Liverpool stand well placed to claim a spot in the Champions League semi-finals as they hold a 2-0 advantage over Porto ahead of the return leg at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday.
Goals from Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino have provided Jurgen Klopp’s men a strong platform for the return fixture, and it is long odds against the runners-up from 12 months ago faltering given such an advantage.
Porto might have seen off Roma in the previous round, coming back from a 2-1 first-leg deficit, but this promises to be an entirely different challenge against the Premier League leaders.
| Game | Porto vs Liverpool |
| Date | Wednesday, April 17 |
| Time | 8:00pm GMT / 4:00pm ET |
| Stream (US only) |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial) .
New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV, as well as on a web browser.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Galavision | fubo TV (7-day free trial) |
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game will be broadcast on BT Sport 3 and can be streamed via BT Sport Live.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| BT Sport 3 | BT Sport Live |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Porto squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Casillas, Vana, Meireles |
| Defenders | Militao, Monteiro, Telles, Maxi Pereira, Leite, Moraes, Queiros, Pepe |
| Midfielders | Bruno Costa, Danilo Pereira, Torres, Rotunno, Brahimi, Corona, Herrera |
| Forwards | Andre Pereira, Fortes, Lopez, Andrade, Tiquinho, Marega, Soares |
Porto can welcome back Pepe and Hector Herrera after both were suspended in the first leg. This is excellent news for the home team.
Head coach Sergio Conceicao has a strong squad open to him, with Jesus Corona the only minor doubt before being named to the starting lineup.
Porto starting XI: Casillas, Militao, Felipe, Pepe, Alex Telles, Corona, Danilo, Herrera, Brahimi, Octavio, Marega
| Position | Liverpool squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Alisson, Mignolet, Kelleher |
| Defenders | Van Dijk, Moreno, Matip, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Phillips, Robertson |
| Midfielders | Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner, Henderson |
| Forwards | Mane, Salah, Firmino, Sturridge, Shaqiri, Origi |
There has been mixed news in the Liverpool camp ahead of this encounter, with Dejan Lovren ruled out due to illness.
Andy Robertson, suspended in the first leg, is available again and expected to start.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is closing in on action but is not ready to play yet, while Jordan Henderson is hopeful of playing a role off the bench, despite an ankle problem forcing him off against Chelsea at the weekend.
Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson; Milner, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Origi, Mane
Betting & Match Odds
Liverpool are 21/20 favourites with bet365 to record another victory. Porto are 29/10 to exact revenge with a win, while a draw is priced at 5/2.
Match Preview
Travelling to Porto off the back of a seven-game winning streak , Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has warned his side that there is no room for complacency.
The Reds, who suffered a 3-1 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid last season, are targeting a return to club football’s greatest showpiece and stand on the brink of the final four, having established a 2-0 lead at Anfield.
A fine 2-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday meant that they retained the leadership of the Premier League , albeit by only two points and having played a game more than second-placed Manchester City, but Klopp believes spirits are up in the camp and that will bring the best from his side.
“We are in a good moment, we want to play football and we want to fight hard,” he explained. “We'll try to use the result at Anfield and go there confident.”
The former Dortmund boss, however, is not about to write off the challenge of a Porto side he believes will be formidable opponents at home.
“They always have a high intense game in the highest intensity atmosphere,” he said. “From the first kick, they will go with a clear direction.
“If we were 2-0 down and going into the home leg, would we think we were out? No way.
“That's exactly what Porto are thinking.”
If the Reds’ boss is respectful of his opponent, that is more than reciprocated by counterpart Sergio Conceicao .
“I like the way Liverpool play. Sometimes, they are the best team in the world,” the former Nantes boss argued.
“We have to work for defensive organisation and we are 100 per cent focused and aware of what our opponents are doing. It is not difficult to analyse Liverpool, but it is difficult to counteract because they have so much individual and collective quality. They're great!”
However, he refuses to give up hope that his side might make progress.
“There is no greater motivation than to be competing in a quarter-final and to make a historical turnaround,” he added. “We have a two-goal deficit to make up against a very strong team who are quick on the break. Getting the attacking balance right is fundamental.”
Beaten 5-0 on aggregate by the Anfield club in the last 16 a year ago, it would take a remarkable comeback from the Portuguese side to salvage this situation – but this has been no ordinary Champions League season.
