Month: September 2019

The former Reds striker believes the Netherlands international has brought much-needed leadership to a side that had lacking in that area

Virgil van Dijk is Liverpool’s first defensive leader since Jamie Carragher, claims former Reds striker Emile Heskey.

A leaky back four had been something of an issue for the Reds prior to the big-money arrival of the Dutchman in January 2018.

Jurgen Klopp invested a record-breaking £75 million ($98m) in luring Van Dijk away from Southampton, with the defender considered to be the commanding presence his side were crying out for.

The 27-year-old centre-half has delivered on that expectation, with Liverpool boasting the Premier League’s meanest defence in 2018-19 as they chase down a first title in 29 years.

Van Dijk is considered to have played a crucial role in the Reds’ resurgence, with Heskey suggesting that he has filled a void which opened up when Carragher slipped into retirement back in 2013.

The ex-Liverpool frontman told Betoclock “Virgil van Dijk is the one player in the team who is a leader, and they haven’t had that since Jamie Carragher left.

“Someone who barks out orders and gets them out of sticky situations.

“He’s the player that team-mates can look up to and he’s the guy that they rely on.”

Carragher took in 737 appearances for Liverpool as a one-club man.

When he hung up his boots, the likes of Steven Gerrard were still around at Anfield.

Guidance at the back was missing, though, and the Reds have worked hard to address those issues.

They have gone four games without a clean sheet in all competitions over recent weeks, but Heskey believes Klopp has his side well placed to kick on in their pursuit of an elusive top-flight crown.

He added on a side which could return to the top of the table with a win over Southampton on Friday: “Klopp won’t be too concerned about how Liverpool are playing, and will be thinking about points on the board.

“He’s mentioned winning ugly, and that’s what they’ve done. A few years back, Liverpool wouldn’t have won matches like the Spurs game. 

“Now they’ve turned a corner where they can grind out results, even when they’re not playing great football.” 

Liverpool edged out Tottenham 2-1 in their most recent outing and will feel as though there is still more to come from them as they wait on the likes of Mohamed Salah to rediscover top form.

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As revealed by Goal on Friday, Pep Guardiola has identified the 22-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder as the long-term replacement for Fernandinho

Having watched Rodrigo Hernandez fill the hole left by Atletico Madrid’s veteran lynchpin Gabi without breaking a sweat, Pep Guardiola now wants the midfielder to do a similar job next season at Manchester City.

With Fernandinho turning 34 in May, the Catalan coach has identified the man more commonly known as ‘Rodri’ as the Brazilian’s ideal replacement.

It’s certainly easy to understand why Pep wants City to meet the €70 million (£60m/$80m) buy-out clause in Rodri’s Atleti contract. The 22-year-old is widely regarded in Spain as Sergio Busquets’ successor.

At just 22 years of age, he has played a pivotal role in keeping Diego Simeone’s side in the Spanish title race in what is his first season back in Madrid.

It caps a remarkable comeback for a player released by the Rojiblancos back in 2013.

An Atleti supporter, Rodri had come through the club’s youth system but those in charge of the academy felt he wasn’t physically strong or tall enough for the very highest level, so he was allowed to leave, eventually ending up at Villarreal, where he excelled – and developed.

At nearly 6ft 3 inches (191cm), the midfielder is now an imposing figure.

“He’s a very high-level player, with huge quality,” said Albert Celades, the former Spain Under-21s coach.

“Beyond his physicality, he’s really good in the defensive phase and in individual battles, tactically too, he is very good.”

That is music to Guardiola’s ears, who will find in Rodri a faithful foot soldier willing and – crucially – able to adapt to his oft varied demands.

“Above all, what stands out is that he has the ability to play quickly with both feet, perfect for bringing the ball out when under pressure,” continued Celades.

“Things which are difficult, he makes look simple. In the same way as Busquets, he has the intuition to position himself well, to know where to go, where the game is going to go for him to steal the ball back.”

Rodri is not shy of a tackle, but he is not a midfield destroyer. Like Busquets, he prevails with brain more often than brawn.

