THE Champions League returns on Wednesday as Porto welcome Liverpool to Portugal. Lucas Swain (@LucasSwain95) shares his best bets.
Porto v Liverpool | Wednesday 14th February 2018, 19:45 | BT Sport
With Porto versus Liverpool clashing with PSG against Real Madrid, it’s fair to suggest very few people outside of Liverpool will be watching the Premier League side travel to Portugal where the current league leaders of the Primeira Liga await their arrival.
Whilst Porto’s Champions League group was arguably the poorest in the competition, it can be suggested it was the tightest in terms of team equality and trumping RB Leipzig to the knockout rounds – who are second only to Bayern Munich this season in the Bundesliga – must be greeted with respect.
The Kloppout Rounds
With the Premier League title looking like a formality, the only reason question hanging over it is whether Man City will break the points record, so the only way English clubs have of making significant achievement this season is progressing far into Europe.
Whilst I mean no disrespect to Porto, Liverpool have been presented with a favourable opportunity to make it into the final eight with this tie. Jurgen Klopp’s teams have never been known to sit deep so they’ll certainly be taking the game to the hosts.
That being said, this Porto side have been fantastic this season, guided by former player Sergio Conceicao, who will also see Liverpool as one of the weaker sides in the competition. Not to mention his side will be fighting for their dream move to Wolverhampton Wanderers next season in the Premier League.
Estadio Dragoal
Liverpool’s goalscoring exploits need no introduction, but just in case you’ve been living under a rock this season, the Reds’ away matches have seen Over 2.5 Goals on 79% of occasions, they’ve mustered just three clean sheets – all of which have come against opposition in the bottom four – and their matches away from Anfield average 4.00 goals per-game.
Those stats are pretty impressive, and with Porto boasting the second-best attack in the country, not to mention a partnership of Vincent Aboubakar and Moussa Marega that has scored 31 goals in 21 matches between them, it’d be absurd not to follow the trends and patterns in the betting, although the former of the duo is subject to a late fitness test.
Porto conceded six in their three home group games in the Champions League group stages, which entices me into backing Liverpool in the Over 2.5 Goals and Win market. However, I feel much safer putting my money with Over 2.5 goals and Both Teams To Score, although siding with Liverpool isn’t be a terrible idea.
Best Bets
Porto v Liverpool – Over 2.5 goals and Both Teams To Score (1/1 SkyBet)
Porto v Liverpool – Liverpool to win and Over 2.5 Goals (5/2 Unibet)
