₦airaland Forum

Dominique I told you

Sallah-Firminho out , van drik doubtful

Anfield turnaround

Klopp calls on fans to create an atmosphere to complete a stunning turnaround
2 hours ago / autty
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp called on supporters to create a "party" atmosphere at Anfield as they bid to complete a stunning turnaround.
Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool will have to play a perfect game if they are to overturn Barcelona's 3-0 lead in their Champions League semi-final.
Liverpool welcome LaLiga champions Barca to Anfield in Tuesday's second leg, though they face a daunting task following goals from Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, who scored twice, last week at Camp Nou.
The Reds have been dealt a blow with Mohamed Salah ruled out after suffering a concussion in Saturday's vital Premier League win over Newcastle United, while Roberto Firmino will also be missing.
While understandably conservative about Liverpool's hopes of progressing to the final, Klopp called on Liverpool's fans to create a "party" atmosphere to try and help the home team.
"It looks like you have to be perfect to beat them, so we should try that," Klopp told the media.
"Do that step by step. Creating an atmosphere, using that atmosphere and celebrate the situation with good football and create a football party.
"It's possible and it's likely that it’s our last Champions League game for this campaign, so let's celebrate it with our legs, with our lungs and we'll see what the outcome is.
"I imagine the place will be rocking before we score. That's what I expect. We don't only have to score but we have to deny Barcelona from scoring and that doesn't happen too often.
"We know about how big the challenge is, but this team is so wonderful. We will all try 100 per cent but that doesn't mean it will work.
"That's how we always did it and that's what we will do again. Two of the best strikers in the world are not available and we have to score four goals.
"As long as we have 11 players on the pitch we will try to celebrate the Champions League campaign, either to give it a proper finish or another go."
Barca were knocked out in dramatic fashion to Roma at the quarter-final stage last season, losing 3-0 in the second leg on Italian soil after beating the Serie A club 4-1 at home.
Klopp, though, is not expecting Barca to be on the wrong end of a stunning comeback for a second successive season.
"They [Roma] scored the away goal but that's what we didn't do," Klopp added.
"But that's the hope. I don't want to sit here and give even more reason to the Barcelona players to be more motivated because I say this or that.
"I have enough time to speak to my players until tomorrow night to make decisions. Tomorrow night will be our third game in six days and Barcelona changed 11 positions on Saturday.
"We have to do it our way. We can't compare ourselves to Roma or anyone else. The boys have showed often enough that they don't give up and they will show it again."


https://m.allfootballapp.com/news/La-Liga/Klopp-calls-on-fans-to-create-an-atmosphere-to-complete-a-stunning-turnaround/1361037

Dominique front page..

TEAM NEWS
Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne will miss a third successive game on Monday night because of a hamstring injury.
Midfielder Fernandinho is still nursing a knee problem and remains a doubt, while Claudio Bravo is a long-term absentee.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers has reported that there are no fresh injuries in his squad.
The only players unavailable to him are Daniel Amartey and Matty James.
Manchester City win the Women's FA Cup
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
@Wilsonfooty : One by one, Manchester City have cleared the hurdles put in their way by the fixture list, and in doing so have left Liverpool lurching in a weekly cycle of hope and disappointment.
With all due respect to Manchester City's final day opponents Brighton, this is surely Klopp & co's last hope.
Leicester have all the ingredients Liverpool could hope for. A former Reds manager (in Brendan Rodgers) - who was pipped to the title five seasons ago by City, an in-form Jamie Vardy playing in a team full of confidence, and a side who have already beaten Guardiola's men once this season.
But this is Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. City - relentless, remorselessly patient, with almost infinite invention and only the most negligible faults.
Stranger things have happened in football, of course - but not too many.
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola: "Leicester were a counter-attack team. With Brendan Rodgers they have another way to play. They have incredible quality. I saw the last three games and was really impressed.
"Brendan has shown his incredible qualities as a manager. In two months they already play the way he wants them to play."
Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers: "What we are trying to develop here is a style not too dissimilar to Man City. When you haven't got the ball, there is a real intent and hunger to get it back, and when you have got the ball you ask as many questions as you can.
"You have to work very hard, and in those moments when you break through the pressure you have to make the most of it, and that's what we will hope to do."
LAWRO'S PREDICTION
I have been at Manchester City's past three games and they have been able to step things up in the second half if needed. I am sure they will do that again if they have to.
Prediction: 2-0