As well as playing, Rodri has been studying a business management degree. He was also described by MARCA as being “a lover of economics”. His personal economy would certainly be bolstered by a move to Man City.

He is not your typical footballer, though, instead similar personality-wise to Bernardo Silva at City, a player Guardiola adores.

Rodri is interested in languages and will likely quickly master English if he puts his mind to it. He has the type of brain that can quickly process information, on and off the field.

When you consider City wanted to sign Jorginho from Napoli last summer before Chelsea nabbed him, the English champions’ interest in Rodri is wholly unsurprising.

He is an arranger. He picks up loose balls and carefully sends them to where they need to go; to where they belong.

It is rare for him to misplace a pass. This season, in La Liga, he has a 90.2 percent pass success rate, higher than Busquets’s 89.9%. And the plan is for him to eventually replace the Barca man in Spain’s engine room.

That day may come sooner than expected, with Busquets struggling this season and national team coach Luis Enrique a big fan of the Atleti ace.

“Rodri comes across as very professional and prepared mentally,” said the former Barcelona boss. “He can reach Busquets’ level and maybe surpass it. Who knows what his limits are?”

Lucho called Rodri up to the squad in October and there the midfielder was asked about the Busquets comparisons.

“I have to set high goals, Busquets has always been a reference point for me,” he said.

If there are flaws in his game, they related to his offensive output. He has scored just twice in 26 league matches this season and has not provided any assists. Making and scoring goals are not really in his job description, though.

His remit is to get the ball and use it intelligently and, in Atleti’s biggest games, he has done exactly that, performing well in draws with Real Madrid and Barcelona this season, although like the rest of the team, he suffered away at Juventus in the Champions League.

Given Rodri’s impressive campaign, City face competition for the midfielder’s signature. Bayern Munich are continuing their rebuild for next season and, having already signed his team-mate Lucas Hernandez, are looking to add another Rojiblanco to their ranks.

A few months ago, AS columnist Javier Matallanas said Atletico should raise Rodri’s release clause.

“In this market, that price is cushy for state-owned clubs PSG and Man City, and for Madrid, Barca and United, who all need a player like Rodri,” he wrote.

That ship has sailed – and only Rodri’s love for Atletico and belief in Diego Simeone’s project can stop him from leaving a second time.

If Guardiola has his way, Manchester will be Rodri’s next port of call.

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The former Spurs frontman believes Mauricio Pochettino will move for another goalscorer, with options vital if major silverware is to be secured

Tottenham have to sign another striker this summer, says Dimitar Berbatov, with it imperative that the club return to the transfer market to find suitable cover for Harry Kane.

Spurs made no additions to their ranks prior to the 2018-19 campaign and also resisted the urge to dip into the January market for reinforcements.

That frugal approach to squad building is expected to change over the coming months, with the club now moved into a new stadium that demands a show of on-field ambition.

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Another frontman is expected to figure prominently on Mauricio Pochettino’s wish list, with England captain Kane having shouldered the burden of goalscoring expectation for too long.

The likes of Heung-min Son and Lucas Moura have offered useful support this season, but there is no like-for-like cover in north London outside of the ageing Fernando Llorente.

Berbatov believes money will be made available to address those issues, telling Betfair: “They have two major components in place now [stadium and training ground] and the third one – the trophy – is coming I’m sure.

“Mauricio Pochettino talked in the week about the club showing the same ambition to on-pitch matters as the club has done off the pitch and I believe they will back him up now.

“Tottenham have a very strong team but there hasn’t been a new arrival for more than a year and that will change this summer.

“I think the club will go for a striker. Harry Kane is a wonderful player but he needs a rest every so often but also some competition for his place.

“Spurs will play a similar level of games next season and it’s just not possible to play in them all. You need competition to drive you forward and show your best qualities.

“Making the Champions League is going to be key of course and I was pleased to hear Pochettino’s quotes about making the top four after the Crystal Palace win.

“The manager is the one in charge and he must ooze confidence to inspire the troops. Even if sometimes you are doubtful you keep that inside.”

