Matchday 5 in the Champions League sees the return game to the opening fixtures with Porto needing just a point at Anfield to seal their place in the next stage of the competition. The Reds on the other hand know that anything less than a win will spell the end of the road for them in this season’s tournament.
It’s safe to say that this past week has been an unusual one at Anfield and perhaps not the ideal preparation for a vital midweek Champions League game. Manager Rafa Benitez has become embroiled in a face-off with club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over their apparent unwillingness to sanction transfer activity before they arrive on Merseyside for the clash with fierce rivals Manchester United on December 16.
After hinting at the row in his pre-match press conferences last week, Benitez confirmed that he was upset at the situation after Saturday's 3-0 win at Newcastle when he claimed the Americans “don't understand” the need for quick action to avoid disappointment in the January transfer window.
In response, Hicks and Gillett issued a statement last night when they reiterated their determination to stand firm. With the Premier League the stated aim of the Reds manager this season, it remains to be seen whether an early exit from the money-spinning Champions League will be tolerated by the club’s American owners.
However, despite the pressure Benitez remains upbeat over the club’s chances against Porto. “The team has confidence” said Benitez. “We know it will be a difficult game because we know Porto are a team with quality so we have to do our job and see if it is possible to play as well as we did against Besiktas.
“And I am confident we can do it. We are team that can play under strain and stress. We have proved that. People will be looking for another result like the Besiktas one but it is important that they are patient.
“We don't need a lot of goals. We just need to win because if we do that we can go to Marseille and have a real opportunity.” The damage was done to the Reds campaign with their loss at Anfield to Marseille and the away defeat to Besiktas in Istanbul.
Liverpool know exactly what is required, the fans will do their bit, the question is- can Rafa inspire the players to produce another glorious night at Anfield?
Unbeaten in Group A, Porto need just a point to guarantee their progression into the knock-out stages of this season’s competition. However, they know defeat at Anfield an a win for Marseille against Besiktas would see the group go down to the wire on the last matchday.
In the first game between the two sides Porto took the lead through a Lucho Gonzalez penalty, only for Dirk Kuyt to equalise with a header midway through the first half. Porto were unable to take advantage of Jermaine Pennant’s second half sending off and the game ended 1-1.
The opening day point, was followed up with a last-gasp win away at Besiktas. A draw and a win over Marseille has seen the Dragons jump to the top of Group A.
Porto arrive at Anfield top of their domestic league and with a weekend victory behind them to keep up their unbeaten start to the Bwin Liga season. A goal five minutes into the match and another five minutes from full time saw FC Porto to a comfortable 2-0 win against Setubal. Lisandro Lopez continued his hot goalscoring streak with the opener, and a spectacular Quaresma strike near the end ensured the leaders maintained their four-point lead at the top of the table.
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
Newcastle - Liverpool 0 - 3 24/11/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Fulham 2 - 0 10/11/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Besiktas 8 - 0 06/11/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Blackburn - Liverpool 0 - 0 03/11/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Cardiff City 2 - 1 31/10/2007 CARLING CUP
Liverpool - Arsenal 1 - 1 28/10/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Porto
Porto - Vit. Setubal 2 - 0 25/11/2007 BWIN LIGA
E. Amadora- Porto 2 - 2 11/11/2007 BWIN LIGA
Porto - Marseille 2 - 1 06/11/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Porto - Belenenses 1 - 1 02/11/2007 BWIN LIGA
Porto - Leixoes 2 - 1 29/10/2007 BWIN LIGA
Marseille - Porto 1 - 1 24/10/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
Rafael Benitez could be tempted to name an unchanged line-up from the side that impressively swept aside Newcaslte 3-0 at St James’ Park on Saturday, although Peter Crouch could return due to his recent form for club and country.
FC Porto
Stepanov and Bolatti are the new faces among Jesualdo Ferreira’s choices for the trip to Liverpool. The two players were called to the Portuguese champions squad, from where João Paulo will be the only notable absentee.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool- Steven Gerrard
Following the disappointment of England’s Euro 2008 exit, Gerrard was on the end of some booing from the Newcastle fans at the weekend. He responded in the perfect way with a match-winning display, scoring one and having a hand in the other two. Liverpool will need their inspirational skipper to reproduce that form against Porto on Wednesday in order for them to have any chance of progressing into the round of this season’s competition.
FC Porto- Ricardo Quaresma
The Portuguse winger caused Pennant and Finnan all sorts of problems in the first leg at the Estadio do Dragão. With the Reds needing to go all out for the win, Quaresma will look to exploit any gaps left in the home side’s defence and provide the crosses or even the goals to send Porto through to the next round.
