Champions league: Liverpool vs. Porto
November 26, 2007
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez’s job is hanging by a thread and Porto could well be the ones who cut the strings. Amazing as it would seem, the Liverpool coach –who brought Liverpool their first Champions League title in decades- pretty much looks set to be fired by the American owners. The question is will it be sooner rather than later? If Liverpool don’t win this game it will almost definitely be sooner. The American owners have been angered by Benitez near constant complaining about not having the players he needs to win the Premier league title. Of course, his bosses don’t see it that way and feel he should be concentrated on coaching the players he has. While it is obvious to see both points of view, I don’t see Liverpool capable of taking on either Arsenal or Manchester United for the domestic trophy, which leaves the Champions League as the only other competition worth going after. Judging by Liverpool’s European form of late though, this isn’t going to happen this season. They have made a dreadful start to this year’s campaign, losing two and drawing another. They went some way towards their goal (and giving fans an enjoyable night) by beating Besiktas in an historic eight nil thrashing in their last European outing, but they still have work to do, and might not even qualify if they win both their remaining two games. There is talk of a crisis at Liverpool, but I don’t see it. They are still unbeaten in the league, had a great win at the weekend against Newcastle, and when they have a full strength squad could do some important things. But they just have to get past Porto.
The Portuguese side are having something of a holiday at the moment. Runaway leaders of the Portuguese league, they too haven’t lost a game this season and are also top of group A in the Champions League. What makes them really dangerous for Liverpool is that they haven’t qualified yet.
I don’t think Porto will be good enough to beat Liverpool at Anfield, but a draw is quite within their capabilities. This of course, would result in Liverpool’s exit from the competition and you have to then wonder what will be the fate of Benitez.
Prediction: Draw (2-2)
Lets forget about the power struggle between the manager and the club owners and concentrate on the crucial match in the must win game with Porto no disrespect to them cuz they are a quality side who can pose problem to any side.But Liverpool are on a winning run and on form playing gud football ,creating chances and scoring from all angles and playing to their true potential and I can say this is juz the beginning and their best is still to come most probably in their crunch meeting with bitter rivals Man U and I hope and have full confident this Mighty Reds team with their true playing spirit and true fantastic awesum and amazing form Man U will have no match for my fav team and will leave Anfield with a huge defeat and then their title defence will be shaky and eventually collapse.So enough of Mancs coming back to the all important “must win” game I truely and with full confident that this Mighty Reds team will push Porto to the limits and finally come out top with a narrow win by 1 goal.My prediction is 2-1 to Mighty Reds!Hopefully Sir Rafa the great rotator will guide us thru to the next round of 16 off course with Lady luck along the way.I am really luking forward to our crunch match up with the mancs.I warn Red Devils that don’t xpect this Mighty Reds to be a soft team anymore and when Man U come to the Great Anfield they will fear the crowd and off course the beautiful football Liverpool play and remember Man U your destiny is goin to b numbered.Liverpool will teach Man U a lesson by playing beautiful football that they hav never seen b4 and finally end the match with their heads down after being crush to their huge defeat in years.I predict ?-nil.The q is hw will mancs respond to the Mighty Reds onsoughlt.Till we meet mancs remember what I say will definitely happen……….Beware of the Mighty Reds!
I think Porto can come away with a win here, I don’t see how the Reds can contain us!