Liverpool’s campaign continues as they host one of Portugal’s top teams Porto at Anfield in the 1st leg of the Champions League Quarter Final!
Liverpool’s road to the Champions League Quarter Final has been a very tough one. Not only did they have to go through PSG and Napoli, also Crvena Zvezda in the group stages where they needed to beat Napoli on the last day to advance, they then had to face Bayern Munich who Liverpool knocked off 3-1 on aggregate with a very impressive 1-3 away win at Allianz Arena in the 2nd leg. Liverpool have excelled at home in Europe this season overall (3W 1D 0L) better than on their travels (1W 0D 3L).
Porto themselves have had one of the most impressive Champions League campaigns out of all teams so far. Not only did they smash their group with 16 points from 18 over Galatasaray, Schalke and Lokomotiv Moscow but then also defeated last year’s Semi Finalists Roma 4-3 on aggregate after they overcame a 2-1 deficit with a 3-1 win at home in the R16.
Looking at current form, both sides are looking great. Liverpool have currently gone 14 games unbeaten in all competitions and are currently on a 5 game win streak in which they scored 14 goals and which includes wins against the likes of Bayern and Tottenham.
As for Porto, they have kept playing good football since knocking out Roma. After their 3-1 win over Roma, Porto went on to win 4 of their 5 games with the other being a draw against a tough Braga side away from home. Although they have been on this solid run of form, we do have to remember that Liverpool will be a much tougher challenge for the Portuguese side than what they’ve had lately.
Liverpool have been ridiculously good at Anfield this season. 17W 3D 1L record overall, they have won 3 straight at home scoring 11 goals entering this game. Liverpool have yet to lose at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp in the Champions League as well with a 8W 3D 0L record here on European nights in these past 2 seasons. It’ll be a daunting task for the visitors to get a result against a Liverpool side who very rarely don’t win at home nowadays.
Porto are a good away side overall this season, but they have been a bit off form on their travels lately winning just 3 of last 7 away games. Porto are normally always good on their travels as they’re head and shoulders above most of their opponents domestically, but in Europe they normally struggle, especially in knockouts as they’ve not won an away knockout game since their title winning season in 2004 under Mourinho. Porto have gone winless in 12 straight away knockout games (8L 4D) and have never won in England against BPL opposition (0W 3D 16) in European competitions.
Sadio Mane is the man to watch for Liverpool of course with 11 goals in his last 13 games though he’s gone scoreless in his last 2. Mane also scored a hattrick against Porto last season. Mo Salah is another player to watch of course as he finally snapped his 8 game goal drought with a crucial goal against Southampton which should for sure give him a big mental boost to get back to form again. Salah tore UCL knockouts apart last year and Liverpool fans will hope that he can do that again starting this game.
Moussa Marega is the man to watch for Porto. He’s been absolutely incredible in UCL this season and is currently on a goal scoring streak that stands at 6 consecutive games in the competition and scored a massive goal in the most recent game against Roma. Marega could be the 4th ever player to score in 7 consecutive CL games if he scores at Anfield.
Looking at H2H, Liverpool have not lost to Porto yet in Europe. In 6 meetings, Liverpool won 3 and the other 3 were draws (at Anfield, Liverpool won 2 of 3, 1 draw). Most recently Liverpool and Porto met last season in the R16 and Liverpool tore Porto apart 5-0 on aggregate in a tie that they killed off in the 1st leg as they thumped Porto 0-5 away from home which made the 2nd leg a formality and you could see it as it ended with a 0-0 draw at Anfield.
Liverpool are clear and by far the favourite team here. Liverpool to win is offered at 1.29 and to Qualify at 1.20. Porto to win at Anfield is 12.25 and to qualify is offered at 4.25. Draw is offered at 5.95 in the 1st leg. Porto will have to get a respectable result here which means don’t get smashed up again like in the 1st leg last year and as tough as it may be, they must not lose by multiple goals if they want to have a shot of advancing which is a very slim shot considering how dangerous Liverpool are. Odds based on Unibet.
Team News
Liverpool: Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joe Gomez both will likely miss out due to lack of fitness while Adam Lallana is a doubt. Andrew Robertson is suspended.
Porto: Vincent Aboubakar remains out while Pepe and Hector Herrera are both suspended. Alex Telles will have to face late fitness tests to see if he can go.
Betting Stats
Liverpool have covered 25% of their total goal overs at home in UCL this season (1-3).
Liverpool have covered 50% of their total 1st half goal overs at home in UCL this season (2-2).
Liverpool average 1.5 bookings per game at home in UCL this season (6 bookings in 4 games).
Mo Salah is Liverpool’s top scorer at home in UCL with 3 European goals at Anfield this season. Firmino and Mane have 2 each.
Liverpool have covered 50% of their Handicaps at home in UCL this season (2-1-1).
Liverpool have covered 75% of their 1st half Handicaps at home in UCL this season (3-1).
Porto have covered 75% of their total goal overs away from home in UCL this season (3-1).
Porto have covered 50% of their total 1st half goal overs away from home in UCL this season (2-2).
Porto average 1.5 bookings per game away from home in UCL this season (6 bookings in 4 games).
Moussa Marega is Porto’s top scorer away from home in UCL with 2 away European goals this season.
Porto have covered 75% of their Handicaps away from home in UCL this season (3-1).
Porto have covered 75% of their 1st half Handicaps away from home in UCL this season (3-1-0).
KICK OFF – 9th April 2019 – 8pm UK Time
