Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

It's advantage Liverpool as they take on Porto

Barring a miracle (where Porto score six and Liverpool none), Liverpool should be on their way to the quarter finals.

By Prashanth Kumar Purshotam
Liverpool FC

Bengaluru, March 7: After scoring five away goals at Estadio do Dragao against Porto in the Champions League round of 16, it could be safe to say that the upcoming match at Anfield is just a formality.

Barring a miracle (where Porto score six and Liverpool none), the Reds should be on their way to the quarter finals. They last achieved this feat 10 years ago in 2008-2009 where they were eventually knocked out by Chelsea at the same juncture. The match at Anfield will definitely be a celebration for Liverpool fans and the atmosphere they create should give enough impetus to the players to play an attacking game.

Even if they have a leg in the quarter finals, Liverpool cannot take Porto lightly though. Porto are definitely wounded due to the 5-0 thrashing they received at home. They will be playing fearlessly to prove a point and hence this is definitely not a match where Liverpool can walk over their opponents by just turning up.

Jurgen Klopp on the other hand does not want a Barcelonaa-PSG repeat at Anfield. He has already stated that he will not rest players for this match as it interrupts their rhythm.

With the biggest match of the season to come after Porto’s visit, the Premier League tie against Manchester United on Saturday, it would be safe to try and rest a few players to keep them fresh for the same. However, Klopp does not want Liverpool to take their foot off the pedal even if it risks injury.

The front three have played every match since the start of the year and all of them played more than 70 minutes against Newcastle on Saturday, with Mohamed Salah playing the entire 90 minutes. Klopp could possibly play two of the three players for the first 60 minutes or bring them on for the last 30 just to keep the rhythm.

The match could also see Lallana play a full game. He played the last 15 minutes against Newcastle and he desperately needs a game to get his confidence back.

Injuries this season have ruined his progress and he finds himself below Alex Oxlade Chamberlain in Liverpool’s pecking order.

The other players who could feature this Tuesday are James Milner, Gini Wijnaldum, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez. None of these players (except Matip who turned up at the end) played against Newcastle and they should be fresh for Porto.


Kick off at 1.15am IST (Wednesday)

Live on Sony TEN 1

Story first published: Tuesday, March 6, 2018, 11:58 [IST]
Other articles published on Mar 6, 2018