As Liverpool and Porto meet again in the Champions League, one can’t help but think back to what happened last time around on Valentine’s Day 2018. Liverpool broke Porto’s hearts with a shattering 5-0 victory at the Estádio do Dragão, definitively ending the last-16 tie in the first leg.
This time Sérgio Conceição’s players will be determined to give a better account of themselves as they travel to Anfield for the first leg of their first Champions League quarter-final since 2015.
For Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool it will be a welcome break from the pressures of the Premier League title race, and they will want to kill the tie off in the first leg against a Porto side that was seen as one of the easier draws in this year’s last eight.
This tactical preview will assess how both sides may approach the game both in possession and in transitions whilst addressing the respective strengths and weaknesses of each team.
Possible lineups
Liverpool
The main absentee for Liverpool is left-back Andy Robertson who is suspended for this game. The Scot will most likely be replaced at left-back by the versatile James Milner.
Captain Jordan Henderson is likely to return to Klopp’s three-man midfield, in place of either Keita or Fabinho as Georginio Wijnaldum makes up the three. Midfielder Adam Lallana is also an injury doubt, though it is unlikely he would have started the game in any case.
Liverpool are expected to play their usual 4-3-3 formation, though another option would be to have Mané drop back into the left-hand side of the midfield to form a 4-4-2, particularly if Klopp chooses to match Porto man-for-man.
Porto
Sérgio Conceição will have a number of big decisions to make when it comes to picking his first XI, not least regarding the fitness concerns over Alex Telles. Porto’s Brazilian left-back has been involved in training but his match-fitness is still in doubt and a decision may be left to the last minute. If he is unavailable it will be a huge loss for Porto as he has been one of their best performers this season, averaging 3.5 accurate crosses per game (the league’s best) and providing six assists.
Regardless of what happens with Telles, Porto’s backline will undergo a reshuffle as veteran centre-back Pepe is out suspended and full-back Wilson Manafá is not registered for European competitions.
