Porto v Liverpool - Preview and possible lineups
We take a look ahead to Wednesday's Champions League last-16 first leg clash between Porto and Liverpool at the Estadio do Dragao.
Porto: Talismanic striker Vincent Aboubakar could miss out after sitting out training on Tuesday due to a muscle problem. The powerful frontman has scored 26 goals in 33 appearances for the Portuguese side this season and would be ahuge miss for Sergio Conceicao's side. A number of other Porto players are also doubts, with Ivan Marcano, Danilo Pereira and Andre Andre among those nursing knocks.
Liverpool: The 'Reds' will be without midfielder Emre Can, who is suspended, whilst defender Joe Gomez is a doubt with a knee problem. Full-back Nathaniel Clyne is back in training but is still some way off a first time return, though centre-back Ragnar Klavan could feature after overcoming a thigh injury.
Porto captain Hector Herrera:
“We believe in our chances of qualifying, even if we are aware that it will be extremely hard. If we don’t look at these matches the tie with the right attitude, we might as well not play.
"We will have to study our opponents well and find the best way to approach the match.
"We want to win the Portuguese League and the Portuguese Cup and go as far as possible in the Champions League."
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on naming a 25-man squad for the game:
“First of all, it is normal we take a bigger squad to a European game because we have three days away at least.
“With training, a lot of things can happen – it’s always like this and that’s the main reason. There are three or four players here more than we would have usually.
“The other reason is we will go afterwards and use the time we have now – unfortunately, due to being out of the FA Cup – for proper training in different surroundings.
“It’ll be four really intense sessions and then we will come back to England and have a full week to prepare for the West Ham game and the rest of the season. It’s really good the club gave us the opportunity to do it.”
Did you know:
Liverpool are unbeaten against Porto in four games in all competitions (W2,D2), though both games in Portugal ended in draws.
Form:
Possible lineups:
Porto: Casillas; R.Pereira, Reyes, Marcano, Telles; Corona, Herrera, Oliverira, Brahimi; Soares, Marega.
Liverpool: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Wijnaldum, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Firmino, Mane.