https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48088480

Dominique front page

Roberto Firmino is a doubt for Liverpool as they look to return to the top of the Premier League with victory over Newcastle on Saturday evening, live on Sky Sports .
With two games of the season remaining, Liverpool are a point behind leaders Manchester City, who host Leicester on Monday Night Football .
Firmino has not started Liverpool's last two matches due to injury and Jurgen Klopp said "we will see" when asked about his fitness ahead of the trip to St James' Park.
Liverpool were beaten 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final by Barcelona in midweek, but Klopp says his side are in good form despite the result.
"We didn't need to pick players up in Barcelona and give them a hug. It's in us. If you want to win in football you have to accept that you can lose. I had more positive thoughts about the game than negative because of what we did on the pitch.
Jurgen Klopp confirms Naby Keita will be out for two months after suffering a groin injury in Liverpool's Champions League defeat to Barcelona
"The boys are completely on fire. When you're in the race, you don't get tired. We are ambitious like hell. All we can do is beat Newcastle and that's unbelievably difficult. What other teams do on Monday night isn't our problem."
Newcastle, who are safe from relegation, have only lost one of their last seven home Premier League games against Liverpool.
Manager Rafa Benitez was in charge of Liverpool from 2004-10 and nearly led them to the title in 2008/09 when they finished second.
Team news
Ayoze Perez (hip) and Jamaal Lascelles (illness) have been passed fit for Newcastle but DeAndre Yedlin is set to miss out with a groin problem.
Naby Keita is out for Liverpool after going off with injury against Barcelona .
Firmino is a doubt but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is available and Trent Alexander-Arnold could be recalled after being replaced by Joe Gomez in midweek.
Take at look at some of the stats surrounding the fixtures from matchweek 37 in the Premier League
Opta stats
Paul Merson's prediction
You hope Liverpool win, you really do, because otherwise you look at it and the fact they lost 3-0 at Barcelona, and if they draw here their season's fizzled out in four days. I think they'll win, the other night they just came up against an extraordinary club. They don't deserve their season to fizzle out. They should at least take it to the last day.
Also See:
Newcastle will make it a long night for them, they're used to being tight, they don't have to entertain, their fans know what they're like, they'll make it hard and it'll be a tough one.
PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2


https://www.skysports.com/football/newcastle-vs-liverpool/391124

Dominique

We will avenge this.

We will avenge this loss.

Liverpool handed boost as Firmino and Salah train before Barcelona clash - fans LOVE it
LIVERPOOL have been handed a double injury boost ahead of their Champions League clash with Barcelona.
Luis Suarez reveals the ONE Liverpool star he has spoken to ‘a lot’
Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd readying £105m offer, Liverpool deal on?
Liverpool must sign players in THREE areas this summer
Popular In the Community
Sponsored X
The Reds face Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash on Wednesday evening at the Nou Camp.
Liverpool were expected to be without Roberto Firmino, who missed their 5-0 win against Huddersfield on Friday night with an ankle injury.
Rumours on social media suggested Firmino could miss the remainder of the season.
However, Jurgen Klopp slammed those rumours, claiming fans should not believe even ‘three per-cent’ of what they read on social media.
Philippe Coutinho makes claim that will make Liverpool fans ANGRY
Luis Suarez reveals the ONE Liverpool star he has spoken to ‘a lot’ RELATED ARTICLES
Speaking ahead of their domination of Huddersfield, Klopp said: “Roberto Firmino is not out for the rest of the season.
“It’s true yesterday [on Thursday], after training, he fell obviously a little bit, he went to the physiotherapist and they wanted to wait overnight.
“This morning he came and said he still feels it a little bit. It’s kind of a small tear. We will see.
“It’s Bobby Firmino, so I would say it’s likely he’s ready for Barcelona. Of course we don’t know 100 per-cent.
Liverpool news: Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah trained (Image: LFCTV)
“It’s not too long a time. Like I said, it’s Bobby and he’s a machine. We will see. We will take no risk of course.”
Mohamed Salah was also a doubt for Liverpool’s clash with Barcelona after picking up a knock against Huddersfield.
However, Klopp has been boosted by both Firmino and Salah training on Tuesday afternoon.
Liverpool’s official Twitter account posted a video of the session, with both forwards showing they’re fit to face Barcelona.
And fans were in meltdown after seeing the video.
Lionel Messi: Liverpool fans will LOVE what Virgil van Dijk has said
Liverpool news: Barcelona warned over TWO Reds stars in semi-final RELATED ARTICLES
Liverpool have been handed a double injury boost ahead of their Champions League tie with Barcelona (Image: LFCTV)
X
One fans said: “Salah & Firmino!!!”
Another added: “Great to see bobby training.”
“So what was all that crap about Bobby being injured for the rest of the season?” asked another fan.
A follow Liverpool supporter said: “Good to see bobby back #LFC.”
“Bobby dazzler!!” another fan simply put.



