We have toppled City – so we can conquer Europe
CENK TOSUN has promised Everton fans his fitness will be up to speed in time for the Toffees’ next game.
Tosun has made just two starts since his £27 million move from Besiktas in January and was left out of the starting line-up against Crystal Palace last Saturday.
But the Turkish striker vowed he would be fit enough to start against Watford on February 24. He said: “I’m going to be a lot fitter in a fortnight then return to the starting XI.” LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp says their Premier League victory over Manchester City proves they can take Europe by storm.
The Reds take on Porto in the first leg of their last-16 tie at Estadio do Dragao tonight with Klopp believing City are also the top club in the Champions League – and his side know how to beat them after their 4-3 triumph last month inflicted a first domestic defeat of the season.
Asked if Liverpool can take on the best Europe have to offer, Klopp said: “Probably the strongest team in Europe at the minute is Manchester City. We’ve played them twice and that’s the highest level.
“Paris Saint-Germain are a little bit different. I know that if we meet them we could beat them.
“That’s how it is but it’s not important. Now it’s Porto and it’s quite a hurdle, a nice hill we have to go over.”
Klopp was also quizzed on whether his side can repeat the heroics of Rafa Benitiez’s European Cup-winning Liverpool side from 2005.
“I don’t think the 2005 side thought about winning it before the last 16,” said Klopp.
“I’ll ask Rafa but that would surprise me because it makes no sense.
“If we are in the final then I’ll say we will try to win it but that is too far off. I don’t like talking about the round after the round you are playing, in fact I hate it.”
Klopp’s side qualified unbeaten at the top of their group after scoring 23 goals, a record for an English club and a competition total surpassed only by Paris Saint-Germain (25), also this season.
Nineteen of those goals came from Roberto Firmino (six), Mohamed Salah (five), Philippe Coutinho (five) and Sadio Mane (three). And although one of that quartet is now with Barcelona, it does not make them much less of a threat.
“I don’t know if Porto are going to be afraid but we are going to make their life difficult and make them suffer,” said Firmino, who has 20 goals for the season in all competitions. (4-3-3) JOSE SA RICARDO MARCANO REYES TELLES CORONA HERRERA OLIVEIRA MAREGA ABOUBAKAR The Brazil forward’s tally for the Champions League this season is only bettered by Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who has nine, and Tottenham’s Harry Kane on seven.
Firmino has scored four times in his past six matches and his contribution has helped lessen the impact of compatriot Coutinho’s departure to the Nou Camp.
“Coutinho is a great player and of course when he left that put a greater responsibility on everyone else to perform without him,“he said.
“But it is our job to deal with greater responsibility and I think we have done that so far.” Porto’s leading scorer Vincent Aboubakar is doubtful for tonight’s game.
The Cameroon forward missed Porto’s last league game against Chaves with a muscle problem.
Aboubakar, who has returned to Porto after spending last season on loan at Besiktas, has scored 26 goals in all competitions this season, including 15 in the league and five in the Champions League group stage.
Asked if Aboubakar would play, Porto head coach Sergio Conceicao replied: “It’s unlikely.”
Conceicao also confirmed that defensive midfielder Danilo, who has a calf muscle injury, would also miss the game.
The Portuguese league leaders are underdogs and Conceicao said that one of their disadvantages was that Liverpool were more used to playing top-level games.
“The tests they face every week are much more demanding than the ones we have here in Portugal,” he said.
“With all due respect to the Portuguese league, Liverpool play at a more difficult level than us.
“But we will do everything we can to get to the next round. We have already passed some severe tests in the Champions League and this squad allows us to think that it’s possible.” (4-3-3) KARIUS A-ARNOLD LOVREN VAN DIJK MORENO MILNER HENDERSON WIJNALDUM SALAH FIRMINO BRAHIMI MANE REFEREE: D Orsato (ITA) KICK-OFF: 7.45pm TV: BT Sport 2