It’s safe to say that no team of the final 16 in the Champions League finds themselves in a more favorable spot at this stage than Liverpool. Two weeks ago, the Reds went into Portugal and slammed home five goals in a 5-0 drubbing of the Primeira Liga leaders.
With five away goals in the bag and the return leg slated to go down at Anfield on Tuesday night, Jurgen Klopp’s men are all but already assured of a spot in the tournament’s quarterfinal stage. With Liverpool having played the majority of their regulars in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle, some wondered whether Klopp would field a less-talented side with such a huge aggregate advantage in the bag against Porto at midweek.
It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Liverpool cough this one up. We saw PSG lose to Barcelona after holding a 4-0 edge entering their second leg in this competition last season, but Porto are no Barcelona. Betting sites with solid reputations like 888 have the Reds tabbed as massive favorites to dispose of the Portuguese side and advance to the next round.
However, it sounds as though Klopp is taking nothing for granted. While it would take a catastrophe of truly epic proportions for Liverpool to fail to advance, Klopp told the media that he will field a strong side when Porto visits Anfield on Tuesday.
Klopp said, “I don’t think for a second about resting anybody. I know it’s Manchester United afterwards but we cannot change it.”
Porto have been in flying form aside from their embarrassing home shellacking at the hands of the Reds. They are still unbeaten in the league with a record of 21-4-0 with a goal differential of +55. Porto have also won every match since losing to Liverpool at Estadio do Dragao on February 14.
The German manager added, “Porto have won all their games since we played them. I’m expecting them to strike back as they are Portuguese and proud and will give a fight. If anybody here thinks they come here and give the game up, leave their star players at home or whatever they are mistaken. It’s Champions League and the whole world is watching. What do you think?”
Sadio Mane bagged his first hat trick for Liverpool at Porto last time, with Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino also finding the back of the net.
Some believed that Klopp would seize the opportunity to grant a midweek start to little-used players like Adam Lallana, Danny Ings and Alberto Moreno. While a few of those names may still find their way into the starting XI, it sounds as though Klopp does not want to risk letting up at this stage of the competition.
So, it sounds as though we’ll see the likes of Salah, Firmino and Mane in the side once again despite the 5-0 advantage. With a massive Premier League match at Old Trafford on tap for Sunday, the Reds will have four full days off between games in order to rest.
Entering Monday, Liverpool hold a one-point edge on United for second in the league. However, United can jump back in front with a win at Crystal Palace on Monday evening.
