Porto v Liverpool FC: Reds Back Where They Belong in UCL Knockout Stages

Five-time winners’ Liverpool are back where they belong in the knockout stages of the Champions League midweek, for the first time since 2008/09, when they travel to Portugal to meet dual European Cup/Champions League winners Porto.

The Reds are unbeaten in four previous ties against the Portuguese champions and lifted the UEFA Cup the last time the sides met in European competition back in the 2000/01 season. Let’s hope that is a good omen!

Liverpool scored 23 goals in their six group games, but this unlikely to be any St Valentine’s Day Massacre – although the hosts have lost their last three Champions League knockout games.

The Reds are to win the game, with the draw and Porto 21/10. Roberto Firmino scored four times and had two assists in Liverpool’s three away games in the group stages and the Brazilian is to open the scoring and to find the back of the net at some stage during the 90 minutes.

Porto scored more goals from set-pieces (8) than any other team in the group stages and the Reds will have to be on their mettle at their Dragao Stadium, which saw 15 goals in their three home group games in finishing runners up to Besiktas.

To try and put that form into some perspective Besiktas won 3-1 in Porto on Matchday One when the latter’s goalscorers included the Reds’ former striker Ryan Babel and Everton’s current third-choice forward Cenk Tosun!

Jurgen Klopp’s side are a confident selection to qualify for the last eight and they look good value at to take a lead back to Anfield for the return leg next month.

Liverpool go into the tie at to lift a sixth Champions League title at the end of May in Kiev and to make it through to the quarterfinals.