Liverpool seek to protect the lead and advance into the Champions League Semi Finals as they travel to Portugal to face Porto in the 2nd leg of the Quarter Final.
Liverpool picked up a solid 2-0 win at Anfield with 2 early goals keeping a clean sheet and gaining a multiple goal advantage puts them comfortably in the driving seat to advance. It for sure is going to be a long way back for Porto if they want to turn this around.
Porto are playing decent football overall right now though. Although losing last week, they have won 6 of last 8 games (1D 1L) and have bounced back with a 0-3 league win at Portimonense in the league this weekend though we do have to consider that their wins have come against opposition much lower level than Liverpool.
Liverpool have been playing absolutely fantastic right now. Now unbeaten in 16 straight, 7 straight wins entering this weeks game and they’re coming off a HUGE 2-0 win against Chelsea. Everything is currently clicking for Liverpool they’re solid going forward and at the back it’s just a team that looks invincible at this moment of time.
Porto have been a sensational team at home. They have only failed to win 3 home games all season and have won 18 of their last 19 games in front of their fans including each of the last 3. Porto have also won every home game in the Champions League beating Galatasaray 1-0, Lokomotiv Moscow 4-1, Schalke 3-1 and Roma 3-1 which sent them into the Quarters so if anything does give Porto a shot here is the fact that they’re at home where they’ve been GREAT!
Liverpool have been a little suspect overall away from home in 2019, but they have hit good form on their travels as well having won each of their last 3 away games at Bayern, Fulham and Southampton. Liverpool have lost 3 of their 4 European away games this season which is a slight worry as they lost to Crvena Zvezda, Napoli and PSG in the groups, but they have shown that they can win away when they beat Bayern in the previous round 1-3 so although away form is a negative for Liverpool, they have been better lately on their travels and have snapped their losing streak in Europe against one of the elites in Bayern.
Moussa Marega without a doubt is the man to watch for Porto. He is their top scorer with 6 goals in the Champions League and just recently had a streak of 6 straight games with a goal in the competition. Furthermore, Marega has scored in every home game for Porto in the Champions League this season.
As for Liverpool, Sadio Mane is the in form man to watch. With 12 goals in his last 15 games and scoring at the weekend against Chelsea, he has been by far their best attacking player in 2019, plus he has scored at every stage in the Champions League ever since the start of last season except from this Quarter Final which is a streak he’ll look to keep alive and Mane has scored a hattrick at Porto away last season so him scoring definitely is a high possibility here.
Liverpool have never lost to Porto in the Champions League as in 7 H2H meetings Liverpool won 4 times and the other 3 resulted with draws. When they meet in Portugal, 2 of the 3 games ended with draws however Liverpool won on their most recent travel here against Porto comfortably 0-5 last season.
Liverpool are tipped as bookies favourites to win this game at 2.10 whereas Porto at 3.80 with Draw offered at 3.50. However, Liverpool are clear and by far favourites to advance at 1.03 with Porto being a massive long shot at 14.00. The 2nd leg game is expect to be close although Liverpool are better, expect Porto to give them a competitive game at home considering they’ve been very solid here at home, however it’s hard to see Porto turning the whole deficit around. The 2 goal lead and a clean sheet was huge for Liverpool to get and if they score at least once all of a sudden Porto would have to get 4 so to sum it expect Porto to give Liverpool a tough game for 90 mins, but the tie is probably done and dusted, only way Porto have a chance is if they keep a clean sheet which will be ridiculously hard to do against Liverpool and not only that, Liverpool very rarely concede multiple goals and that’s what also Porto will need. Odds are based on Unibet.
Team News
Porto: Hector Herrera and Pepe are both available after being suspended in the 1st leg so they’ll be able to field the strongest 11 after not being able to do so at Anfield last week.
Liverpool: Joe Gomez and Oxlade-Chamberlain have been back in training for weeks now, but they’ll likely still be out for this game as they look to still gain full match fitness. Jordan Henderson will have to face late fitness tests to see if he can play while Andre Robertson is back from suspension. Everyone else are available.
Betting Stats
Porto have covered 75% of their total goal overs at home in the UCL this season (3-1).
Porto have covered 50% of their total 1st half goal overs at home in the UCL this season (2-2).
Porto average 2.75 bookings per game at home in the UCL this season (11 bookings in 4 games).
Moussa Marega is Porto’s top scorer at home in the UCL with 4 home European goals. He scored in every home game in the competition this season.
Porto have covered 75% of their Handicaps at home in the UCL this season (3-1-0).
Porto have only covered 25% of their 1st half Handicaps at home in the UCL this season however (1-3). Much better 2nd half home team.
Liverpool have covered just 25% of their total goal overs away from home in the UCL this season (1-3).
Liverpool have covered 75% of their total 1st half total goal overs away from home in the UCL this season (3-1). Much more goals in their 1st halves than 2nd halves away from home in the competition.
Liverpool average 2.75 bookings per game away from home in the UCL this season (11 bookings in 4 games).
Sadio Mane is Liverpool’s top scorer away from home in the UCL this season with 2 away European goals which is half of Liverpool’s away goals in the competitions (4). Van Dijk and Milner have scored the other two. Salah and Firmino are yet to score away from home in the UCL this season.
Liverpool have only covered 25% of their Handicaps away from home in the UCL this season (1-3).
Liverpool have covered 25% of their 1st half Handicaps away from home in the UCL this season (1-3).
KICK OFF – 17th April 2019 – 8pm UK Time
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