Liverpool vs Porto

Pressure-relieved Liverpool will play host to Group B surprise package Porto at Anfield in an exciting UEFA Champions League fixture.

Liverpool have found the Champions League ‘Group of Death’ a stroll so far, winning all four matches to earn a place in the competition’s knock-outs with two games to spare. Delivering action from the get-go, the ‘Reds’ have scored the opening goal within 20 minutes of play in all four Group B fixtures to date. What’s more, Liverpool’s outrageous first-half performances have seen them score 2+ goals before half-time in all four group outings, highlighting the potential for action-packed football in the first 45 minutes. Liverpool won’t be under any pressure to deliver at Anfield, but having gone unbeaten in their nine historical clashes against Porto in European football (W6, D3), expectations will be high. Adding to this sentiment, the Merseysiders have lost just two of their 23 Champions League home games under current manager Jurgen Klopp (W16, D5).

As for Porto, an unexpected return of just one defeat from their opening four Group B outings (W1, D2) places them in second in the standings heading into the penultimate round of fixtures. However, with Atletico Madrid richly expected to beat AC Milan at home, Porto may need to defy their humiliating overall away record against Premier League sides to retain the runner-up spot (GP22 – W1, D3, L18). On the bright side, the ‘Dragons’ have registered a clean sheet in seven of their last nine Champions League group stage fixtures, though five of the six goals they conceded across the other two came against Liverpool. Meanwhile, they have only scored once across their previous four UEFA-sanctioned visits to Anfield.