Liverpool to Face FC Porto in the Champions League Quarter Finals

The Reds were drawn against Porto in the next round. First match will be played at Anfield.

There were plenty of dangerous teams that Liverpool could have been paired with in the Champions League Quarter Final draw but the Reds have sidestepped the competitions favorites in the next round. Liverpool will face FC Porto in the quarter finals and the first leg of the tie will be an electric night at Anfield.

On the face of it, Liverpool should advance passed Porto without too much drama. But the Portuguese team will hold some hope of winning after the run they have been on to get to this level of the Champions League.

Porto won Group D ahead of Schalke 04, Galatasaray, and Lokomotiv Moscow. Then they were drawn against AS Roma in the Round of 16. The first leg in Italy was a losing battle with Roma winning 2-1 but Porto won the second leg at the Estádio do Dragâo in dramatic fashion by coming from behind to send Roma out.

At this stage of the Champions League there are no easy matches. But delaying any confrontations with Manchester City or Barcelona or Juventus is a solid outcome for Jürgen Klopp and his team.

Liverpool will be favorites to advance passed Porto and right there in the mix to get to the final again. Any of the teams left will have been anxious about drawing Liverpool in the quarter finals but Porto or Ajax will likely have been extra sweaty waiting for the second ball to be pulled after Liverpool’s name was announced.

After the performance against Bayern Munich this week, confidence will be high at Melwood going into the first match on Tuesday, April 9th. There will still be more to come if Liverpool beat Porto over two legs but on the evidence we’ve seen, these Liverpool players under this manager will feel they can achieve the big one.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com