Topic: Pre-Match Thread - Porto V Liverpool, CL, Wednesday 14th Feb @ 7:45pm

[MerseysideBrum]

Can’t remember the last time I was this excited/nervous/anxious etc for a game.

Dortmund or Villareal probably, United in the EL had me way more anxious than this

[deFacto please, you bastards]

Shitting me self over the excitment and anxiety. Wont be able to watch the match as I am stuck at work, but no work is going to be done for a huge chunk of the day!

COME ON YOUUUUU REDSSSSSSSS

[sinnermichael]

Have faith that we'll score a couple of goals. It's just a case of whether the defence holds up. Is their main striker definitely out?

[So… Howard Philips]

So are we seven games from glory? 

Didn't Houllier say something similar?

I think it was 10 games but it didn't work well in the end.

[sashraf1066]

Looking at the Portuguese Primera Liga, Benfica are second, only two points behind Porto but Benfica only managed null point in their Champions League group. A group which included Man Utd, Basel and CSKA Moscow.
We should be seriously disappointed if we don’t get past Porto.

[HeartAndSoul]

Been a while since we were here.

Come on redmen. Let's do this!

[NarutoReds]

+ Facts.

- Firmino scored his 20th goal of the season in all competitions at Southampton on Sunday, with five of those strikes in the Champions League.

- Only Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo have scored more goals in that competition this term.

[missis sumner]

Didn't Houllier say something similar?

I think it was 10 games but it didn't work well in the end.

It worked well enough when I reiterated it about the road to Istanbul. 

[disgraced cake]

Fucking hell, been a long wait hasn't it?

I've not been so looking forward to a game in ages. I feel like from the time the draw was made it's actually came around a lot quicker than I expected. Just fucking win reds because we're more than capable of doing these, even though some are taking them a bit lightly. That being said I don't know everything about their team, would like to see Casillas play because he's become suspect in his older days, and besides that I know they have a few decent attacking options.

Need to hurt them tonight with some away goals, and I don't think they're showing up to sit back, they'll come at us I feel. Fancy Mane to score tonight. Just hoping we're in a strong position come early March 

Come on you fucking redmen, 7 games until it's ours again.

[NarutoReds]

Is it acceptable for us (let say based on the current level / performance), grab a goal in the first half, then park the bus?
** But equal to bring the 0-1 advantage to Anfield... Is it acceptable for the fans right now?
Yea I know a bit Moureen.
And yea I know everybody wants 4-0, 5-0 stuffs, kill them, blood bath and so on... Full on my Facebook newsfeed already.

[Anfield89]

Is it acceptable for us (let say based on the current level / performance), grab a goal in the first half, then park the bus?
** But equal to bring the 0-1 advantage to Anfield... Is it acceptable for the fans right now?
Yea I know a bit Moureen.
And yea I know everybody wants 4-0, 5-0 stuffs, kill them, blood bath and so on... Full on my Facebook newsfeed already.

It’s always acceptable away in Europe.

[missis sumner]

Is it acceptable for us (let say based on the current level / performance), grab a goal in the first half, then park the bus?

Perfectly acceptable, but probably not feasible. 

[rocco]

Is it acceptable for us (let say based on the current level / performance), grab a goal in the first half, then park the bus?
** But equal to bring the 0-1 advantage to Anfield... Is it acceptable for the fans right now?
Yea I know a bit Moureen.
And yea I know everybody wants 4-0, 5-0 stuffs, kill them, blood bath and so on... Full on my Facebook newsfeed already.

It would be , but we won’t .

We sit back and we will lose imo .

[omerta]

Any recommendations of a good bar to watch the match in when working in Genoa this week?

Bump

[sms1986]

Is it acceptable for us (let say based on the current level / performance), grab a goal in the first half, then park the bus?
** But equal to bring the 0-1 advantage to Anfield... Is it acceptable for the fans right now?
Yea I know a bit Moureen.
And yea I know everybody wants 4-0, 5-0 stuffs, kill them, blood bath and so on... Full on my Facebook newsfeed already.

As much as I would prefer us to kill the tie off in the first leg, even a 1-0 away win would mean a vital away goal for us with them having to come to Anfield.

[NarutoReds]

Perfectly acceptable, but probably not feasible. 

Haha!!! Seems like everybody is sceptical, not easily convinced by our defence right? Haha!!! Liverpool way perhaps.

[rob1966]

Is it acceptable for us (let say based on the current level / performance), grab a goal in the first half, then park the bus?
** But equal to bring the 0-1 advantage to Anfield... Is it acceptable for the fans right now?
Yea I know a bit Moureen.
And yea I know everybody wants 4-0, 5-0 stuffs, kill them, blood bath and so on... Full on my Facebook newsfeed already.

An away goal and not conceding was always our aim - kill them at Anfield.

[PaulF]

+ Facts.

