MX23RW : Tuesday, July 2 19:03:06| >> :120:7366:7366:
[monks data]
Attendance: 52,465
Liverpool logo
Champions League | Quarter-Finals
Apr 9, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Porto

2-0

Keita (5'), Firmino (26')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Jurgen Klopp urges Liverpool fans to enjoy title race

The Reds host Porto in the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final, unbeaten in their last 16 games at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp claims he is living his long-held dream in managing a Liverpool side which can challenge for major honours.

A two-point lead at the top of the Premier League as they seek to win their first domestic title since 1990 and a Champions League quarter-final against Porto is an enviable position to be in.

Klopp said he is enjoying this season more than the last, when they were blowing teams away with their high-intensity play and huge firepower which took them to the Champions League final.

The reason is because he sees the progress which has been made and the potential which could be realised.

"When I was a young manager I was always dreaming of having a team of world-class players with the attitude of a proper challenger," said Klopp, whose side have already qualified for next season's Champions League by virtue of their league position.

"That is actually what I love, and we showed that, especially in the Champions League very often.

"We all know what happens if the boys do win something. That changes everything.

"But in this moment we should not think about that. As a club, as a group, with all our supporters we should enjoy the situation because it is so different.

"Last year we had proper pressure in the last part of the season. Chelsea was winning each game and we were drawing, after being 10 points ahead. In the end we had to win the last game again to qualify for the Champions League."

Addressing the task ahead, Klopp added: "We don't expect, or take it for granted, that we will be in the Champions League final again but having the chance again is really unbelievable.

"On the other side, we have made this big step in the league. We are responsible for the league not being decided yet.

"In all other seasons we would have probably 60-something points and be fighting with five other teams for three places behind City.

"This is completely different. I love this season much more."

Liverpool host Porto at Anfield in the first leg of their quarter-final with the expectation they will dispatch the Portuguese champions as easily as their last-16 encounter just over 12 months ago when his side left the Estadio do Dragao with a 5-0 first-leg victory.

When it was suggested to him no-one would have wanted to draw his side at this stage of the competition Klopp said: "That's true. It's a combination of things.

Liverpool v FC Porto – UEFA Champions League – Round of 16 – Second Leg – Anfield
A passionate Reds crowd can make Anfield a tough place to visit for any team, as Porto experienced  in last season's Champions League. (Peter Byrne/PA)

"Having these games with this special attitude the team can create, in this special stadium with a crowd that create an atmosphere, it is a place you want to be part of.

"The best way is as a supporter watching the game, but you wouldn't want to be the opponent. That is exactly how it should be.

"This is one of the toughest places to go at the moment and I hope we can show that again tomorrow night."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Carl Markham, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '899127f8-5f27-457f-bcec-8d5be8347904');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Klopp living the dream as Liverpool chase trophy double'});

ID:355708: cacheID:355708:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9308:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk pictured on February 9, 2019
Read Next:
Van Dijk: 'Too early to think about PL, CL double'
>
Read more about Jurgen Klopp Football
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
 
8pm
Quarter-Finals
Portugal
vs.
France
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!