https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1120888/Liverpool-Barcelona-Roberto-Firmino-Mohamed-Salah-injury-Jurgen-Klopp-Champions-League

Tottenham were handed a big boost ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg against Ajax with the return to training of Moussa Sissoko.

The France midfielder has missed the last three games due to a groin problem, but trained at Hotspur Way on Monday.

Defender Jan Vertonghen was rested during Tottenham's 1-0 loss to West Ham on Saturday but he was also in action.

Sissoko was forced off before half-time through injury against Man City

Striker Harry Kane, meanwhile, cut a lonely figure in the club's gym as he did rehabilitation work on his injured ankle.

Boss Mauricio Pochettino has previously said the England captain could be fit if Spurs make the Champions League final.

Tottenham later announced that Sissoko and Vertonghen will be assessed ahead of Tuesday's clash against the Dutch side.

Jan Vertonghen returns after fatigue ruled him out of the West Ham defeat
Kane (ankle), Harry Winks (groin), Erik Lamela and Serge Aurier (both hamstring) are injured while Son Heung-min is suspended and Vincent Janssen is ineligible.

Mauricio Pochettino reveals the ambitions he set out with Daniel Levy five years ago, when the Tottenham chairman was
But Pochettino added: "We arrived where we are now because we are a team. And we are going to be a team, and it doesn't matter who's going to score.
"It's always an issue when you don't have all the players fit, but even with some players out, we've always competed. That's why we're not worried.

Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham benefit from a collective strength

"We have a spirit in the team that we can achieve anything and all is possible. That is our strength."
"It is our first time in the Champions League semi-final, that is why you must show respect for the competition and the opponent because it is going to be tough."
There will have been a quartet of players in the Spurs dressing room who will have given an extra smile when they confirmed their last-four date with Ajax.

Toby Alderweireld is set to play against his former club in the semi-finals
Christian Eriksen, Jan Vertonghen, Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld all used to play for the Amsterdam side, with the first three joining Spurs from there while the latter came via Atletico Madrid.

Ajax have had the luxury of a full week off to prepare for this match after the Dutch Eredivisie cancelled last weekend's domestic round of fixtures in order to give their team maximum chance of doing well in Europe.
Opta stats


Charlie's prediction
Tottenham are hitting this awkward spell at the moment. Are they the favourites? They have never been here before. Ajax, as players, have never been there before but their side have on some occasions.
This young side do not have any fear, they have five or six super young players who know how to get the job done.

Dusan Tadic has reignited his career since making the move from Southampton
Dusan Tadic didn't have the consistency at Southampton but he and Daley Blind have been great. Tottenham, on their day, with the pace of Lucas Moura, alongside the skill of Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli, are guaranteed to score.

I feel Ajax will play and open up the game, Spurs could afford to let Manchester City come onto them, but they will see more possession here. I see Tottenham securing the first-leg advantage ahead of next week's return in Amsterdam.

CHARLIE PREDICTS: 2-1

https://www.skysports.com/football/tottenham-vs-ajax/preview/406463

Captain ⚽
@CaptnGuardiola
·
13h
I do think most of Barça's chances of advancing to the final depend on winning tomorrow at Camp Nou. If the qualification depended on a win at Anfield, that would be the worst case scenario.

