Dragão record fuels Porto belief

FC Porto are banking on tried-and-tested methods when they take on Liverpool FC on Tuesday in a mouthwatering UEFA Champions League Group A opener at the Estádio do Dragão.

Same system
"We will play the same system as last year," declared Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira, referring to the 4-3-2-1 formation that will see Tarik Sektioui and Ricardo Quaresma supporting lone forward Lisandro López – the Argentinian whose solitary strike against CS Marítimo on Saturday allowed the Portuguese Liga leaders to maintain their 100 per cent record.

No favourites
Porto have never lost at home to English opposition over nine previous meetings in European competition, and Ferreira is confident his side can extend that record despite facing a team who have reached two of the last three finals. "There are no favourites," he said, referring to the fact that Porto themselves lifted the trophy as recently as 2004. "Porto are capable of beating any team." And he insists this game is no more important than any of the other group matches. "The true objective is to reach the next phase."

Chelsea comparisons
The coach has also played down comparisons between Tuesday's encounter and last season's first knockout round tie against Chelsea FC, when Porto took the lead in both legs before going out to a late Michael Ballack goal at Stamford Bridge. "It is a very different type of game in the group phase from in the knockout stages," Ferreira said. "But I can say that Porto will show the same stamina as last year."

'Great game'
Liverpool have faced Porto once before in Europe, the Merseysiders prevailing 2-0 on aggregate (with both goals scored at Anfield) en route to winning the UEFA Cup in 2001. Striker Dirk Kuyt says he and his team-mates are well aware of Porto's qualities: "It's a great game to start a Champions League. I know last year how important it was to get a good result [in the first game] at PSV [Eindhoven – where Liverpool drew 0-0]."

Improved model
According to Kuyt, the final defeat by AC Milan last May has made his team more determined to go one better in this year's tournament. "It was really disappointing not to win last season," he said. "We have a better squad this year, so we'll just try to win it this season." The Dutchman also believes added competition up front can bring the best out of him, saying: "If you want to win trophies, you need four really good strikers."

'Pace and ability'
Kuyt's manager, Rafael Benítez, is more circumspect about his side's chances. "It's important to go one game at a time," he said. "Porto have a lot of experience and are one of the top sides in Europe." Benítez is rather more enthusiastic about the attacking dimension that newcomers such as Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel can bring to Liverpool's already formidable away form in the UEFA Champions League. "It's true these players give us something else," he said. "They have pace and ability, and you need to create chances and score goals to win games."