Porto are chasing a two goal deflict as they welcome Liverpool to the Estadio do Dragao for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League Quarter Final.
A mouth-watering semi-final meeting with Barcelona awaits the winner of this tie as Liverpool aim to make the last four for the second consecutive season, whereas Porto haven’t advanced beyond this stage since winning the 2003-04 edition of this tournament.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesPorto have no fresh injury concerns as they welcome Pepe and Hector Herrera back from suspension.
Liverpool will be without Dejan Lovren after the Croatian defender came down with illness on Monday night.
Adam Lallana however is available after a muscle injury whilst Jordan Henderson has overcome a knock to his ankle picked up during Sunday’s win over Chelsea.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also absent as he continues to build up his match fitness, having initially been tipped to return in this game.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool are unbeaten in three previous trips to Porto (W1, D2).
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last three Quarter Final second leg appearances, with all three of those ties coming against English opposition – Manchester City in 2017-18, Chelsea in 2008-09 and Arsenal in 2007-08 (W2, D1), although they did lose to the Blues 7-5 on aggregate whereas they progressed from the other two such ties.
- Porto have lost each of their last two Quarter Final second legs as well as the ties overall since winning this competition in 2003-04 season, losing to Manchester United in 2008-09 then Bayern Munich in 2014-15 season.
Prediction
Given Liverpool’s form of late, Porto are going to need to do something spectacular but in all honesty, I just don’t see how they can trouble Liverpool’s defence other than playing on a fast paced counter which is risky when they need two goals just to get back into this tie.
This therefore should be another comfortable away win for the Reds.
Prediction: Porto 0-2 Liverpool
Result: Porto 1-4 Liverpool (Liverpool win 6-1 on aggregate)