As Pep said, an open game vs Liverpool at Anfield is suicidal.
Quote Tweet

Captain ⚽
@CaptnGuardiola
· Apr 20
Replying to @MrCPutu @coffingould and @Kesavan_ch
Pep Guardiola when asked about employing a more conservative approach Vs Liverpool : "If you play an open game at Anfield against Liverpool, you don't have 1% chance. They have maybe the best team in the world.

https://mobile.twitter.com/CaptnGuardiola

Dominique

Dominique

Corrosiveman:
I don't think Liverpool can beat Barca though its Possible but once Barca dominate the Midfield and starve liverpool the Ball then its over for liverpool .....Judging from both sides its safe to say Barca are way ahead but anything is possible the Main reason why liverpool have been playing well is because they are chasing the league Mane is the main force liverpool have this season due to his hunger if Barca can score 3 unreplied goals at camp nou then its safe to say its over for liverpool because in anfield Barca would be passing the Ball round likke they did in old trafford and try not to loose the Ball....Liverpool have an advantage due to the fact that this Barca squad is ageing

Read the article again ..Barcelona didnt impress at all during their match against levante . If they play like that against liverpool , I pity Barca.

popsy2:
Barcelona lose to Liverpool? Lol

If they don't improve their pace liverpool will tear them apart.

Across the 43-year history of their rivalry, Barcelona have never knocked Liverpool out of Europe, never defeated the Reds at the Camp Nou. Four home matches: two defeats, two draws, one solitary goal scored -- 12 years ago, by Deco. It's an angry blemish scarring an otherwise superb European record from a club that, like Liverpool, is pursuing its sixth Champions League trophy.
And the harsh truth, amid the champagne and backslapping of their La Liga title win on Saturday, is that if Barcelona perform against Jurgen Klopp's team this week like they did in beating Levante 1-0, then both those bleak records are guaranteed to continue. Their bid for a third Treble, when no other club has more than one, will be in tatters.
Does that sound a little ungracious given that for Barcelona's squad, staff and fans, this is a time of momentous achievement? Eight domestic titles in 11 seasons -- particularly, played in a league in which the quality is enormously high, in which it's proven that any team, however humble, can beat any other, and that is populated by serial UEFA trophy winners such as Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla -- is awesome.
However, facts must be faced. I'm stating the same truth that Ernesto Valverde, Gerard Pique, Luis Suarez & Co. will be digesting and trying to avoid at all costs.
What happened on Saturday, while Paco Lopez's Levante played absolutely superbly, going toe to toe with a squad that was assembled for hundreds of times the cost and is paid hundreds of millions more, was precisely what Lionel Messi has recently warned against. Barca's genius stepped off the pitch seconds after the final whistle against Manchester United in the quarterfinal and shrugged off praise from his interviewer so that he could go straight to the nub of the matter.
The gist of his message was: They have spoken among themselves about not playing as sloppily as they did in the first 10 minutes against United. They need to not repeat this again because a bad spell of eight or nine minutes in the Champions League and you're out.
The thrashings at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Roma in recent seasons were the stimulus for his critical message. United, a team in stasis, had been dealt with, but no such advantageous circumstances lay ahead in the semifinal. Liverpool are better, faster, stronger and more confident.
It's worth going back to Messi's words because, against Levante, Barcelona were wasteful, slow and lacking intensity -- and that's before their level dropped.
Putting it politely, Liverpool's scouts must have left the Camp Nou licking their lips in anticipation. Klopp's players -- or at least those who weren't spending Saturday praying that Burnley would do them a favour against Manchester City -- would have been forgiven for messaging their agents to book flights and hotel rooms in Madrid, where the final will be held, for family and friends.
One reason for writing so scathingly about Barcelona's weekend performance is the clash against Klopp's red machine already felt like Superman meeting kryptonite for the first time.
In case you're not familiar with the 81-year-old extraterrestrial, he went by the name Clark Kent and who has made millions for DC Comics and Hollywood filmmakers. He left mortals standing, but kryptonite mysteriously weakened him -- just as Liverpool's pressing, athleticism, high-tempo passing, three-man front line and height at set pieces can potentially do to Barcelona.
Indeed, just in case you've forgotten modern football history, never mind Superhero antecedents, it's not just PSG, Juve and Roma who are our reference points.
