Fc Porto vs Liverpool | Match Preview & Team Lineup

A goal festival was never likely to be on the menu when Atlético and Porto met on opening day, and with Diego Simeone’s team only putting together six shots and the visitors scoring five, there were no goals at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Chancel Mbemba saw red in the dying embers, but by that time it was too late for Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suárez to make the extra man on their team count, as Conceicao’s team claimed a highly creditable point at the home of the champions of La Liga.

Still undefeated in all competitions this season, Porto ideally prepared for Liverpool’s visit with a 2-1 league win over Gil Vicente, as Mehdi Taremi caught Ziga Frelih from his line from 40 yards before Sergio Oliveira won the day with a free kick in the 89th minute.

The hosts may need such a long-term inspiration to produce a positive result against Liverpool, but they can rely on their unbeaten streak of 18 matches in all competitions since their loss to Chelsea in the quarter-finals last year. while they have won their last nine on the rebound at home.

Conceicao’s side also kept Manchester City in a goalless stalemate and managed a 2-1 win over Juventus at the Estadio do Dragao last season, as well as beating Marseille and Olympiacos with two clean sheets to start. , so Liverpool cannot expect so much joy upfront. of goal in the second day.

Prior to AC Milan’s trip to Anfield in the first week of the 2021-22 Champions League, the two teams had only met twice before in any competition: the infamous 2005 final and the slightly more low-key 2007 final of Europe’s elite tournament.

The encounter in Merseyside would have been suitable for the main event, as Milan scored all three goals in the first half (Fikayo Tomori’s own goal before the rapids of Ante Rebic and Brahim Díaz), but Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson turned the tie around in the second half when Jurgen Klopp’s men triumphed.

After also finding the back of the net three times in subsequent meetings with Crystal Palace and Norwich City, Liverpool maintained their theme of three against Brentford on Saturday, but their newly-promoted opponents demonstrated a clinical advantage of their own in a back-and-forth match. . -Finish the tie 3-3.

Thus, Klopp’s team has taken a slight hit in momentum after their four-game winning streak came to a halt at Brentford Community Stadium, but Saturday’s draw represented the fifth straight game in which Liverpool have scored. a trio of goals and they have won four and drawn one of their last five away games in the group stage of the Champions League.

Furthermore, Porto have not won in their eight meetings with Liverpool in all competitions since 2001, with Klopp’s team winning 2-0 at home before a 4-1 triumph at Estadio do Dragao in the quarter-finals. of his triumphant 2018-19 career.

Porto must make a defensive change following Mbemba’s red card and subsequent suspension, as well as Pepe’s forced substitution against Atlético, which saw him miss Friday’s league win.

Thus, Ivan Marcano and Fabio Cardoso could form the center-back pair against the Reds, with Wendell filling the left-back spot while starting goalkeeper Marchesin is believed to have a chance to make his first appearance of the season here.

Marko Grujic should start against his former club after playing the full 90s against Atlético, while Oliveira looks set to fight Mateus Uribe for the last spot in Conceicao’s engine room.

Meanwhile, Liverpool duo Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita may be keeping Harvey Elliott company in the treatment room until after the international break, while Neco Williams remains hesitant with an ankle problem.

Klopp is expected to make at least a couple of modifications before the weekend’s clash with Manchester City, with Kostas Tsimikas and Takumi Minamino hoping to win retirements on the left side.

Roberto Firmino’s return to fitness could lead him to displace Diogo Jota at the top of the attack, while James Milner and Curtis Jones will battle for the last place in the middle.