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Champions League

Porto v Liverpool: Champions League betting preview, tip & TV details

Reds defence could be breached at Estadio do Dragao

Jesus Manuel Corona's Porto and Roberto Firmino's Liverpool could contribute to a high-scoring affair in the Champions League
Jesus Manuel Corona's Porto and Roberto Firmino's Liverpool could contribute to a high-scoring affair in the Champions LeagueCredit: Julian Finney

Quarter-final second leg

TV: BT Sport 3, 8pm Wednesday

All the talk has been about Manchester City's quadruple bid this season but Liverpool are still in contention for a Premier League and Champions League double.

The Reds cleared one of the biggest hurdles in their title run-in by swatting aside Chelsea 2-0 on Sunday and, providing they do not take their foot off the pedal in Porto, they can book their place in the last four of Europe's elite competition.

Jurgen Klopp's men were comfortable 2-0 winners in the first leg against the Portuguese club but they will be wary that a trip to the Estadio do Dragao is unlikely to provide a routine win.

Liverpool have won only six of their last 18 away assignments in European competition, losing on all three of their trips to Napoli, Red Star Belgrade and PSG in this term's group phase.

Confidence will have be taken from their dismantling of Bayern Munich in Germany in the last round, but the Bavarian giants are a fading force in continental competition.

Porto have had a fairly comfortable ride to the quarter-finals but they should not be ruled out entirely on their own turf.

Sergio Conceicao's men, like their Merseyside counterparts, are locked in a tight title race in the Primeira Liga, level on points with their bitter rivals Benfica.

They have, however, been able to juggle domestic duties with continental competition, cruising through the Champions League group stage with five wins and one draw before dispatching last season's semi-finalists Roma in the last 16.

Liverpool never looked like losing in the reverse fixture but no side have had more shots on target at Anfield than Porto's three since Chelsea in a September League Cup tie.

Hector Herrera coming back into the team will be a welcome boost but Pepe's return could do more to hinder than to help the Portuguese.

The veteran defender may struggle to contain the pace of Liverpool's front three in the way Real Madrid-bound Eder Militao did for large periods of the first leg.

Punters should therefore fancy Liverpool to score, as they have done in five of their last seven European games.

But Porto, primed with Moussa Marega, who has six goals in this competition, can also breach the Reds rearguard and a bet on both teams to score looks the best approach.

Primeira Liga standings

Premier League standings

Recommendations
Both teams to score
1pt 4-5 Betfred, RedZone
M Marega to score at any time
1pt 11-4 Betfair, Betfred, Paddy Power

Bet on this game at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Porto
Hector Herrera and Pepe return from suspension and Vincent Aboubakar could feature having been sidelined for more than six months with a knee injury.

Liverpool
Jordan Henderson should feature despite going off against Chelsea but Dejan Lovren is a doubt after missing training. Andrew Robertson is back from suspension.

Key stat
Moussa Marega has scored in six of Porto's nine Champions League matches this season.


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