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Betting preview: Liverpool vs FC Porto - Reds have incentive to keep winning run going

Liverpool are already assured of topping their Champions League group but financial rewards suggest Jurgen Klopp will still have full focus on victory.

Group B was supposed to be the one where all four teams had a genuine chance of qualification.

Liverpool were drawn with Atletico Madrid, Porto and AC Milan, and when the Reds fell 2-1 behind to the latter at Anfield in their first game, the 'Group of Death' tag looked a very real thing.

But the Reds came from behind to win 3-2, thrashed Porto 5-1 in Portugal and then scored impressive back-to-back victories over Atletico Madrid to wrap up the group with two games to spare.

When, where and how to watch

When: Wednesday, November 24, 20.00 GMT

Where: Anfield

How to watch: BT Sport

Follow this game via our score centre

Best bets in Liverpool vs FC Porto

Liverpool to win at 17/20

Liverpool to win 2-0 at 17/2

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to score at 17/4

Having won their first four matches to assure themselves of top spot, surely Liverpool's A-list stars can put their feet up and give the kids a run out, right?

Well, maybe not. Although a round-of-16 place has been secured, it's naive to think that Jurgen Klopp won't give a hoot what happens now.

This is soccer in the 21st century where financial matters underpin everything. So, let's talk Champions League prize money payments.

Liverpool have already pocketed an extra £8million for qualifying for the last 16 but, crucially, they can top that pot up further.

Simply for winning a group game, a club earns £2.3million. It sounds a lot and it is. For comparison, the FA Cup winners get £1.8million.

In other words, Liverpool get more prize money for winning a supposed dead rubber against FC Porto than they would if lifting the FA Cup.

Still wonder why Klopp will go stronger than seems necessary and risk top players getting injured? Yep, there's money to be had and those at Liverpool will want it.
That's not to say the hosts will be at complete full strength but this simply can't be equated to an early round Carabao Cup tie.

Some fringe players may get welcome minutes but Klopp will still send out a side capable of getting three more points.

Last three meetings

Porto 1-5 Liverpool (September 28, 2021)

Not for the first time, Liverpool went to Porto and handed out a comprehensive beating to a side that looked as if they could cause them trouble.

Mohamed Salah prodded home the opener on 18 minutes before Sadio Mane added a second on the stroke of half-time.

Salah got his second of the night after an hour and when Mehdi Taremi pulled a goal back, it only served to anger the visitors, who pulled clear with two late strikes from Roberto Firmino.

Porto 1-4 Liverpool (April 17, 2019)

Already 2-0 up from the first leg at Anfield, the Reds overcame a tense start to brush Porto aside.

After surviving an early onslaught, Mane slid in to put Liverpool in front on 26 minutes and Salah put the tie completely to bed with a well-taken second after the break.

Eder Militao pulled a goal back for the hosts but headers from Firmino and Virgil van Dijk saw the visitors complete a thumping 6-1 aggregate victory and set up a semi-final clash with Barcelona. And we all know what happened next!

Liverpool 2-0 Porto (April 09, 2019)

After beating Bayern Munich 3-1 on aggregate in the last 16, Liverpool looked to have been given a favourable quarter-final draw when being paired with Porto. And so it proved.

It took just five minutes for the home side to take the lead when Naby Keita's shot from the edge of the area deflected in.

Trent Alexander-Arnold crossed for Firmino to make it 2-0 on the half-hour mark and, although Klopp's side couldn't add further strikes, they denied Porto the away goal and ended the game as hot favourites to progress.

Last nine meetings

Liverpool wins: 6
Draws: 3
Porto wins: 0
Liverpool goals: 23
Porto goals: 4

Liverpool should have enough

With Liverpool already through, the match prices reflect the idea that they'll send out a weakened side that could be vulnerable.

So, instead of big odds-on quotes, the six-time champions are a fraction below Even money, with Planet Sport Bet going 17/20.

The draw is 14/5 while Porto are 11/4.

Porto are second in the group with five points, one ahead of Atletico and four clear of Milan.
Sure, they'd love to win but, even with defeat at Anfield, Porto can go through in second place by beating Atletico in Portugal on the final game day.

History isn't kind to Porto as they've never beaten Liverpool and I don't expect that to change.

Of course, perhaps the smart move is to wait until starting XIs are revealed although that could cause price changes.
So, in the belief that Liverpool will have enough strength to get this done, I'll back the price of 17/20 for a home win.
In terms of a correct scoreline, a plausible scenario is that the hosts get a couple of goals ahead and then Klopp decides to see the match out.
In which case I'll go for 2-0 at 17/2. Incidentally, that's been the result in two of Porto's previous four visits to Anfield.
Those came in the 2001 UEFA Cup and the 2019 Champions League.

Liverpool vs FC Porto goalscorer bets

Again, waiting for team news before pulling the trigger is probably the way to play the goalscorer markets.

Salah and Mane have superb records against Porto, sharing nine goals between them in Liverpool's last five Champions League matches against Wednesday night's opponents.

Salah is Even money to score anytime while Mane is 6/4.
A more adventurous bet could be Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to find the net at 17/4.
After being linked with a move away, opportunities have opened up for the midfielder due to injuries and he's found some rhythm.
The Liverpool Echo scored Oxlade-Chamberlain 8/10 for his performance against Arsenal at the weekend and it's about time he pinged one in.

Hopefully, Klopp gives him the nod again and that could even be further forward than normal if one of the main front players is rested or declared unfit.

READ MORE: Desperate Pochettino now clear favourite with bookies to take over at a desperate Manchester United

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