Liverpool take on Porto at Anfield on Tuesday as they look to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals. Here are the key stats ahead of the clash.
Unassailable at Anfield?
Liverpool have won seven of 10 home clashes with Portuguese opponents with only Benfica emerging with a victory (2-0) in 2006 when the Reds were defending the trophy.
The Reds have lost only one of the last 18 European matches at Anfield and are unbeaten at home in the last 13, winning nine and drawing four.
Their last defeat in front of the Kop was also their biggest in Europe at home, beaten 3-0 by Real Madrid in October 2014.
Liverpool have only ever conceded five goals in one European game—they lost 5-1 at Ajax in the European Cup in December 1966.
Porto’s Odds
Porto have been drawn against English opposition on 18 previous occasions.
In England they have not won in those 18 visits—avoiding defeat on only two occasions.
They drew at Old Trafford twice—in the 2003/04 round of 16 (1-1) and 2-2 in the quarter-finals five years later—both in this competition.
In knockout ties they have progressed against English teams on three of 11 occasions—beating Wolves in 1974/75 and Man United in both 1977/78 and famously in 2003/04 when coached by Jose Mourinho on their way to winning the final, beating Monaco 3-0 in Gelsenkirchen.
Since then they have been eliminated by Chelsea, Arsenal and both Manchester clubs—once each.
Chances of Scoring Five
Porto need to score at least five goals tonight, having not scored in any of their previous five visits to England.
Porto did score five in their last away game—defeating Portimonense 5-1 in the Primeira Liga.
They have scored five or more in seven league and cup games this season.
Record-Breaking Firmino
Roberto Firmino has scored eight goals in Europe this season, to set a new club record for the most goals in a single European Cup campaign.
The previous record of seven was achieved by Steven Gerrard (twice), Roger Hunt, Peter Crouch and Dirk Kuyt. Mo Salah also has seven this season while Sadio Mane has six.
Should Firmino scored once more this season he will equal the club record set by Dean Saunders of nine in a European season. He did so in the 1991/92 UEFA Cup in only five appearances.
And One For Salah
Salah has scored in nine of the last 10 Reds games and in each of their last seven.
Should he score in this game he would equal the club record set by Dick Forshaw in 1924/25 and John Aldridge (1988/89) who both scored in eight consecutive Liverpool games
Karius’ Impressive Record
At the other end of the pitch Liverpool have conceded just one goal in the last four games in league and cup and have kept four clean sheets in their last six matches.
Loris Karius has conceded 15 goals in his 18 appearances this season—keeping nine clean sheets in that time.
Refereeing Omen?
This evening’s referee is Felix Zwayer. The German takes charge of Liverpool for the first time.
He was the referee when Porto defeated Leicester 5-0 in last season’s group stage.
This Season’s Scorers
Liverpool: Salah (32), Firmino (22), Mane (14), Coutinho (12), Can (6), Oxlade-Chamberlain (4), Alexander-Arnold (3), Sturridge (3), own goals (2), Henderson (1), Klavan (1), Lovren (1), Matip (1), Milner (1), Van Dijk (1), Wijnaldum (1)
Porto: Aboubakar (26), Marega (20), Tiquinho (11), Brahimi (10), Marcano (5), Danilo Pereira (4), Felipe (3), Herrera (3), Reyes (3), Oliveira (3), Telles (2), Andre Andre (2), Corona (2), Layun (2), Pereira (2), Otavio (2), own goals (2), Hernani (1), Maxi Pereira (1)
* Stats courtesy of LFC statistician Ged Rea.
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