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Even Rickie Lambert can't stop Real Madrid

FORGET Christmas, all I want for January is Harry Redknapp to buy Mario Balotelli.

Based on how little ‘Arry likes overpaid, over-pampered, under-achieving footballers who don't seem to give a toss, wouldn't it be superb if less-than-super Mario bowled up at Loftus Road in the window?

I reckon most Liverpool fans have had their fill of the miserable Italian anyway although for comedy value alone I'd be despairing if he headed back to Serie A. The misses, the scowls, the haircut; he can't even crack a smile when he does something right, which I think was back in the first week of September.

Stick him on the bench against Real Madrid and unleash, er, Rickie Lambert, instead. Oh Bren, the choices, eh? I bet Real are dreading this one!

You've got to think Ronaldo and chums are an absolute mustard bet at Anfield though I reckon Arsenal can restore Premier League pride over in Belgium against Anderlecht.

Astonishing to see a defensive crisis at The Emirates given Wenger's unhealthy obsession with buying so many classy backliners (I give you Pascal Cygan and Sebastien Squillaci to name but two) but no matter who he decides to put in front of their 12th choice keeper, the Gunners are gonna be too hot for Anderlecht to handle.

And to make Wenger's night, I reckon Galatasaray can nick at least a point off Dortmund in Istanbul plus I'm taking Zenit on the handicap at Leverkusen.

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