Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool will not be taking Porto lightly after they were handed what looks a favourable draw in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The Reds avoided the three English teams along with European giants Juventus and Barcelona when being paired with the Portuguese side, who saw off Roma in the last round.
Liverpool beat Porto 5-0 on the way to last season's Champions League final, with Klopp's side doing all the damage in the first leg in Portugal before a 0-0 draw at Anfield confirmed their progress.
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The tie is reversed this time around with Anfield staging the first leg on Tuesday April 9 before the return takes place the following week at the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday April 17.
Despite the emphatic nature of last season's victory over Porto, Klopp insists his side will by no means be taking Porto lightly ahead of the contest.
Strange result last year
“What can I say? It’s Porto and we’ve played there already and we know how good we had to be last year," Klopp told the club's website.
“The result in the end was a strange one; it was very good for us, of course, but it was a strange one. In the second leg, we saw the character of Porto and the quality they have.
🎵 Oh Mané Mané! 🎵
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 15, 2019
🔴 Sadio Mané scored a hat-trick against Porto in 2017/18, including THIS goal 🔥#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/AsmB7dfDH4
“I could not be further away from thinking it’s the best draw because it isn’t – it is just the draw, it’s the opponent we have to prepare for and that’s all we will be thinking about from when we start preparing for the game.
“We have a specialist for Porto in our own team in Pep Lijnders being there in the past – and he always speaks with so much respect for that club. We will have plenty of information and that’s what you need before a game, but you still have to play it. Now we know it, let’s prepare.”
Klopp feels last year's result could even work in Porto's favour with their players eager to make amends for that this time around - but both sides have a huge incentive with the winners facing Manchester United or Barcelona in the semis.
Respect the opponent
🔴 #UCL QF DATES 🔵
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 15, 2019
First Leg | 🏟 Anfield | 09.04.19
Second Leg | 🏟 Estádio do Dragão | 17.04.19
#UCLdraw pic.twitter.com/DL0f3CNCmS
"Porto were not on my ‘wish list’, but now they are our opponent, it is how it is and we have to play them," Klopp added.
“The first thing you have to do is make sure everybody respects the opponent the right way – and we will do that 100 per cent. We will know about the quality of Porto and then we have to play the game. Our supporters are brilliant at that, respecting the opponent.
“I am happy for them because it is a nice trip, a nice city, and the weather will be good then, which is always good for English people! There’s nothing else to say.”
