Liverpool will be missing a key member of their side as they play their first Champions League away fixture of the season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out of the trip to Porto, joining Thiago and Harvey Elliott on the sidelines, as Jurgen Klopp’s side already find themselves in a position where they are being forced to shuffle their pack.
One of the positions they decided to go into the new season without like-for-like backup was Alexander-Arnold’s right-back role.
On the other side of the defence, Kostas Tsimikas has emerged as a viable alternative to left-back Andy Robertson, but no such player exists in the squad for the right-sided equivalent.
Though there are understandable reasons for this decision, it’s one that is being tested earlier than Liverpool might have hoped.
James Milner deputised when Alexander-Arnold international missed the recent game against Crystal Palace due to illness, but the latter was back to face Brentford in the 3-3 draw at the weekend.
The 22-year-old was also seen in training this week prior to Liverpool’s trip out to Portgual but in the end, did not travel with the team.
This has led to speculation he will also miss the key fixture against Manchester City on Sunday, but Liverpool supporters will hope this is merely a case of making sure he is fit and ready for that game.
Initially, Klopp didn’t reveal that Alexander-Arnold would miss the Porto game, and on the face of it, it seems like a late decision.
“A big squad will travel,” said the German head coach in his pre-match press conference. “We have 23 players with us and apart from the longer-term injuries, I think they are all in.
“So no Thiago, no Harvey, the rest are available. But we have one too many, we have to make a decision about who will train here and who will come with us.
“But no new concerns at the moment and hopefully it stays like this.”
Liverpool have a good record against Porto in the Champions League having scored a total of nine goals from their last two visits to northern Portugal.
They defeated Porto 6-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals in 2019 on their way to winning the competition.
Despite this impressive record against last season’s Primeira Liga runners up, Klopp is looking ahead to this game rather than looking back on previous triumphs.
“The last time we went there we didn’t think about the game before when we won there 4-1, because that just makes no sense,” said Klopp.
“We all know most of the games can go either way, that’s how it is. There are decisive moments in the game where you have to score. If you don’t score but they score in the decisive moment.
“Yes, we were good, we are good, that’s all clear, but they are a top side, no doubt about that.
“They qualify year in, year out for the Champions League, they are always first or second in the Portuguese league, that’s a top team.
“That’s what we are preparing for, not for a team we beat in the past.
“I’m still happy that we won the games when we were there, but we don’t think we have won this game already halfway or whatever. We know it will be tricky.”
Liverpool Lineup Vs. Porto
Alisson; Milner, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Jones; Salah, Jota, Mane.
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