It's true Barcelona's home record could make the Camp Nou seem like an unassailable citadel. No team in Europe has an equivalent record of 31 home games in UEFA competition without defeat.
Liverpool, as powerful as they are and as much as the two rivals' states at present makes them feel like favourites, face a club that has won 28 and drawn three in the past six years, scoring 91 while conceding just 15 times. Pretty remarkable.
However, Barcelona's lone conquerors in that span were Jupp Heynckes' Bayern Munich. They were not identical to this Liverpool team, but not far off it: high tempo, physical, confident and wholly aware of where Barca's Achilles heel was in 2013.
It's coincidental that one of the jokers in Jurgen Klopp's pack, capable of springing surprises on unwary opponents and a different kind of footballer from those around him at Anfield, is Xherdan Shaqiri. He played for Bayern in that aggregate 7-0 semifinal rout.
If Klopp quizzes his Swiss international, Shaqiri will surely tell him that the 2013 version of Barcelona had also run away with their league title, but that they hated being harassed at high tempo, weren't at their athletic peak, were capable of being bullied, were vulnerable at set plays and needed to be overwhelmed.
I'd estimate Klopp's sermon to his players this week has been almost identical in content and tone to the one delivered by Heynckes. Bayern then, like Liverpool now, played 4-3-3, darting in behind the normally foraging Barca full-backs. The Catalans then, like Saturday at least, weren't at their peak of energy and stamina.
A year after Bayern thrashed Tito Vilanova's Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate, Xavi told me, vehemently, that the fundamental difference between the sides was that he and his teammates were exhausted and not at their physical best, and the Bavarians were absolutely flying in terms of pace, stamina and freshness. I was doubtful; the problems appeared to run more deeply. But it was only two seasons later that a buzzing Barca squad, not heavily changed but much more energetic after Luis Enrique had heavily rotated their first XI for months, pretty clinically dispatched Pep Guardiola's Bayern side in what was an epic Champions League semifinal en route to Barcelona's second Treble.
This lesson seems to be the key. If Barca are fresh, rather than frazzled, it's Liverpool who are underdogs. Otherwise, it's vice-versa. While Valverde has undoubtedly reduced the minutes of his vital, slightly more senior squad members, has it been sufficient?
If Messi is to fulfill his promise to bring the European Cup back to the Camp Nou, then there needs to be a massive leap forward in intensity, pace of passing, attention to detail, pressing and finishing.
Liverpool, judging by their domestic and European form, are coming to the boil. Barcelona, if you inserted a thermometer, would show a tepid temperature.
What Barcelona have achieved in winning the title both early and by a decent margin, while making this European semifinal plus reaching the Copa del Rey final, is exceedingly special. So few clubs have won Trebles because it's unbelievably difficult; there will be days when you win by luck, thanks to referees' blunders or, well, when you don't really know how you've got through.
So if you take a close look at Barca's recent level of performance -- away to United, at home to Atletico, in drawing 0-0 against Huesca, shipping four against Villarreal, ambling around against Real Sociedad and conceding sufficient chances to lose against Levante -- then the conclusion is that any team in this situation would be counted as distant second favourites to eliminate a phenomenon like Liverpool.
However, what's special about Messi, Pique, Suarez, Jordi Alba, Ivan Rakitic, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Sergio Busquets isn't just their talent, it's their mentality.
They know that leaving massive gaps between the lines like they did against Levante, being robbed of the ball, giving it away lackadaisically, getting jittery and allowing the importance of the occasion to gnaw away at their intensity and excellence, well, that will end their European season. Good bye, Wanda Metropolitano on June 1. Good bye, Treble.
The thing about Superman is that he always found a way not to let the kryptonite finish him off -- by hook or by crook, his cape would always flutter, he'd soar above his apparently dominant rivals, his superpowers would always save the day.
Barcelona's task between now and Wednesday is to refocus, to accept that mental sharpness, intensity, concentration and experience must rouse in them a 180-degree transformation from the error-strewn, sloppy, below-par 90 minutes that won them the Spanish title to one of the performances of their entire lives against a Liverpool side who arrive at the Camp Nou, whether they admit it or not, expecting to win.