It’s safe to say that this past week has been an unusual one at Anfield and perhaps not the ideal preparation for a vital midweek Champions League game. Manager Rafa Benitez has become embroiled in a face-off with club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett over their apparent unwillingness to sanction transfer activity before they arrive on Merseyside for the clash with fierce rivals Manchester United on December 16.
After hinting at the row in his pre-match press conferences last week, Benitez confirmed that he was upset at the situation after Saturday's 3-0 win at Newcastle when he claimed the Americans “don't understand” the need for quick action to avoid disappointment in the January transfer window.
In response, Hicks and Gillett issued a statement last night when they reiterated their determination to stand firm. With the Premier League the stated aim of the Reds manager this season, it remains to be seen whether an early exit from the money-spinning Champions League will be tolerated by the club’s American owners.
However, despite the pressure Benitez remains upbeat over the club’s chances against Porto. “The team has confidence” said Benitez. “We know it will be a difficult game because we know Porto are a team with quality so we have to do our job and see if it is possible to play as well as we did against Besiktas.
“And I am confident we can do it. We are team that can play under strain and stress. We have proved that. People will be looking for another result like the Besiktas one but it is important that they are patient.
“We don't need a lot of goals. We just need to win because if we do that we can go to Marseille and have a real opportunity.” The damage was done to the Reds campaign with their loss at Anfield to Marseille and the away defeat to Besiktas in Istanbul.
Liverpool know exactly what is required, the fans will do their bit, the question is- can Rafa inspire the players to produce another glorious night at Anfield?
Unbeaten in Group A, Porto need just a point to guarantee their progression into the knock-out stages of this season’s competition. However, they know defeat at Anfield an a win for Marseille against Besiktas would see the group go down to the wire on the last matchday.
In the first game between the two sides Porto took the lead through a Lucho Gonzalez penalty, only for Dirk Kuyt to equalise with a header midway through the first half. Porto were unable to take advantage of Jermaine Pennant’s second half sending off and the game ended 1-1.
The opening day point, was followed up with a last-gasp win away at Besiktas. A draw and a win over Marseille has seen the Dragons jump to the top of Group A.
Porto arrive at Anfield top of their domestic league and with a weekend victory behind them to keep up their unbeaten start to the Bwin Liga season. A goal five minutes into the match and another five minutes from full time saw FC Porto to a comfortable 2-0 win against Setubal. Lisandro Lopez continued his hot goalscoring streak with the opener, and a spectacular Quaresma strike near the end ensured the leaders maintained their four-point lead at the top of the table.
FORM GUIDE
Liverpool
Newcastle - Liverpool 0 - 3 24/11/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Fulham 2 - 0 10/11/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Besiktas 8 - 0 06/11/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Blackburn - Liverpool 0 - 0 03/11/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Liverpool - Cardiff City 2 - 1 31/10/2007 CARLING CUP
Liverpool - Arsenal 1 - 1 28/10/2007 PREMIER LEAGUE
Porto
Porto - Vit. Setubal 2 - 0 25/11/2007 BWIN LIGA
E. Amadora- Porto 2 - 2 11/11/2007 BWIN LIGA
Porto - Marseille 2 - 1 06/11/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Porto - Belenenses 1 - 1 02/11/2007 BWIN LIGA
Porto - Leixoes 2 - 1 29/10/2007 BWIN LIGA
Marseille - Porto 1 - 1 24/10/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
Rafael Benitez could be tempted to name an unchanged line-up from the side that impressively swept aside Newcaslte 3-0 at St James’ Park on Saturday, although Peter Crouch could return due to his recent form for club and country.
FC Porto
Stepanov and Bolatti are the new faces among Jesualdo Ferreira’s choices for the trip to Liverpool. The two players were called to the Portuguese champions squad, from where João Paulo will be the only notable absentee.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Liverpool- Steven Gerrard
Following the disappointment of England’s Euro 2008 exit, Gerrard was on the end of some booing from the Newcastle fans at the weekend. He responded in the perfect way with a match-winning display, scoring one and having a hand in the other two. Liverpool will need their inspirational skipper to reproduce that form against Porto on Wednesday in order for them to have any chance of progressing into the round of this season’s competition.
FC Porto- Ricardo Quaresma
The Portuguse winger caused Pennant and Finnan all sorts of problems in the first leg at the Estadio do Dragão. With the Reds needing to go all out for the win, Quaresma will look to exploit any gaps left in the home side’s defence and provide the crosses or even the goals to send Porto through to the next round.
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