Michael Owen has said that Liverpool will have to watch out for Porto striker Moussa Marega when the two teams face off on Tuesday.
The Reds welcome the Portuguese giants to Anfield for their Champions League (CL) quarter final first leg, and Owen believes that the Mali international could pose a real threat to Jurgen Klopp’s side.
“The Reds must do without the suspended Andy Robertson for the first leg, but Porto have failed to win any of their last 12 away knockout ties and I expect Jurgen Klopp’s side to take a sizeable lead into next week’s second leg,” he wrote on the Bet Victor website.
“The sides have met six times in European competition previously with Liverpool unbeaten (D3 W3) in those games, although the Reds will have to watch out for striker Moussa Marega who is bidding to become just the fourth player in the history of the competition to score in seven successive CL games. The others are Edinson Cavani, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo.”
OPINION
Owen is in the majority of people who expect Liverpool to build up a decent lead in the first leg at Anfield, but it’s never as easy as you think it’s going to be. Porto were the team that everyone wanted at this stage of the competition, but they are still a decent side and they will cause the Reds problems at some point over the two games. However, Owen is right, Liverpool should have more than enough to progress to the Champions League semi finals. Owen is correct with what he says about Marega, as well. The Porto frontman is extremely dangerous and he has scored in all but one of his Champions League games this season. Clearly he is chasing a bit of history, something that would put him in elite company, but it’s doubtful as to whether he will score on Tuesday night. But if the Reds keep him quiet then they should be well placed to secure victory.