Pochettino has boldly claimed that Tottenham will finish inside the Premier League’s top four this season after ending a recent wobble with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at their new home.

They sit third in the table with six games remaining and are also still in contention for the Champions League crown, with a two-legged quarter-final clash with Manchester City fast approaching.

The Bluebirds boss didn’t hold back after his side saw a number of key refereeing decisions go against them

Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock has lashed out at some of the “criminal” decisions that went against his side during their last-gasp defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.

The Bluebirds looked on course for a valuable victory when Victor Camarasa volleyed them ahead at the start of the second half but then saw three crucial decisions from referee Craig Pawson go against them.

First, skipper Sean Morrison saw his penalty appeals turned down when he looked to have been tugged to the ground by Antonio Rudiger.

Then, with six minutes left, Cezar Azpilicueta nodded home the equaliser despite replays showing the Blues defender was stood in an offside position.

Rudiger was then only shown a yellow card for dragging back Kenneth Zohore when he was through on goal, with the Cardiff players and coaching staff screaming for a red.

To add insult to injury, Chelsea substitute Ruben Loftus-Cheek headed home a dramatic winner in the first minute of stoppage-time.

The defeat means Cardiff remain five points adrift of Burnley, Southampton and Brighton in the final relegation place with seven games to play.

A furious Warnock was heavily critical of the officials after the game and lamented the absence of VAR, which will only be introduced in the Premier League from the start of next season.

“It’s difficult because I am really flat. I am so proud of my players. To get let down by the officials… roll on VAR,” he told Sky Sports.

“We worked three weeks for this but to get let down by decisions. No major decisions went for us.

“They don’t realise what is at stake. If I was a Burnley or a Brighton fan, they will be absolutely loving it today.

“It’s not our fault an official can’t see that [Azpilicueta’s goal], it is the most obvious offside I have ever seen or the most certain penalty I have ever seen.

“What goes through my mind? Is it payback time for me over the years?

“It’s the best league in the world but the worst officials. They don’t understand what is at stake. They shouldn’t make mistakes at this level.

“Why am I working at 70 years of age for things like that to happen? It’s not very often I am lost for words.

“My players feel like they have been kicked in the teeth. We’ve been kicked so many times. I don’t deserve officials like that today. There is no excuse for that, it’s criminal.

“If my players feel like they look in the dressing room, that’s the end of our season. But how many times have we bounced back this season?”

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The LA-based stars continued their MLS MVP chase, headlining Goal’s picks for the best performers in MLS in Week 7

Carlos Vela continued his march toward the Major League Soccer MVP award, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic reminded his fellow LA-based star that the race is far from over.

Vela’s latest heroics helped Los Angeles FC continue its winning ways, but Ibrahimovic scored a double to close the gap in the Golden Boot race and earn a place on Goal‘s MLS Best XI for the second straight week.

The LAFC star has become a fixture on Goal’s MLS Best XI, having been chosen to five of the past six Best XIs for the week. His goal and assist helped LAFC cruise to a comfortable win against FC Cincinnati.

Will Bruin secured a place on the Best XI for Week 7 after notching two goals in Seattle’s 3-2 win against previously-undefeated Toronto FC.

Here is a look at Goal’s picks for the best players in MLS Week 7:

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Montreal’s Evan Bush posted a pair of shutouts to help the Impact earn four points from a pair of difficult matches against Eastern Conference powers. He didn’t need to make a save in Montreal’s 0-0 draw with D.C. United, but made 11 recoveries. He was busier in Saturday’s win against the Columbus Crew, recording five saves and two punches, to go with nine recoveries.

FC Dallas’ Jesse Gonzalez made five saves to lead FCD to a win against the Portland Timbers, earning Best XI honorable mention in the process to recover well from missing last week’s FC Dallas loss to Philadelphia due to suspension.

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Daniel Lovitz put in two strong performances last week, helping Montreal earn a pair of shutouts. He provided a threat going forward, while also contributing a plethora of defensive contributions.

