LIVERPOOL
Last six: WWWDWD
Last six at home: WWWDDL
PORTO
Last six: WDWDWD
Last six at home: DDWWWW
A display to match the 8-0 trouncing of the Turkish side earlier this month would certainly give Benitez a much-needed boost.
What he doesn't need is a repeat of the dire 1-1 draw at Porto in the opening group match.
Porto tops Group A with eight points, followed by Marseille with seven, Liverpool with four and Besiktas with three.
Liverpool plays at Marseille next month.Benitez's cause has been further hindered by Liverpool's position in the Premier League. Despite being undefeated in the league so far, the Reds are only fifth, six points behind leader Arsenal.
In contrast, Porto has been top of the Portuguese league since the opening round and currently has a four-point lead. Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez has scored half of Porto's 20 league goals this season.
Pedro Emanuel, who returned for last weekend's 2-0 win over Setubal after a three-month layoff with an ankle injury, should pair up in central defense with Bruno Alves.
A draw will take Porto into the last 16.
- In three meetings, Porto have failed to beat Liverpool, but have managed two draws (1-1 in the home leg of this tie and 0-0 in 2001) and one loss (2-0 at Anfield in 2001).
- In their previous twelve games against Portuguese opposition, Liverpool have lost just three times and always to Benfica: away in 1984 and both home and away to Benfica in the last sixteen of the 2005/06 campaign.
- The Benfica defeat was their only home loss to a Portuguese side. The only other time the Reds have dropped points to Portuguese opposition was in 2000/01, when Boavista drew 1-1.
- Porto are undefeated away from home this season, and have only dropped points once (against Estrela Amadora in the league).
Liverpool 2 Porto 1. I like the look of Draw/Liverpool HT/FT result @ 4.50 with
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