Liverpool vs Porto LIVE: Team news CONFIRMED, Champions League fixtures and quarter-final

LIVERPOOL 0-0 PORTO | CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE!

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Milner, Fabinho, Henderson, Keita, Salah, Mane, Firmino.

Porto XI: Casillas, Maxi, Felipe, Militão, Alex Telles, Corona, Danilo, Oliver, Otavio, Marega, Soares.

• Dejan Lovren made his first start in over three months for Liverpool

• Porto boost after injury doubt Alex Telles was passed fit

LIVERPOOL 0-0 PORTO

1: And after a typically spine-tingling rendition of YNWA – we’re underway at Anfield, where I expect a dominant Liverpool display. 4-0 is my prediction and then rest a few for the return leg.

VVD votes for Raheem

19:45: Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk says he voted for Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling to be named PFA player of the year.

Van Dijk is one of the favourites for the award after helping Liverpool deliver a sustained Premier League title challenge, while Sterling has scored 15 league goals for City, their rivals for the league crown.

“I voted for Raheem Sterling,” Van Dijk told reporters. “I did what I thought and I thought he deserves it. He’s had a fantastic season. I could have voted for Bernardo Silva as well and another couple of players from Manchester City.

“But I’m just being honest. I think he has improved a lot as a player.”

PFA rules prohibit players from voting for their team mates.

Ey up!

19:35: Sorry to bore you with this – but I read some pretty interesting transfer news regarding Liverpool today.

Liverpool are monitoring Ajax star David Neres.

That’s according to French publication Le10 Sport, who claim Jurgen Klopp’s side could challenge PSG for his signature.

Neres, who earned his first cap for the Brazil national side last month, has impressed this season – netting 11 goals and providing 15 assists in 43 appearances.

Twitter round-up

Michael Reid: Klopp again starting the same front three. I reckon it’ll be Liverpool’s downfall at the end of the season: not enough rotation. Why not play Shaqiri?

J Staggs: Liverpool need to be attacking those wide channels against this Porto side who play very narrow. Gonna be a cracker.

Dave: As a Liverpool fan, the most exciting thing for me is that Joe Gomez is back among the subs. How vital he might be for the run in.

Dave… I don’t think that’s close to being the most exciting thing on a Champions League quarter-final night.

Those rules

19:20: I’m a stickler for the rules and regulations, folks. Unlucky…

All four sides will have the benefit of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) with the system being put in place for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The away goal rule is also in effect in the Champions League, meaning Liverpool and Tottenham will need to be wary of Porto and Manchester City respectively.

Liverpool eyeing last four again

19:15: Last year’s beaten finalists Liverpool may fancy their chances of reaching the last four again after being drawn against Porto, a side they beat 5-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie last season.

The Reds’ priority may be the Premier League but defeat here would represent a big missed opportunity. Porto are also without veteran defender Pepe for Tuesday’s first leg at Anfield through suspension.

Living the dream

19:05: Jurgen Klopp claims he is living his long-held dream in managing a Liverpool side which can challenge for major honours.

“When I was a young manager I was always dreaming of having a team of world-class players with the attitude of a proper challenger,” said Klopp.

“That is actually what I love, and we showed that, especially in the Champions League very often. We all know what happens if the boys do win something. That changes everything.

“But in this moment we should not think about that. As a club, as a group, with all our supporters we should enjoy the situation because it is so different.”

Team News

18:55: Liverpool centre-back Dejan Lovren made his first start in over three months for the Champions League quarter-final first leg tie at home to Porto.

The defender replaced Joel Matip, with James Milner deputising for the suspended Andy Robertson at left-back and captain Jordan Henderson coming in for Georginio Wijnaldum as the third change from the team who beat Southampton on Friday.

Joe Gomez was named in a matchday squad for the first time since breaking his leg at Burnley in December.

Porto received a boost after injury doubt Alex Telles was passed fit.

The starting XI…

18:45: No major surprises from Jurgen Klopp, who uses James Milner as a left back. Joe Gomez makes his return to the matchday squad for the first time since December 5.

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Milner, Fabinho, Henderson, Keita, Salah, Mane, Firmino.

Subs: Mignolet, Gomez, Matip, Wijnaldum, Shaqiri, Origi, Sturridge.

Porto XI: Casillas, Maxi, Felipe, Militão, Alex Telles, Corona, Danilo, Oliver, Otavio, Marega, Soares.

Twitter round-up

Paul: I for one am massively excited to watch the Reds v Porto tonight. Being in the CL at this stage of the Competition is a privilege and we ought to not take it for granted!!

Dave: Fingers crossed for a classic European night with a good win.

Jay: Makes a change for it not to be us facing English opposition in the Quarter Finals! Need to be at our sharpest tonight and get a decent first leg result if we can. Clean sheet could be crucial too!

Revenge on the menu?

18:40: Apparently not according to Porto manager Sergio Conceicao.

Last season the pair met in the last-16, but a 5-0 drubbing in the Estadio do Dragao in the first leg meant a goalless draw in the return at Anfield resulted in an early exit for the Portuguese side.

As humiliating as that defeat was, Conceicao insists it has been forgotten.

“I’ve heard you constantly ask this question, ‘Liverpool, will it be revenge?’ I didn’t talk about it, you keep asking me about it,” he said.

“There is no question of revenge, it is a game of football. All games have a history to them, some different to others. No single game can change the characteristics of our team. What happened last year was last year, end of story.”

Sounds a bit touchy if you ask me.

The schedule…

18:35: Well this is annoying. We’ve got three English sides playing on the same night – making it impossible to watch both.

Here we’ll be focusing on events at Anfield but I’ll also keep you abreast of events over at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Manchester City try to keep their quadruple hopes alive.

Also got some Championship action tonight – but I’m afraid you’ll have to get your fix of that elsewhere.

Evening…

18:30: Hello everyone and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Liverpool vs Porto from Anfield.

The first legs of the Champions League quarter-finals take place this week and we’ve got FOUR, that’s right, FOUR English sides involved.

That’s half. Bit greedy really…

Last year’s beaten finalists Liverpool may fancy their chances of reaching the last four again after being drawn against Porto, a side they beat 5-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie last season.

In fact, Liverpool have never lost a European match against Porto in six previous encounters.

Should a simple task for Jurgen Klopp’s side, right?

LIVERPOOL vs PORTO | TEAM NEWS

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson serves a one-match suspension for the Champions League quarter-final, first-leg visit of Porto.

Midfielder James Milner is expected to deputise as although Alberto Moreno is manager Jurgen Klopp’s other option the Spaniard has not featured since early January.

Adam Lallana is a doubt with a minor muscle injury which forced him to miss Friday’s win at Southampton.

Provisional Liverpool squad: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Milner, Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane, Mignolet, Lovren, Moreno, Keita, Shaqiri, Origi, Sturridge.