Liverpool will be aiming to take control of their Champions League quarter-final tie when Porto visit Anfield in Tuesday’s first leg.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are unbeaten in 11 home games in this competition under his command, winning eight and drawing three.
Latest odds
Having run out comfortable 5-0 aggregate winners over this same opposition in last season’s Champions League knockout stages, the Reds are overwhelming 2/7 (1.29) favourites with William Hill to put one foot in the semi-finals with another victory.
In fact, the Dragoes have not won any of the six previous head-to-head encounters, and are 10/1 (11.00) outsiders to pull off a shock victory on Merseyside.
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The visitors did at least leave Anfield with a 0-0 draw in last season’s second leg - albeit the tie was all but over by that stage - and can be backed at 9/2 (5.50) to grind out a more valuable stalemate in this one.
Team news
Adam Lallana is a doubt after missing last week’s victory over Southampton due to a muscle issue, while Andrew Robertson is suspended and both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Gomez remain short of fitness.
Alex Telles will face a late fitness test after missing the weekend’s derby win over Boavista due to injury, with Vincent Aboubakar a long-term absentee and Pepe and Hector Herrera both suspended.
Goals at both ends
Although they may be bracing themselves for a tough defensive evening due to the memories of last season’s chastening 5-0 thrashing by this same opponent, Sergio Conceicao’s men may fancy their chances of causing some problems of their own at the other end.
Goal
The Portuguese champions have failed to score in just three of their 48 fixtures in all competitions this season, finding the net in all of their Champions League games and averaging two goals a game on the road in Europe.
This could spell danger for a Reds outfit that has looked unusually fragile at the back recently, going five games in succession without a clean sheet.
Predictions
All in all, even money (2.00) look like solid value on Porto joining Liverpool on the scoresheet and leaving Anfield with a precious away goal.
Both teams to score at evens (2.00) for a 1.5pt stake with William Hill
William Hill
