Liverpool will play the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against FC Porto at the Estadio do Dragao tomorrow night in Portugal. Here’s how Jurgen Klopp’s side could line up.
The Reds are 2-0 from last week’s first leg at Anfield when a deflected shot from Naby Keita plus a close finish from Roberto Firmino won the game for the home side.
Porto did have some chances to get themselves an away goal with Moussa Marega, in particular, guilty of wasting some opportunities.
Thankfully, Liverpool did not concede an away goal and are firmly in the driving seat for Wednesday night’s encounter.
An early goal for Porto would be sure to ramp up the noise among the home crowd but if The Reds manage an away goal at any stage, it really would be game over then.
Klopp has some decisions to make regarding his starting eleven with players like James Milner, Gini Wijnaldum, Dejan Lovren, Joe Gomez, Adam Lallana and Divock Origi all possible starters on the night.
I think Klopp will rest Joel Matip for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Cardiff, utilising Lovren at centre-half in Portugal. Gomez will likely be on the bench as he still awaits a return to first-team action following his ankle injury which he picked up at Burnley in early December.
Gini Wijnaldum may be deployed at the base of midfield, giving a well-deserved rest to Fabinho and Jordan Henderson who has enjoyed a more advanced role in recent games.
James Milner should start in midfield having played at left-back instead of the suspended Andy Robertson for the first leg.
I think Naby Keita might actually start again to provide that forward push from midfield. In recent games, the former RB Leipzig midfielder has shown his ability to break the lines and desire to penetrate the opposition’s defence whenever possible. Klopp may use Keita with the hope of getting that all-important away goal in the first half.
Up front, Klopp is likely to use at least two of Liverpool’s main attacking trio with Bobby Firmino possibly on the bench. Divock Origi would be the expected replacement, possibly playing wide left with Sadio Mané moving more central.
Liverpool’s predicted lineup vs FC Porto: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Milner(c), Keita, Salah, Mané, Origi
For our full FC Porto v Liverpool match preview, click here.
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