Liverpool vs FC Porto - CL Last 16 (2nd Leg)

[Buzzo]

Yeah, for games we need to, this is basically a friendly.

Even if we don't rest anyone else, surely rest Mo, maybe Bobby?

That said, if I were an LFC player, I'd definitely want to play in a second leg tie when you are 5 nil up.

[baitman]

even if we start almost full strength with a bit of rotation i would love to see some squaddies get 30+ minutes.
solanke as CF, with woody and ings making the front three.
if we went three at the back then maybe klopp might chuck in a moreno wild card to play him as a winger

not that klopp will, but if he was going to go full rotate mental then;

karius
gomez - vvd - klavan
- can -
oxlade - lallana - wijnaldum
ings - solanke - woodburn

[RedReet]

Yeah, for games we need to, this is basically a friendly.

If Porto are resting players, it should be a glorified training session, so I see no harm in playing key players, especially with the likes of Milner, Salah and Firmino pushing for records.

We rotate a lot anyway, so to see changes in midfield and defence will be noting unusual. We're likely to see changes in FB, CB and midfield with Clyne and Lallana maybe pushing for starts. I expect Moreno to start too and Gomez possibly get a chance at CB if Clyne starts (More likely Gomez RB with Clyne making a sub appearance). Milner should play too and personally I'd like to see Klavan get a run out as he was playing well before VVD signed.

I fully expect 2 of our usually front 3 to start, although not sure who he would rest.

[danperkins]

Would be utterly bizarre if we don't rest anyone, after going the whole season resting players when they probably didn't need it. If you get a chance to rest players in March you take it surely?! If the squad players can't be trusted to see through a 5-0 advantage at home then we have serious, serious problems here.

I will be absolutely shocked if we don't rest anyone. Porto are playing 2nd bottom side away in league after us so be interesting to see will they rest players, makes sense as they are pushing for the league. Our tie is done and dusted.

Makes every bit of sense to give likes of Lallana, Moreno, Gomez, Matip, Mig, Ings/Clyne if fit etc a run out. That should be enough if see the tie out easily IMO.

[Liverpool]

He'll want to keep up the momentum and rhythm of the side I think. Saturday wasn't an intense game neither will this be. 3 and a half days recovery before United, no travel to worry about.

Karius
Gomez Matip VVD Moreno
Milner Henderson AOC
Salah Firmino Mane.

Lallana, Ings and Can coming on

[RedReet]

Lallana has to start IMO. No point in waiting until Can is suspended and Ox/Henderson has a knock and then expecting him to play close to 90 mins. Potentially even 2 matches in a week if we're really unfortunate with injuries.

[Liverpool]

Funny one Lallana. First name on the sheet last few years, we've moved on since his injuries, seems to be trying too hard. Don't think he gets back in the team this season. Henderson, Can, Gini, AOC, Milner all ahead of him.

[The_weatherman]

I agree with Darkon, if we make too many changes we risk losing our rythm and momentum, I would rest Firmino, Henderson, Robertson and maybe VVD. Give Ings a chance, Lallana, Moreno and play Milner in midfield. We can sub Salah, Can and Mane off early hopefully too.

Karius
Gomez Matip Klavan Moreno
Milner Can AOC
Salah Ings Mane

Something like that, not too worried though, Klopp will get this right.

[PTP]

i'd defo be resting VVD/Salah/Mane/Firmino - bring in matip/Lallana/ings and solanke all starting.

I'd assume Henderson and Can could do with a rest so swap them for Wijnaldum/Milner

come to think of it - i'd go the whole hog

mignolet

Gomez
matip
klavan
Moreno

Wijnaldum
Milner
Lallana

Woodburn
Ings
Solanke

[Exiled_red]

I would play a strong lineup from the start usual defence, mix things up in the midfield as we have 5 or 6 players there who are much of a muchness resting who we intent to play in midfield at weekend. I think that I would start one or two of the front 3 and bring them off after 45-60min barring some disaster and give the likes of Woodburn Solanke and Ings the rest of the game

[Darkon]

It would suck loosing our rhytm and undefeated streak because of to many changes, keep the momentum and confidence going and send a signal to United for Sunday.

I'd defo give Ings, Gomez and Matip a start and maybe Lallana as well. Otherwise keep a strong 7-8 players from our usual line up and keep going!

[Fosterbloke]

We play Man Utd on Saturday..

[Red_Polo]

I'd rest Bobby and give Mane & Salah a half game each. Those three need a rest more than most. Get Lallana back into action, and give Ings/Solanke some minutes.

[Yozza]

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says he will only make two or three changes to his side despite their 5-0 first-leg win against Porto.

Klopp's side have all but qualified for the quarter-finals but he says he will name a strong team - though he may rest top scorer Mohamed Salah.

Emre Can is available after missing the first leg through suspension.

Porto would make history if they did go through - as no team has ever come from five goals down to progress.

It is a year this week since Barcelona became the first team to overturn a 4-0 first-leg deficit as they knocked out Paris St-Germain with a famous 6-1 win.

"We respect Porto too much and the competition too much to think about real rotation," Klopp said.

"We will prepare ourselves for the game and we want to win the second half of the tie.

"If it is a different line-up to Saturday, it is only because we want to win. Maybe one, two, three changes but only to win the game."

Liverpool last reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2009.

Porto, who have lost only once away all season, have defender Felipe back from suspension.

Match stats

• Liverpool are unbeaten against Porto, having played them five times in all competitions (W3 D2).
  
• Their only previous encounter in the knockout stages of a European competition was in 2000-01 in the Uefa Cup quarter-finals. Liverpool won 2-0 on aggregate and went on to lift the trophy later that season.
  
• Liverpool were one of three unbeaten teams in this season's Champions League group stages, alongside Barcelona and Tottenham.
  
• They have never lost by more than two clear goals at Anfield in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
  
• Liverpool have scored more goals than any other team in this season's Champions League (28), including 25 in the past five games. Only Bayern Munich (277) have made more touches inside the opposition box than Klopp's team (271).
  
• Porto have lost their past four Champions League knockout games (one goal scored, 14 conceded).
  
• Liverpool's 5-0 victory over Porto in the first leg was the biggest away win by an English side in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
  
• Porto have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2009-10
  
• The Portuguese team have never won a Champions League away game against an English side, drawing two and losing 10 of their 12 trips.
  
• James Milner has delivered six assists in this season's Champions League, more than any other player. He's only the third player to reach that total in a Champions League campaign over the past five seasons after Neymar (eight in 2016-17) and Ousmane Dembele (six in 2016-17).
  
• Sadio Mane has scored six goals in his past three Champions League games, including a hat-trick in the first leg against Porto.

[Charly]

I think we're about to go full heavy metal for the next 12 or more games.

Ironic then both Lfc and metal died a slow death in the early 90s.