Liverpool will feature in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in nine years. With their lengthy absence having left them homesick, there will be some love reconnection on the field of play in the Valentine Day football match. However, it may not be as easy it seems with Jurgen Klopp’s men coming up against one of the most imposing sides in European football this season. It’s a big game by all standards and the stakes are even high with Porto's remarkable unbeaten run at stake.
The hosts come into the fixture at the back of a 21-game winning streak, with 17 wins and four draws amounting to 54 points and subsequently placing them at the summit of the Portuguese Primeira Liga. The Estadio do Dragao side’s last ever defeat was in a fixture against Moreirense back in May 2017. While Liverpool boasts of an efficient attacking front featuring Salah and Firmino, the 2004 UEFA Champions League winners have their own lethal duo, Moussa Marega, and Vicent Aboubakar.
Of the 53 goals scored by the Portuguese club in the domestic league, the pair has 31 goals and consequently sit in third and fourth place on the goalscoring leaderboard. On the European front, it is the Cameroon international who has made the most significant contribution in his team’s goalscoring department with his five goals. Defensive-wise, Porto’s performance has been very commendable as they have conceded just 10 goals in 21 Primeira Liga outings.
Nonetheless, the side’s odd showing in their 3-1 defeat to Besiktas and a 3-2 loss to RB Leipzig in the Champions League group-stages adds to the skepticism about them handling the potency of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, coming up against Liverpool. The Egyptian forward has scored 29 goals and has assisted 19 times in 35 games this season, whereas his Brazilian companion boasts of 20 goals and 10 assists in all competitions this season.
It is worth noting that the unsung Roberto Firmino scored six goals in six group stage outings and is currently tied in second place with the likes of Harry Kane, Neymar, Ben Yedder and Edinson Cavani on the topscorers chart.With Porto having conceded 10 goals in six Champions League games – the same as their tally in 21 league games – there is a huge possibility that Liverpool’s free-scoring forwards could find a way around Conceicao’s men.
If history and statistics are anything to go by, then the Reds should be inspired enough heading into this game considering they eliminated FC Porto in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup quarterfinals and are unbeaten in all four matches against them. Nonetheless, for the pattern to continue, Liverpool’s fate chiefly lies in the hands of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
