Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk believes Porto are a better team to last season.

The Reds faced the Portuguese club in the competition last time, in the round of 16, and won 5-0 on aggregate.

They managed a 2-0 home win in the first leg this time around, with Van Dijk noticing the improvement of Porto.

"I definitely think so, especially better than last year away [in Porto]," he said to reporters after the game.

"I think they had a couple of injuries to big players and some changes, also we were clinical with our goals and maybe lucky, but they definitely improved and so have we.

"I think they [now] have experience, but also a lot of talent in the team, so they can be very dangerous on that front as well.

"Over there [in Porto for the second leg] they have big players back from suspension, we'll have one back. I'm looking forward to it.