Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp calls on the power of Anfield to get Reds into Champions League quarter-finals
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For Jurgen Klopp, at least it wasn't Real Madrid again in the Champions' League.
Before the draw, the Liverpool manager had joked it would be the Spanish holders of the trophy in the first knock out phase, 'because usually I always get them'.
After former Anfield old boy Xabi Alonso had pulled the Reds' name out of the hat to pair them with Porto, the German was clearly a relieved man... even if he refused to under-estimate the Portuguese side.
“Last Wednesday, when we knew we were still involved, that was our big dream: we didn’t care who we would get. It was clear it would be a strong side,” he explained.
“Porto are a strong side, first in the Portuguese league and always good. This year again they’re a difficult side to play.
(Image: AFP)
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
"They came through in a difficult group; they kept Leipzig – a really good side in Germany – behind them. It will be interesting.”
Interesting but winnable though, for the Reds boss. He believes the power of Anfield could be the key to the tie, and he wants to use the home leg for the return on March 6 as the catalyst for progress to the quarter finals.
“Anfield has to be a difference. That’s how it is. You go there and there’s no easy place in the world of football,” he explained.
“We go there to Porto in the first game; I don’t have a plan for that game yet! Then, of course, Anfield must make the difference.
“It’s good that we have the first game at Porto, the weather is better there in February! Then in March we meet them at Anfield. We are really looking forward to it.
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“We have time (to scout them). We have enough games to watch and we will watch all of them. It’s in around about two months, but I think we have 20 games from now until then, so we have a few things to do.”
While Klopp was excited by the prospect of going to Porto – a team Liverpool have never lost to in four Champions' League meetings – his side were more interested in the midweek visit of West Brom, which offers the chance of redemption after the pain of a derby draw.
And Joe Gomez, who was one of the Reds' best players in the game against Everton, admitted: "That's one of the positives, the games come so quickly.
"Obviously it's tough, it's a gruelling schedule but it gives you a chance to try and fix it straight away."