http://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-champions-league/775/blog/post/3837796/if-barcelona-dont-improve-liverpool-will-be-the-kryptonite-to-their-superman

* Dominique

Dominique

Pep Guardiola insists "everyone feels the pressure" as Manchester City look to take another step closer to the title away to Burnley on Sunday.
City beat rivals Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford on Wednesday to move back to the top of the Premier League table.
Liverpool could leapfrog the champions again with a win on Friday at home to Huddersfield but City boss Guardiola is only concentrating on the Clarets.
Pep Guardiola will know there is ‘no walk in the park’ in the Premier League, according to Burnley boss Sean Dyche
"It is always tough for the way they play," Guardiola said of Burnley. "They do really well what they do.
"It is the end of the season, the last games, everyone feels the pressure to win. We are going to prepare to try to control their strong points."
Burnley vs Man City
April 28, 2019, 2:00pm
Live on
Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass
Sean Dyche has praised his Burnley side for the way they have approached their battle against relegation.
A draw at Chelsea on Monday means the Clarets can look forward to another season in the top flight - barring a never-seen-before chain of events which would involve three straight defeats, three straight wins for Cardiff and a goal difference swing of 17, plus positive results for Southampton and Brighton.
Highlights from Manchester City's win over Manchester United in the Premier League
Dyche thinks his men have gone about their business the right way, and said: "We've not just fought our way out of trouble, we've scored more goals than most other teams in doing so. The main thing for me has been the consistency in our performances.
"Manchester City are a top side," Dyche added. "We want to take on the game and at least prove that we can challenge with the elite teams.
"The top six are miles ahead, but we are looking forward to it, especially in front of our own fans."
Highlights from Chelsea's 2-2 draw with Burnley in the Premier League
Team news
Phil Bardsley (leg) is a doubt after missing the past few matches for Burnley, and Peter Crouch is also touch and go with an abdominal injury.
Steven Defour and Aaron Lennon are long-term absentees.
Kevin De Bruyne receives treatment on the pitch after going down injured
Guardiola is unsure if he will be able to call upon Fernandinho for Sunday's trip to Burnley, but confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne was out of the game.
Benjamin Mendy is also a doubt after missing out against Manchester United, while Fabian Delph is ruled out.
Opta stats
Kylw Walker in action against Burnley in the FA Cup earlier this season
Paul Merson's prediction
It's definitely a tougher game than Manchester United in midweek for City. I was a bit shocked but I heard yesterday that Burnley have the best win-ratio percentage against any Premier League winner from the previous season.
You can believe it. It's a hard game. Man City like to win the ball high up, they like to press. Burnley take that away, they're getting the ball forward quickly.
They won't mess about at the back. Two centre-forwards will be awkward and work as a pair too. Centre-halves aren't used to coming up against two strikers, a few years ago when Antonio Conte played two up front for Italy against Spain they made them look silly. They didn't have a clue what to do.
Burnley can catch you cold, and it's a hard game, it's definitely not a gimme. It's a difficult match but I expect Man City to come through with a difficult victory.
Also See:
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2


https://www.skysports.com/football/burnley-vs-man-city/preview/391108

Dominique*

front page .This match is important to liverpool.lol

Op if you have allowed me to open this thread it would have made front page but you didnt do your home work right..

Dominique

FTC

Dominique front page

Front page

WHO IS GONNA QUALIFY FOR FINAL ?

Who is gonna win

Every game now is like a final.. Liverpool fan will plenty for viewing center today.lol

Dominique** front page

Match preview coming soon.

The phrase “Barcelona flights” was among the most searched on Google among Liverpool supporters long before referee Mario Diks blew the final whistle to put Porto out of their misery.
And those fans who had taken the calculated gamble of already sorting out their trips to Catalonia after last week's first match could be forgiven for feeling a bit smug right now.
Their faith in Jurgen Klopp and his players was emphatically rewarded by another hugely impressive Champions League performance in this quarter-final second leg.
Having netted five on their last visit to the Estadio do Dragao 14 months earlier, this time Liverpool declared on four.
They could have probably had more had they been so minded.
There was an air of authority, confidence and, of course, a sprinkling of real quality in this comprehensive dismissal of a side that had won their last four home Champions League games and completed an impressive comeback against Roma in the last round.
There was little sign of a repeat although Porto, to their credit, gave it a good go in the opening quarter, and never threw in the towel, echoing their relentless, impressive support.
But with the carrot of Barcelona in the semi-finals tantalisingly dangling before them, there was no way Liverpool were going to allow this opportunity to slip.
This, though, wasn't just about getting a job done.
The manner in which the Reds followed their 3-1 win at Bayern Munich with this romp highlighted how Klopp's side have found their groove again on the road after those missteps of the group stage.
This was a calling card, a statement of intent aimed directly towards Barcelona and, it must be said, a hurting Manchester City that their thirst for honours remains wholly unquenched.
Now it's a reunion with Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez, and the small matter of a tangle with some bloke called Lionel Messi.
With that standard of opposition to come next month, few Liverpool fans will be searching for “Madrid flights” in anticipation of the June final.
But with the Reds in this kind of devastatingly professional form, who could blame them if they are?

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-porto-manchester-city-news-16146392