Steve Birnbaum was another defender who pulled double duty last week, and he was instrumental in D.C. United containing Montreal in last Tuesday’s 0-0 draw. Leandro Gonzalez Pirez recorded 11 recoveries and seven clearances in Atlanta United’s 2-0 win against New England.

The list of defenders on honorable mention this week is a long one, with Chicago’s Bastian Schweinsteiger, LA Galaxy fullback Jorgen Skjelvik, FC Dallas’ Ryan Hollingshead and Seattle’s Kelvin Leerdam turning in strong showings.

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Carlos Vela has been part of all but one Best XI since the 2019 season began, and his latest inclusion was undeniable, as he factored into both goals in LAFC’s latest victory. He is far from a one-man team though, with Mark-Anthony Kaye the latest LAFC midfielder to join Vela on Best XI. Kaye was all over the field, recording a jaw-dropping 16 recoveries in Saturday’s win against FC Cincinnati.

Atlanta Untied’s Ezequiel Barco began Saturday’s match on the bench, but made a huge impact off the bench, scoring both goals in Atlanta United’s 2-0 win against New England, including the best goal in MLS in Week 7.

D.C. United’s Lucas Rodriguez was the driving force behind his team’s 3-2 win against the Colorado Rapids, delivering a highlight-reel goal and an assist.

Honorable mention among midfielders includes Minnesota United’s Osvaldo Alonso, Atlanta United’s Tito Villalba, Real Salt Lake’s Demar Kreilach, LA Galaxy’s Jonathan Dos Santos, Houston’s Alberth Elis and Sporting Kansas City’s Johnny Russell. 

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic makes the Best XI for a second straight week, scoring both of the LA Galaxy’s goals in their 2-0 win against the Philadelphia Union. He towered over the Union defense for his first goal, then drew a penalty and converted to up his season goal tally to six on the season.

Ismael Tajouri-Shradi had a busy day at Allianz Field, playing a role in all three goals for New York City FC in its 3-3 draw with Minnesota United. Seattle’s Will Bruin delivered two goals to match Toronto FC’s Jozy Altidore in the Sounders 3-2 victory.

Altidore earned honorable mention for the third straight week after his latest excellent showing for TFC. Montreal’s Maxi Urruti and Real Salt Lake’s Sam Johnson also merited consideration.

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The Gunners have been linked with several left-backs, including Celtic’s Kieran Tierney and Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico, but the defender is unfazed

Sead Kolasinac has brushed off speculation linking Arsenal with a summer move for a new left-back.

Big changes are expected at the Emirates once the transfer window opens at the end of the season, with manager Unai Emery keen to continue the rebuilding job he started last summer, when five new faces arrived.

It’s been widely reported that a new left-back is a priority for Emery, with several names linked – including Celtic’s Kieran Tierney and Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico.

And the latter’s agent has recently given extra spice to those reports, revealing that that the Argentine defender would be open to leaving the Dutch capital.

Ricardo Schlieper said: ”He [Tagliafico] believes that the time has come to try a new experience in a different league.

“He wants to keep improving and I already turned down a significant contract extension. There are several teams that made enquiries for him, but it’s too soon to say where he will play next season.

“Ajax want a significant amount of money for him, and that will definitely scare some clubs off.”

Kolasinac is well aware of all of the reports, but the former Schalke man – who is now into his second season in north London – says transfer talk comes with the territory of playing for a club like Arsenal.

“I think you will always have that speculation, that happens at a club like this,” he told DAZN DACH.

“I just look at us as a team at the moment and I want us to finish as positively as possible and I want to be a part of that.

“What happens in the summer, I don’t know But I’m very happy at Arsenal, I’m really pleased to be playing for a club like this.”

Kolasinac endured a frustrating start to the campaign due to a knee injury picked up while playing against Chelsea in pre-season.

He had to wait until October to make his first appearance of the season and November for his first Premier League start.

But since then he has gone on to become an integral part of Unai Emery’s side, making 28 appearances in all competitions.

