SM
Atalanta vs. Liverpool: 10 hrs 7 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
P
Champions League | Quarter-Finals
Apr 17, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
LL

1-4

Militao (69')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Mane (26'), Salah (65'), Firmino (77'), van Dijk (84')

Jurgen Klopp: 'Liverpool are not underestimating Porto'

:Headline: Jurgen Klopp: 'Liverpool are not underestimating Porto': ID:356476: from db_amp
Liverpool lead Porto 2-0 as they go into their Champions League return leg in Portugal.

Jurgen Klopp has promised his Liverpool players will not underestimate Porto in Wednesday night's second leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Liverpool are firm favourites to advance to a semi-final against Barcelona as they go into the match with a 2-0 lead from last week's meeting at Anfield, and having triumphed 5-0 at the same stadium in the same competition last February.

The feel-good factor is as strong as ever around Liverpool as they continue their pursuit of a league and Champions League double.

But after hearing opposite number Sergio Conceicao say they at times play as "the best team in the world", Klopp told his players it is far too soon to be patting themselves on the back yet.

Sergio Conceicao had high praise for Liverpool (Martin Rickett/PA)

"We're not here to celebrate our situation," he said. "We are here to go to the next round.

"The season is not finished in this competition. We have to fight really hard.

"Porto have won all their home games (in the Champions League) so far, we know they are really dominating in the home games."

Fourteen months ago Sadio Mane's hat-trick helped Liverpool to a rout in the first leg of their last-16 clash against Porto, but Klopp dismissed the importance of what he called a "strange" match when it came to planning for Wednesday night.

"I didn't like the last game because it was really strange," he said. "Until we were 2-0 up it was a really open game. We don't remember things like this, we only face the result, 5-0.

"But my players are not silly, they do not underestimate things like this. Porto are a good team.

"We were really good in the first leg and we will have to be really good tomorrow again. We will have to play at our limit, 100 per cent, and not try to (just) come through somehow because then you cannot stand the power they can create here.

"I was here for the derby, Porto v Sporting a few years ago. We think we only have derbies in Germany or in England but then you come to Portugal and they are loud here. They know how to influence a game and influence an opponent and we have to be ready."

The return of Joe Gomez is a boost for Liverpool (Nigel French/PA)

Dejan Lovren has not travelled with the Liverpool squad but Klopp confirmed Joe Gomez will be fit to feature from the bench, having not played for the first team since suffering a leg fracture in December.

"His fitness levels are getting better and better," he said. "If he can start and play 90 minutes in the Champions League I don't know, but can he come on when he is needed? Yes. That will be possible and that's the most important thing.

"Having a player with the quality of Joe, remember the season he played before he got injured – that was incredible, so we're really happy he's back."

amp_article__356476 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-04-17 06:51:15:
html db last update - 2021-03-10 16:15:43 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Jurgen Klopp

Click here for more stories about Liverpool

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
2Arsenal32225575264971
3Liverpool32218372314171
4Aston Villa33196868491963
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham33139115258-648
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32127134651-543
12Fulham33126154951-242
13Bournemouth32119124757-1042
14Crystal Palace3289153754-1733
15Brentford3388174758-1132
16Everton3298153248-1627
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3379174258-1626
18Luton TownLuton3367204670-2425
19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .