By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
DANIEL AGGER is determined to banish memories of his worst feeling in football as Liverpool kick off their Champions League group in Oporto tomorrow.

The classy Dane admits he’s still haunted by his experience in last season’s final against AC Milan, and wants to make amends with an impressive run in this year’s tournament.

Agger, who has started the season in the same formidable form he showed throughout the last campaign, is itching to return to the biggest European stage.

"It was a big experience playing in a Champions League final and everyone is ready to repeat this," says Agger. "To be so close to winning it last season was hard, and ever since then I’ve been trying to forget the game. I don’t like to even think about it.

"All you can do is start afresh and go forward.

"You have to keep focus in football and keep working hard to improve and keep getting better, which I’ve always tried to do. I’ve also been determined to keep my feet on the ground. At a club like Liverpool there’s always pressure and you must learn quickly to cope with that.

"I don’t know much about Porto, but I’ve seen them play a lot. I watched their games in Rotterdam during pre-season and we know they are strong with quality players. We will be prepared as we always are."

Liverpool have still conceded just one league goal - a penalty - in their first five games, and Agger hopes to take this form into Europe.

We’re very proud of our defensive record so far, although conceding three penalties in five games is a lot and in each case it’s been strange," he said. "It’s difficult to say whether we won a point or lost two on Saturday. Portsmouth are a strong team, especially at home, but we kept another clean sheet which is important to us, but we didn’t create big chances during the game."

Manager Rafa Benitez has repeated his concerns about the timing of post-international fixtures, and Agger agrees such games are tougher.

He said: "When you get back on Thursday and have to go off again on Friday, there is a lot of travelling involved so you are more tired than usual, so in those circumstances a point at Portsmouth is not the worst result you can have.

"Now we have the chance to concentrate on Tuesday."

gger is now well settled in Liverpool and recently opened his own business as he looks to remain on Merseyside for many years.

"There was a bit of confusion with people saying I’ve bought two restaurants. Actually, it’s just one - Que Pasa on Lark Lane," he explained.

John Arne Riise was left at home as the squad flew out today. He is suffering from a groin injury. Momo Sissoko is another who has not travelled.

Fabio Aurelio, however, is in the squad, along with Xabi Alonso who has recovered from a slight foot injury.