Playing either as a left-back in a flat back four or in a more advanced wing-back role, he has excelled going forward and has already contributed five Premier League assists.

He has arguably been Arsenal’s most important attacking outlet at times and the 25-year-old believes he is playing as well as he ever has done in his career – and he puts that down to the work Emery has done with him at the training ground.

“I feel good,” he said. “At the start of the season I was injured and it was hard to come back when you have that sort of injury.

“But I’m 100 per cent now, I’m happy to help my team and to get a few assists as well.”

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Focusing on the improvements Emery has made to his game, Kolasinac added: “We watch a lot of videos, he and the rest of the coaching staff really try to help me.

“We always watch those videos together to improve.

“A day after a game we will look at what’s gone well, what’s not gone well and we’ll speak about it honestly and try to make those improvements so that they show in the next game.”

Having taken a major step towards the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday with a 2-0 win against Napoli at the Emirates, Arsenal return to Premier League action on Monday night with a trip to Watford.

Emery’s side will start the game sitting sixth, but would move to within one point of third-placed Spurs with victory at Vicarage Road.

It would leave them with their Champions League fate in their own hands going into the final five games of the season and Kolasinac says he and his team-mates are desperate to get Arsenal back into Europe’s elite club competition once again.

“It would mean a lot for us all, we really want to be back in the Champions League,” said the Bosnia international. “It would be good for the club.

“It’s what the fans want and it’s what the players want. We want to make sure that we’re there.”

The World Cup winner did not enjoy the best of times in a crunch Champions League clash, but Mark Bosnich considers the Frenchman to be “world class”

Paul Pogba is “world class”, says former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, with it wrong to question his performance against Barcelona as he does not have the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic alongside him.

The France international underwhelmed many with his display in the first leg of a heavyweight Champions League quarter-final clash with the Blaugrana.

He was unable to make much of an impact in a fixture at Old Trafford which saw United suffer a 1-0 defeat.

Bosnich, though, believes the World Cup winner cannot be expected to thrive against such opposition when lacking the level of support around him that Messi and company boast.

The ex-Red Devils custodian told talkSPORT: “Without being disrespectful, some of the players around Pogba aren’t of the same quality of Rakitic, Suarez or Messi.

“When you come up against some of those really top teams in Europe, you need to have people around you to help make you look good.

“You also need the tactics to be on your side. You need the team set up to make sure you shine and I don’t think that was the case last night.

“Pogba’s a world class player, there’s no doubt. I understand the frustration of people who basically want him to dominate and become the best player on the park.

“That will happen, but when you’re coming up against the best teams in the world, you need a lot of help.”

Bosnich has also called for a sense of perspective when assessing United as a collective.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, after making a flying start to his reign to earn a three-year contract, has seen his side come unstuck four times in their last five outings.

A Premier League top-four bid and further European progress is now hanging in the balance, but Bosnich believes progress has been made from where the club was heading under Jose Mourinho.

“If you said at Christmas, ‘Man United will be playing Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-final’, everyone would’ve said you were nuts,” added the Australian.

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“People shouldn’t get their expectations up too much.

“They came up against a team [Barcelona] which is one of the best in the world and has been for some time, so you’ve got to keep your expectations realistic.”

United are set to be back in domestic action on Saturday when they play host to West Ham.

The Blues talisman looks likely to leave Stamford Bridge for the Spanish capital this summer, with his current contract set to run out in June 2020

Eden Hazard has his heart set on a move to Real Madrid this summer, leaving Chelsea powerless to stop their star man leveraging a move to Santiago Bernabeu.

The 28-year-old is in the final year of his contract, and Goal understands he feels this is a now or never moment in his dream to play for the Spanish giants.

The pull of playing for Zinedine Zidane has only increased the Belgium captain’s desire to join Los Blancos, with Hazard having grown up idolising the former France international as a player.

For Hazard, it is a case of Madrid or Chelsea, with no other club being able to steal a march on the talks which have already been opened with the European champions, although no deal has been reached.

