FC Porto will play hosts to Liverpool on Wednesday night as part of the first leg of the Champions League knockout stages. The Reds come into this contest in a rich vein of form after securing a comfortable 2-0 victory at the St. Mary’s stadium versus Southampton on Sunday. The Merseyside club are unbeaten in their last three matches and Jurgen Klopp would look to build on that run by securing an away result at Portugal in midweek. The Anfield-based outfit are scoring goals for fun and will hope that they can get a few away goals which might give them an edge ahead of the second leg at Anfield next month.
Meanwhile, the Portuguese side are also in great touch and have won their last three matches prior to this contest. They will fancy their chances against a leaky Liverpool defence that has conceded 6 goals in 6 group stage matches in the Champions League this season. The recent history of the fixture makes a grim reading for the Portuguese side as they have never tasted victory against their Merseyside opponents, drawing two and losing two matches. It has the makings of an entertaining contest with both teams looking to secure the victory at the Estádio do Dragão on Wednesday night.
Team News
Liverpool will be without the services of Nathaniel Clyne while Joe Gomez and Ragnar Klavan are major doubts for this game. There are no fresh injury concerns for FC Porto and their manager Sérgio Conceição might name an unchanged side for this clash.
Predicted Lineups
FC Porto: Sa, Pereira, Felipe, Reyes, Telles, Otavio, Herrera, Oliviera, Corona, Tiquinho, Marega.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Key Men:
FC Porto
FC Porto’s chances of a positive result will hinge on the defensive duo of Diego Reyes and Alex Telles and whether they will be able to keep Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino quiet at the back. Sérgio Oliveira will also be expected to put in a strong performance while Tiquinho hopes to get his name on the scoresheet versus the five-time European champions.
Liverpool
Liverpool will be hoping that their front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah can click once again up top. Virgil Van Dijk would be an integral member of the Reds backline as they look to keep a vital clean sheet away at the Estádio do Dragão.
Betting Odds:
FC Porto win: 21/10
Draw: 13/5
Liverpool win: 11/8
