing to dispel that theory.

After more than a few stutters early in the season, they're now finally firing on all cylinders. The team is geling and everybody is giving it their all.

When you've got Ruud van Nistelrooy, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Roy Keane - until he was injured - all giving 100 per cent, you have to be on to a winner.

There aren't many teams in the world to compete with that!

Deportivo La Coruna are a good side, but United made them look very ordinary the other evening. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid might be more of a match, but I still think Sir Alex's side have the upper hand when it comes to class and experience.

Liverpool on the other hand are still a team that's growing. That's brilliant for the future, but right now I don't reckon they have what it takes to win a Champions League.

Their defence is probably the best in the Premiership. I've often thought that if Manchester United had Liverpool's back four and Liverpool had United's front runners, they would be the perfect teams.

But, unfortunately, Liverpool's strike force of Michael Owen and Emile Heskey seem to be lacking imagination just now.

I've said before that I believe Heskey only plays to about 80 per cent of his capabilities. No one doubts he's got magic pace, strength and power - I just can't wait to see him utilising them to the full. And Owen seems like a shadow of himself.

Overall I think they're a little predictable in what they're going to do - the positions they take up and in their passing.

You might get away with that at Premiership level, but not in Europe.

I can't help feeling that it's at moments like these that the Anfield management must really miss Robbie Fowler.

He eats and breathes Liverpool and the team could do with some of his passion.

Robbie might have just provided that extra impetus - not to mention goal - to take them further in the competition.

I think they'll beat Bayer Leverkusen and make it to the semi- finals. But beyond that I don't hold out much hope.

Still, Gerald Houllier's presence on the bench for the game in Germany on Tuesday will be a boost.

I take my hat off to him for making it back so soon. I was one of those who thought that Phil Thompson would gradually slip into the role of manager and Gerard would never return.

He's proved me wrong and I believe the welcome he got at Anfield when he returned to the dugout was something else.

I'm sure his doctors are horrified by his return to the pressure cooker, but he obviously felt capable and I wish him luck.

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