- Firmino scored his 20th goal of the season in all competitions at Southampton on Sunday, with five of those strikes in the Champions League.

- Only Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo have scored more goals in that competition this term.

And kane and ronaldo both go down easier than a tarts knickers

[vagabond]

+ Facts.

- Firmino scored his 20th goal of the season in all competitions at Southampton on Sunday, with five of those strikes in the Champions League.

- Only Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo have scored more goals in that competition this term.

The point still stands but he has six. Salah and Coutinho both got 5 and Mane 3. The minutes per goal for all 4 were phenomenal really in the group stage.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/champions-league/top-scorers

[Qston]

Been a while since we were here.

Come on redmen. Let's do this!

9 years I think since we last played in the knockout stages. 9 friggin years for the most successful british club in the competition. European Royalty

It's time to bring old big ears back to where it belongs (to visit the friend that is already ours to keep). Cannot wait, so excited

[Tony19:6]

Ticket arrived last week for the home leg.

Hoping for win but would take a score draw which would set that up quite nicely.

We are certainly good enough to win, just depends on which LFC turns up 

[Nick110581]

Moreno starting according to some reliable posters on Twitter.

[Antoine Lavoisier]

Moreno starting according to some reliable posters on Twitter.

Great!!!

[TealC]

Moreno starting according to some reliable posters on Twitter.

Ahh a 5-5 it will be then 

[jillcwhomever]

Moreno starting according to some reliable posters on Twitter.

Doubtless based on the opinion of one journalist.

[Pistolero]

Moreno starting according to some reliable posters on Twitter.

shame that...was looking forward to Kiev

[Qston]

shame that...was looking forward to Kiev

A nice classic 80's chicken kiev with some chips on valentines. Lovely stuff

[RobbieRedman]

Any recommendations of a good bar to watch the match in when working in Genoa this week?

[Caligula?]

Moreno starting according to some reliable posters on Twitter.

No idea how anyone would know that 7 hours before the game 

[jillcwhomever]

No idea how anyone would know that 7 hours before the game

They have probably picked it up from what Paul Joyce was saying. But again he may just be guessing.

[Caligula?]

If that's true, then I can already see Van Dijk tearing Moreno a new one if he wanders off out of position and doesn't track back. 

[Sweeper]

Bump

Hiya bud, a  good friend of ours who goes over to Genoa regularly recons the best place to watch the Porto game will be 'The Tartan Bar'. That is where all the Genoa Reds watch the games. Hope that helps.

[ScottScott]

If that's true, then I can already see Van Dijk tearing Moreno a new one if he wanders off out of position and doesn't track back. 

For all of his flaws he doesn't ever 'not track back' in the sense that he's lazy, he's usually bombed up the pitch on an attack and does try and get back at every opportunity

If he starts then hopefully he plays like he has before he got injured because he's been very good this season

[redk84]

nervous/excitement going on here.......absolutely no work.

Im into my pre-match bullish mood....so 3-1 to us.

But I would take a 1-1. Think its vital we score

[Caligula?]

For all of his flaws he doesn't ever 'not track back' in the sense that he's lazy, he's usually bombed up the pitch on an attack and does try and get back at every opportunity

If he starts then hopefully he plays like he has before he got injured because he's been very good this season

Often times he's been caught out of position not because he's ventured too far forward or because he's lazy. He just has one of those... brainfart moments. Luckily he's been solid enough this season and that really hasn't happened, so even if he starts I'm fine with that.

[YourFaceGoesThroughALot]

That fella from Keane was addicted to Port. Never got me head round that. I mean of all the fucking drinks! Jesus. Anyway, poignant that we play these Portuguese Men of Wank on Valentine's Day!

Shall I compare thee to a Salah's day?   

[Sweeper]

Any recommendations of a good bar to watch the match in when working in Genoa this week?

Hiya bud, a  good friend of ours who goes over to Genoa regularly recons the best place to watch the Porto game will be 'The Tartan Bar'. That is where all the Genoa Reds watch the games. Hope that helps.

[clinical]

Doubtless based on the opinion of one journalist.

Reckon he's nailed on to start. Moreno has much more experience in Europe and that's why he'll play tonight.

[Cu Chulainn]

Wow, I'm excited for this. It's been far too long since our last CL knockout game. I was 14 the last time we were at this stage, that amazing 4-4 vs Chelsea. Funny how we all probably took Champions League football for granted back then - Rafa really spoiled us. Who could have guessed it would be nearly 10 years until we would be back at this stage?

Anyway, Porto are a big name. We are favourites, but they are to be respected, not underestimated. I don't like predicting our results, so I'm just hoping for a good game, with us winning the tie.

[Suareznumber7]

good on klopp, should make the second leg a nail biter.

Glad to see that our usual “supporters” are out in full force predicting one of, if not the, best defenders we’ve had this season will lead to us not playing well.