Chelsea want £100 million (€116m) for Hazard, despite his contract coming to an end in June 2020, whereas Madrid were hoping not to break the €100m mark (£86m/$112.5m).

This is roughly half of what the Blues demanded when Madrid made contact last summer to sign their star attacker.

The Blues star’s future has come into focus as the Spanish media rounds on a charm offensive for Hazard ahead of the potential summer move.

Maurizio Sarri’s desire to sign Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic on a permanent deal may also give Real another avenue to negotiate, as the pair are both keen on continuing to work together at Stamford Bridge.

Christian Pulisic will arrive in the summer in a £58m ($73m) deal from Borussia Dortmund, and the Blues are increasingly hopeful of keeping hold of Callum Hudson-Odoi, despite the teenager handing in a transfer request in the hope of joining Bayern Munich in January.

Hudson-Odoi has been earning increased game time towards the end of the season and that could be enough to see him renew his deal, which also expires in June 2020.

The 18-year-old has always prioritised his own development, and his desire to move away was sparked by concerns that he was not getting enough chances in the first team.

However, since making his England debut in March he has started two of Chelsea’s next three Premier League matches ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Slavia Prague.

Elsewhere Chelsea will learn on Thursday whether their previously rejected appeal regarding their upcoming transfer ban has been overturned in a FIFA hearing

The Appeals Committee rejected Chelsea’s request to suspend the two-window ban, despite having previously done so for the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, though the west London club still have the option to take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a bid to be allowed to at least sign players this coming summer if FIFA maintain its current stance.

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The Reds eased through when these sides met in the Champions League last season but the Portuguese are determined to be more competitive

Liverpool are seeking a return to the Champions League final after their heartbreak last May and can take a step closer to Madrid by overcoming Porto in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at Anfield on Tuesday.

Jurgen Klopp’s men are currently going toe-to-toe with Manchester City in the Premier League but have been forced to work hard for their wins of late, notably fighting back from a goal down to beat Southampton 3-1 on Friday.

They face opponents who are in an equally tight race for their domestic crown, with Porto lagging Benfica in Portugal only by goal difference with six rounds of fixtures remaining.

After being dumped out of the Champions League 5-0 on aggregate by the Reds last season, though, they face an uphill battle to reach the semi-finals.

Game	Liverpool vs Porto
Date	Tuesday, April 9
Time	8:00pm GMT / 4:00pm ET
Stream (US only)	fubo TV (7-day free trial)

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In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial).

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV, as well as on a web browser.

US TV channel	Online stream
Univision Deportes / UniMas	fubo TV (7-day free trial)

In the United Kingdom (UK), the game will be broadcast on BT Sport 3 and can be streamed via BT Sport Live.

UK TV channel	Online stream
BT Sport 3	BT Sport Live

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Position	Liverpool squad
Goalkeepers	Alisson, Mignolet, Kelleher
Defenders	Van Dijk, Moreno, Matip, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Phillips
Midfielders	Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner, Henderson
Forwards	Mane, Salah, Firmino, Sturridge, Shaqiri, Origi

Liverpool will have to do without Joe Gomez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Adam Lallana due to injury problems.

Additionally, left-back Andy Robertson is suspended, with James Milner primed to fill in for the Scot.

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

Position	Porto squad
Goalkeepers	Casillas, Vana, Meireles
Defenders	Militao, Monteiro, Telles, Maxi Pereira, Leite, Moraes, Queiros
Midfielders	Bruno Costa, Danilo Pereira, Torres, Rotunno, Brahimi, Corona
Forwards	Andre Pereira, Fortes, Lopez, Andrade, Tiquinho, Marega, Soares

Porto travel to Merseyside without the experienced Pepe available in the centre of their defence. The former Real Madrid defender is suspended along with Mexico international midfielder Hector Herrera, another of their key performers.

Leading the injury list is Cameroon hitman Vincent Aboubakar, while former Newcastle defender Chancel Mbemba is among a sprinkling of fringe players forced to sit this game out.

