Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has no doubts English clubs will again dominate the Champions League this season.

There are some who claim a weakening of standards in England, coupled with the huge amounts of money spent by a Real Madrid outfit desperate to reach the final in their own Bernabeu Stadium next May, will ease that stranglehold.

Liverpool, for one, are poised precariously in this season's group stages but Ferguson has warned those jubilant at the thought of England's dominance coming to an end that they may be a bit premature in their celebrations.

"The English teams will be involved in the semi-finals again," he said.

"They have been very dominant in the tournament for the last six or seven years. That is shown by the evidence of the latter stages and I think it will be the same this year.

"Obviously Barcelona are one of the favourites," he said. "You cannot dismiss them.

"But there is no question in my mind that the English teams will compete for the trophy."