MATCH PREVIEW: LIVERPOOL VS PORTO 24-11-21

Having already booked their spot in the last-16 of the Champions League, Liverpool welcome Porto to Anfield for Wednesday's Group B encounter.

Jurgen Klopp's side boast a perfect record of 12 points from four games so far, while the visitors sit second in the rankings with five points to their name.

Match preview

The hectic winter schedule may have evoked the fury of Jurgen Klopp once more, but the German's ruthless Reds have swept aside the competition in Europe to make the knockout rounds with two games to spare in Group B.

Liverpool sealed their place in the next round courtesy of a straightforward 2-0 success over Atletico Madrid earlier this month, with Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane on target, and the latter also stole the show during the Reds' Premier League battle with Arsenal.

The touchline row between Klopp and Mikel Arteta may have made all the headlines during the game, but Mane chipped in with the opener before Jota, Mohamed Salah and Takumi Minamino completed the job in a 4-0 rout of Arteta's young guns.

Liverpool are already guaranteed to finish first in their Champions League group, and Klopp will certainly welcome the opportunity to rotate his resources this week as the Reds aim to keep up their phenomenal goalscoring streak.

Indeed, Liverpool have scored at least two goals in each of their last 15 games across all competitions and enter this contest on the back of a 14-match unbeaten run at Anfield, but Porto have far more to play for on matchday five.
 

Traditionally solid but unspectacular in the Champions League, Porto have not become renowned for their attacking performances this term, but Sergio Conceicao's men have their destiny in their own hands with Atletico and AC Milan under-performing.

Last time out against the Rossoneri, Porto needed just six minutes to draw first blood through Luis Diaz, but Chancel Mbemba's own goal just after the hour mark prevented Conceicao's side from claiming a memorable three points at San Siro.

This week's visitors to Anfield - who have just three goals to their name in the competition - are only one point clear of Atletico as they cling on to second spot, but they enter this game on the back of a ruthless 5-1 thrashing of CD Feirense in the Taca de Portugal.

Porto can take solace in the fact that only one of their last six Champions League games away from home has ended in defeat, but the Portuguese giants will need no reminding of what happened last time they did battle with Liverpool.

After Klopp had downplayed his side's chances of another thumping, Liverpool ran out 5-1 winners on Porto's turf back in September, and the Dragons are also winless in four previous meetings at Anfield - scoring just once in that time.

Liverpool Champions League form:

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Liverpool form (all competitions):

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Porto Champions League form:

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Porto form (all competitions):

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Team News

Liverpool's Curtis Jones, Roberto Firmino and Harvey Elliott all remain sidelined for the long-term, while Jota will need to be assessed after a collision with Aaron Ramsdale at the weekend saw him take a blow to the knee.

Andy Robertson will expect to return to the team after not making the cut against Arsenal, and there is also cautious optimism that James Milner and Naby Keita might be back in the fold as well, but Joe Gomez is not likely to feature.

Divock Origi is a candidate to lead the line if he is able to overcome illness, while Neco Williams, Ibrahima Konate and Minamino all have strong chances of starting as well.

Tyler Morton would eye a start in this inconsequential battle, but Thiago Alcantara joined Klopp for Tuesday's pre-game press conference, which suggests that he will feature from the off.

Meanwhile, Porto boast a fully-fit squad ahead of this pivotal encounter, and Conceicao enjoyed the luxury of being able to rest some of his most prized assets at the weekend.

The veteran Pepe is set to return to the rearguard in place of Fabio Cardoso, while Diaz - linked with a move to Liverpool - will also return to the first XI.

Former Liverpool man Marko Grujic could make his Anfield return in the heart of the Porto midfield, but he will have to battle with Sergio Oliveira for a spot alongside Mateus Uribe.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:

Alisson; Williams, Konate, Matip, Tsimikas; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Origi, Minamino

Porto possible starting lineup:

Marchesin; Corona, Pepe, Mbemba, Sanusi; Otavio, Uribe, Oliveira, Diaz; Taremi, Evanilson

BABOYO SAYS

Porto will be aware that Wednesday's game represents the best chance they will have to claim their first-ever win against Liverpool, but an injury-hit and much-changed Reds outfit still pose a significant threat.

Expect to see a much closer affair between the two clubs than September's meeting at the Estadio do Dragao, but Klopp still possesses the attacking talent and guile to steer his side to an inconsequential win.

Baboyo says the outcome will be over 1.5

Source: Sports Mole