‘Have the edge on them’: Jamie Carragher shares who he wants Liverpool to draw in the UCL

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Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has shared who he wants the Reds to draw in the Champions League round of 16.

On a broadcast of CBS Sports, the show’s pundits – Micah Richards, Thierry Henry and Carragher – all were tasked with who they wanted their team to face in the next round of club football’s biggest competition.

Former Manchester City defender Richards selected Club Brugge, whilst the old Liverpool vice-captain chose a group opponent from last season.

“I would go, Liverpool to play Porto.

“We’ve played them a few times in the past and I think psychologically we always seem to have the edge on them.”

Carragher hopes Liverpool will draw Porto

In the Champions League group stage last year, the Reds were extremely dominant. From six games played, Jurgen Klopp’s side picked up the maximum 18 points. This included two wins over Porto; away at the Estádio do Dragão, the Merseyside outfit came out with an emphatic 5-1 win, before cruising to an easy 2-0 victory back at Anfield.

Liverpool even signed the Portuguese club’s star player in January. Since arriving in England, Luis Diaz has become a fan-favourite on Merseyside, having made an instant impression with his attacking flair and his threatening dribbling ability.

Whilst the winger would be unlikely to feature in a round of 16 tie as he remains on the sidelines at Kirkby with his knee injury, the Reds already appear to have something over Porto if they were to face off in the next round of the competition.

With any chance of the Premier League title gone and with a top-four finish now the side’s domestic priority, the Champions League could prove to be a huge redeeming factor for Liverpool this season.

If Klopp’s men ended up finishing outside of the top four, a continental win would see them remain in the competition the following campaign – a crucial bargaining point when it comes to transfer negotiations.

With the Reds after the likes of Jude Bellingham next summer, a move to Anfield would almost seem impossible without the lure of European football.

Therefore, whilst Liverpool are certainly still in the race for a Champions League finish, a continental trophy would soften any Premier League blow this term.