OPINION
Liverpool can frighteningly close to winning the Champions League last season, and this season, they will be hoping to replicate their journey to the Final.
The first team that ultimately stands in their way is Portuguese outfit Porto, who are by no means novices of the competition. However, the Reds could have just been handed an unexpected but very welcome boost ahead of the first leg.
Porto full-back Alex Telles suffered an injury on Saturday night in what was a crucial win over Sporting Braga, where Telles took the winning penalty. Afterwards though, he clutched his hip in pain and had to be taken off.
The Liverpool Echo say that the 26-year-old is a major doubt for the quarter-final fixture that takes place in ten days’ time, and this is no doubt news that the Liverpool fanbase will love. Without Telles, Porto are not as strong as they should be.
He has been a key player for the Liga NOS club this season, racking up 44 appearances in all competitions for them. To say that he is an ever-present for them would be a slight understatement.
What’s more, he has proven reliable from the penalty spot many times this season, including the Champions League against Roma. If Porto have their worst fears confirmed, then the Reds will have to exploit this to the absolute maximum.
The likes of Sadio Mane will have more freedom to terrorise the Porto defence if he is not there, and to be honest, he is one player that they do not want running at them with free space.
Either way, the Liverpool fans will be loving this news, especially if it can bring them one step closer to winning the silverware that fell out of their grasp last season.
