LONDON • Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted that while Porto were not the opponents he had hoped to draw in the Champions League quarter-finals, the same could be applied to his team.
The Portuguese champions were humiliated 5-0 on their home patch by the Reds in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie last season and they were unable to turn things around in the reverse fixture.
Asked whether he was aware that Porto, who will travel to Merseyside without banned duo Pepe and Hector Herrera, were on a "revenge" mission today, Klopp said at his pre-match press conference yesterday: "100 per cent, I understand that.
"I thought last season after we won 5-0, 'Okay, we should not come here for a while' and then we are back this year.
"It was a strange game, we were clinical, two or three goals from counter-attacks.
"The result from last year is more valuable for Porto than it is for us. We have to be strong, clear, direct in the right moments and creative.
"We didn't want Porto, to be honest... People with a proper idea about football didn't. That's the truth. But nobody (also) wanted Liverpool. It'll be tough, but we're really looking forward to it."
Dismissing claims Porto would again be rank outsiders against his team, Klopp insisted the Anfield meeting would be "a proper Champions League game" although he conceded that "we're on fire at the moment".
The German added: "It's the top team in Portugal. I don't think it's normal that a team is so organised.
"They showed it against Roma (in the previous round) and in all the Champions League games (this term). It's a different game to last year and we have to play it again. It will be tough for both."
While Liverpool will be without the suspended Andy Robertson, Klopp has few other injury worries to contend with after confirming fellow defender Virgil van Dijk and midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum are likely to shake off minor knocks to take their place in his starting XI.
He also revealed that defender Joe Gomez, who has been out since December after having surgery for a leg fracture, and midfielder Adam Lallana, who missed the St Mary's game with a muscle issue, were nearing their comebacks.
Van Dijk, who like Klopp spoke to reporters yesterday, agreed with his boss' assessment that Porto "deserve to be in the quarter-finals", but the team were still confident as "if you look at the season, the results we have at Anfield in particular, Liverpool are the favourites".
Joking that he "would not miss Robertson" at all, the Dutch international also touched on the Premier League title race, declaring "everybody is dreaming of it".
He added: "Hopefully, it can be something great at the end of the season. But we can already hold our heads high.
"It's game by game. Tomorrow is big, because we can set a base to take with us to Portugal. In the league, any slip-up can end our title dreams. It's Porto, then after that Chelsea. It's the only way we should think."
REUTERS
LIVERPOOL V PORTO
Singtel TV Ch112 & StarHub Ch213, tomorrow, 2.55am
VALENCIA • Valencia coach Marcelino has started the mind games by saying Arsenal are "the favourites" in their Europa League semi-final next month. The Spanish team, owned by Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim, eased into the Europe's second-tier club competition for the first time in five years - a 2-0 home win over fellow LaLiga side
Arsenal favourites for Europa League - Marcelino
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 05, 2019, with the headline 'With Silva, Portugal no more just the Ronaldo show'.
With Silva, Portugal no more just the Ronaldo show | NewsPlus
Jose Mourinho is heading back to Real Madrid - and could be in charge within a month, according to the club's former president. Ramon Calderon says there is "no doubt" that manager Mourinho
Qatar will not take a decision on whether to expand its 2022 World Cup to 48 teams from 32 until it has seen the details of a feasibility study from FIFA, an official from the country's World Cup organising committee said on Monday.
FIFA to make decision on expanding 2022 World Cup in June
He's great to watch, but he's not God: Pope sets fans straight on Lionel Messi For Barcelona fans, Lionel Messi is 'D10S', a combination of the Spanish word for "God" - "dios" - with the No 10 on his shirt.
Kane Could Be Out For The Season, Says Pochettino April 10, 2019 00:00 Tottenham may have to play the rest of 2018-19 without Harry Kane, who hurt his ankle against Manchester City in the
Kane could be out for rest of the season, says Pochettino
Double Injury Blow For Spurs Ahead Of EPL Clash With
Tsukasa Shiotani's sizzling winner kept Japan on top of their Asian Cup group on Thursday, while Oman scrambled into the knockouts in a pulsating finish to the tournament's first stage. In Abu Dhabi, Almoez Ali took his tally to seven goals in just three games as Qatar beat political rivals Saudi
2019 Asian Cup: Tsukasa Shiotani fires Japan past Uzbeks
Arsenal need to find themselves a £70 million version of Virgil van Dijk, says George Graham, with there "a lot to be done" by Unai Emery in reversing the fortunes of the Gunners.
Southgate concedes England have a 'hell of a lot of work to do'
MUNICH, Germany, May 18 - Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga title for a seventh straight season after beating Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1 to finish ahead of rivals Borussia Dortmund. The Bavarians, who can secure a domestic double if they beat RB Leipzig in the German Cup final on May 25, have now won the German league title a record 29 times.
Bayern Munich Win German Bundesliga Soccer Title for Seventh
Newport manager believes shock City victory possible LONDON • Newport County manager Michael Flynn believes his side can conjure up the biggest shock in the history of the FA Cup when they host Premier League champions Manchester City in the fifth round today.
Newport vs Man City: Manager Michael Flynn claims victory
0 comments:
Post a Comment