After a near month-long hiatus, the Champions League returns on Tuesday for the quarter-finals.
In the night’s first legs, Manchester City travel to Tottenham’s new stadium and Liverpool host Porto.
The Merseyside team and Portuguese giants share some recent history in the competition. The two teams were pitted against each other in the round of 16 of the Champions League last season, with the former earning a 5-0 aggregate triumph.
We take a look at the key match-ups for this week’s clash between them:
Sadio Mane v Eder Militao
Eder Militao
While Mohamed Salah has always been the talk of the town, Senegal attacker Sadio Mane has put on a commendable show to prevent the Egyptian’s dry spell from hurting Liverpool’s chances in the Premier League and in Europe.
The winger has scored 11 goals across all competitions in 2019 and has performed consistently. Against Bayern Munich, he hoodwinked Manuel Neuer with a cheeky attempt and later doubled his tally to give Liverpool the insurance goal.
He will be up against young centre-back Eder Militao, whose confident performances have earned a summer move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
he 21-year-old Brazil international is very good in the air and is favourite to win the aerial duels. But will he be able to overcome Mane’s pace and provide security to goalkeeper Iker Casillas?
Moussa Marega v Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk will be tasked to stop Moussa Marega
Moussa Marega has earned a place in the top tier of Champions League performers this season.
With six goals, the Malian is only behind Robert Lewandowski (eight) and Lionel Messi (eight) in the goal-scoring charts.
Marega has scored against every opponent he has faced in the Champions League this term. He led Porto’s comeback against Roma with a goal and an assist and will be keen to pick up at Anfield from where he left at Estadio do Dragao.
The 27-year-old poses a threat whenever he cuts inside to have a go at goal himself and is equally capable of setting a team-mate through on goal. It will be interesting to assess his performance when he faces one of the best centre-backs in Europe this season – Virgil van Dijk.
The former Southampton man has been an absolute tank at the back for Liverpool this season. The captain without an armband has led the defensive line by example and will be looking to do the same against Porto.
It’s not easy to get past the Dutchman relying on dribbling skills alone. It’s not easy to beat Van Dijk in the air either.
Marega running with intent into Van Dijk will be an interesting battle to keep an eye on.
Alisson v Iker Casillas
Goalkeeping legend: Iker Casillas.
When Casillas won his first Champions League title, Alisson was just seven-years old.
Now they stand at opposite ends, guarding their posts in a crucial quarter-final game.
Marega has been a surprise package who can cause a lot of threat on the Liverpool goal and Alisson will have to stay on his toes at all times to keep a clean-sheet. But it does not stop there for the Brazilian.
Liverpool were defeated by Madrid in the final last season, with goalkeeper Lloris Karius coming out as the villain. Alisson was roped in to provide Liverpool a chance to better their run from last year and there will be pressure on him to perform.
At the other end, Casillas – who found second wind to his career at Porto – will be looking to take one step closer to winning his fourth Champions League trophy 19 years after he won his first.
The Spaniard is past his peak, but there could just be enough for one last hurrah as he looks to win a Champions League with a team that is not Madrid. Casillas will be the busier of the two keepers, with one of the best attacks in Mane, Roberto Firmino and Salah coming at him with everything they have.
This battle between a veteran and a goalkeeper who is slowly hitting peak at 26 years of age could prove influential.
