Liverpool hold a 2-0 advantage over Porto ahead of Wednesday evening’s quarter-final second leg at the Estadio do Dragao.
Liverpool’s emphatic win at this ground in February 2018 is the heaviest ever suffered by Porto on home soil in European competition. That was one of three away wins for the Reds in their four knockout-round matches since the start of last season, only emphasising the size of the task on the hosts’ hands.
Porto also had to battle back from behind in the last round, though, overcoming Roma – the only side to beat Liverpool in a home knockout tie over the past couple of years – 3-1 here after extra time to cancel out their 2-1 loss from the first leg.
In fact, Porto are the only remaining side in the Champions League to have won 100% of their home games in the competition this season (4/4). They last won five or more straight home games in UEFA’s elite club competition between October 1998 and December 1999 (a run of six).
Furthermore, Sergio Conceicao‘s side collected more points than any other team in the group stage, so they simply cannot be written off.
This season’s competition will also be remembered for incredible second-leg turnarounds, with Manchester United and Juventus recovering from two-goal deficits to beat Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid respectively in the last 16.
Behind Benfica on goal difference alone at the top of the Primeira Liga, Porto are still on course for a European and domestic treble. Conceicao’s side can be proud of their efforts so far, but they will not want their European adventure to end just yet.
A cliche it may be, but every game for Liverpool between now and the end of the season really is like a final. Sunday’s meeting with Chelsea certainly felt that way, explaining the scenes of joy at full time as the Reds claimed a cathartic 2-0 win.
The pressure will be on Jurgen Klopp‘s men in each of those games, as will be the case at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday. Unlike their remaining four league matches, though, Liverpool can afford to draw – or indeed lose by a single goal – and still march on against Porto.
That is not to say Klopp can afford to make mass changes to his side, knowing just how easy it is for Liverpool’s season to crumble with one negative result. They would not be the first side to challenge for multiple honours in the closing stages of the season, only to finish trophyless.
Liverpool have progressed from all nine of their previous two-legged European ties under manager Klopp – four in the 2015-16 Europa League, one 2017-18 Champions League playoff and four Champions League knockout stage ties.
Adam Lallana and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are unlikely to be part of Liverpool’s travelling party, but Klopp can recall Andrew Robertson to his starting lineup after the full-back sat out the first leg through suspension.
Pepe’s return allows Conceicao to revert to a four-man backline, meaning the versatile Eder Militao – off to Real Madrid in the summer – can shuffle across to right-back.
Sadio Mane scored three of Liverpool’s give goals at the Estadio do Dragao last season, with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino also chipping in.
Last week’s victory for the Reds at Anfield leaves them with a record of four wins and three draws from their previous seven meetings with the Portuguese side.
Porto’s record in two-legged ties with English clubs is won three and lost eight, losing each of the last five and going 15 years since last prevailing from a knockout tie against Premier League opposition.
Porto’s positive home European record, coupled with the aforementioned round-of-16 comebacks, means that there is still plenty to play for on Wednesday night. Liverpool have won seven matches in a row, however, and that run is likely to extend in midweek to see them over the line.