Liverpool will be looking to put on another show when they welcome FC Porto to Anfield on Tuesday for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie.
Jurgen Klopp’s lads thrilled fans with a dominant 5-0 win over the Portuguese Primeira Liga leaders in the first leg at Estadio Do Dragao, with Sadio Mane dazzling with a magnificent hat-trick.
Bringing that winning momentum back home, Liverpool powered through recent Premier League matches, beating West Ham 4-1 and Newcastle 2-0, climbing confidently to second place on the table.
The Reds are riding a six-match unbeaten streak across all competitions after a couple of tough losses to Swansea and West Brom earlier in the season.
Klopp has already anticipated a fierce fightback from FC Porto, pointing out his side’s efficiency in capitalising on their chances in Portugal, while acknowledging the quality of their opponents.
“We were very effective, but Porto are a fantastic team and the Portuguese league is a fantastic league,” the German tactician shared during his pre-match press conference.
“A 5-0 win is great, but it came from taking almost every chance we had. If we hadn’t converted those chances and Porto had scored theirs, things might be different.
“I’d expect a strong response from Porto if I were their boss. We’ll need to be at our very best to win again.”
Sergio Conceicao’s Porto squad hasn’t let the heavy first leg defeat deter them. They’ve since strung together five consecutive victories domestically, establishing a five-point lead at the top of their league.
The Dragons have fired 15 goals in this run, anchored by star forwards Tiquinho and Moussa Marega who boast five and four goals respectively, making the trip to Merseyside an exciting prospect.
Conceicao stressed the importance of consistency heading into the crucial showdown, eager to restore some pride in their likely season-ending European match.
“We’re a competitive side, aiming to score and maintain balance. We have the best defence and attack in Portugal, and tomorrow we’ll need both more than ever, improving on our last performance,” he emphasised on Monday.
“The five-goal difference doesn’t fully capture how close the teams are in quality. We want a stronger result tomorrow.”
Team updates have Klopp hinting at several changes to his starting eleven possibly to preserve energy for a fierce Premier League clash against Manchester United on the weekend.
Unfortunately, Georginio Wijnaldum and Ben Woodburn remain sidelined with illnesses. For Porto, key striker Vincent Aboubakar is still doubtful due to injury while Marega and Ricardo’s fitness is under cautious review. The visitors will be without Alex Telles, Danilo, and Tiquinho.
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