Porto starting XI: Casillas, Maxi, Felipe, Militao, Alex Telles, Corona, Danilo, Oliver, Otavio, Marega, Soares

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Liverpool are red-hot 2/7 favourites with bet365. Porto are 10/1 to cause an upset, while a draw is priced at 11/2.

Click here to see more offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.

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Motivated by the disappointment of their Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid less than 12 months ago, Liverpool are determined to make a return to such a stage.

The Reds find themselves potentially only four matches from a return to the showpiece fixture in European football, having produced a stirring display to oust Bayern Munich from the competition by winning 3-1 in Germany after a scoreless home draw.

Manager Jurgen Klopp is aware, however, that playing at such a level is not to be taken for granted and has urged his players to approach the match at full throttle.

“We are very ambitious. We will try everything. It’s at Anfield, it’s a quarter-final, it’s a big one for us,” he explained. 

“This is our second year in the Champions League in succession, not year number 12 or whatever. We are not Real Madrid who have won it the last three times. We like the competition and we will try everything to win the game.”

Meanwhile, the former Dortmund boss has had his own future put under the spotlight, having been linked with a move back to his homeland and Bayern.

“I have a contract at Liverpool until 2022. And nobody here has the feeling that we should cancel it,” he told Welt.

“Neither from the owners nor from my side there is even a tendency in this direction. So, nobody has to think about that.”

Klopp’s stock might be high, but in the opposite dugout is Sergio Conceicao, a coach whose value is rising thanks to Porto’s fine European form.

Roma were dumped out in the previous round and now they are searching for an improvement on the form that saw them knocked out by Liverpool 5-0 on aggregate in the last 16 a year ago.

“I’ve heard you constantly ask this question, about whether it will be about revenge against Liverpool,” Conceicao told reporters. “No, it’s not about revenge, it’s a game of football.

“What happened last year was last year, end of story. We didn’t do things that we wanted to do, and the opponent was very clinical in what they did. We look at Liverpool as a very strong team.”

Despite Liverpool’s formidable home form – they are undefeated in both the Premier League and Champions League at Anfield this season – Conceicao is eyeing an upset.

“I think it’s possible to win here. We’ve prepared for the game to win, that’s what we’ve worked towards and we have to work very hard. That’s what we want from this game,” he said.

Realistically, though, if Porto take the game into a second leg with any sort of chance of progression, they would have to consider that something of a success.

The technology confirmed Spurs’ winner and ruled out a late goal for the home side that would have seen it through

Tottenham star Son Heung-min has expressed his gratitude to VAR after the technology helped Spurs get past Manchester City in a wild Champions League affair. 

Spurs trailed 4-3 on aggregate in the quarter-final tie when Fernando Llorente grabbed a vital goal off a corner kick in the 73rd minute.

City appealed for handball but after a VAR review, it was determined the contact off the Spaniard’s arm was incidental and the ball went in off his thigh.

With Llorente’s strike standing, City needed to find another goal to reach the semi-final and they thought they’d done just that when Raheem Sterling scored a dramatic winner in stoppage time. 

But VAR again came to Tottenham’s rescue as a review deemed Sergio Aguero to be offside in the build-up to the England international’s goal. 

Son was well aware that video review technology very much worked in his side’s favour on Wednesday night.   

“I have never seen something like this,” the South Korean told BT Sport. “It was tough and crazy but we are very proud of our team-mates. It was madness.

“Sometimes you are annoyed with VAR but today it is thank you. We fought together for 90 minutes. We showed unbelievable character and fight.”

Son scored two goals on the night, becoming the top scoring Asian in Champions League history.

The 26-year-old will look to add to that record in the semi-final, where Tottenham will take on Ajax. 

Spurs have now reached the last four in Europe for just the second time in the club’s history, having last done so in 1961-62 under Bill Nicholson. 

The club are also the seventh from England to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, joining Manchester United, Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Leeds to help England overtake Spain as the country to have produced the most unique semi-finalists. 

Liverpool and Barcelona will contest the other semi-final, with the winners meeting in the final on June 1 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.