This is one of three Champions League round of 16 matches in which everything is practically resolved after first 90 minutes, given that Liverpool won Porto by even 5-0 two weeks ago. It doesn’t mean that the Reds don’t won to win the 2nd leg at their Anfield, while on the other hand leading team of the Portuguese championship can play without any pressure.
All this tell us that on Tuesday evening we can expect a festival atmosphere at the Anfield especially as both teams have four-game winning streak. After triumph over Porto he Reds won at home West Ham and Newcastle in the league, and are now in even better position in regard of qualification for the Champions League. On the other hand, everyone in England fully understands that Manchester City is going to win the title, given their two-digit point advantage over next teams in the table.
The most important thing for manager Klopp is that his team is in great series of five wins and one draw, while the situation with absences gets better and better with each passing day, and he will probably experiment a bit with the starting line-up in the 2nd leg with Porto. After a long break we may see in the starting 11 recovered defenders Gomez and Moreno, and midfielder Lallana, while this time are questionable only not fully recovered defender Clyne, midfielder Wijnaldum and forward Ings.
Probable lineups Liverpool: Mignolet – Gomez, Matip, van Dijk, Moreno – Milner, Emre Can, Lallana – Salah, Firmino, Mane
Regarding the guests from Porto, their recent defeat by Liverpool was in fact the only mishap in last eight matches as they won seven in the same period, including one in the Portuguese Cup and even six in the league, where they occupy the first place in the table. In previous round when team led by manager Conceicao had won Sporting 2-1 at home and in that way has strengthen its grip over the first place in the table, as Porto has five point more than Benfica and even eight than Sporting at the moment.
True, before the season ends they have of face Benfica away, but even if they lose the derby they would still be able to alone decide about their fate, while in the Portuguese Cup they are very close to reach the final. On the other hand, Porto has practically said goodbye to the Champions League after losing to the Reds by 5-0, but right because of that we expect to try to do something at the Anfield, although they cannot count on injured defender Telles, midfielder D. Pereira, and forwards Soares and Marega.
Probable lineups FC Porto: Casillas – M. Pereira, Felipe, Marcano, R. Pereira – Herrera, Oliveira, Torres – Corona, Aboubakar, Brahimi
Of course that everything is resolved after Liverpool’s sound victory in Porto, which is why we expect to see a fully open and efficient match now at the Anfield.
Pick: both teams to score
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