Sports UEFA Champions League Liverpool Manchester City Barcelona The 28th edition of the Champions League kicks off on Tuesday with Manchester City the bookmakers’ favorite to lift the trophy for the first time.When City appointed Pep Guardiola at the beginning of the 2016-17 season it hoped he would be able to deliver a first Champions League crown after winning it in 2009 and 2011 with Barcelona. The Spaniard has delivered back-to-back English Premier League titles so far and transformed City into arguably the best side in Europe, but continental success has proved frustratingly elusive.In Guardiola’s first season, City bowed out in the round of 16 on the away goal rule after drawing 6-6 on aggregate with Monaco. The following year they came unstuck in the quarterfinals, losing 4-1 on aggregate to Liverpool and last season they were again knocked out in the quarterfinals by an English side.With the scores tied at 4-4 on aggregate against Tottenham Hotspur, Raheem Sterling’s late goal in the second leg looked to have put City through to the semifinals only for the video assistant referee (VAR) to intervene.The Premier League champions will be desperate to atone for that disappointment this season and have landed a…