Liverpool have not won a Champions League knockout tie since 2009, but they look set to reach this season’s quarter-finals with a 5-0 victory in the first leg of their last sixteen clash with Porto.
A Mohamed Salah goal which wouldn’t have looked out of place in a kick about on the local park was the highlight of the win, while an important and much-needed contribution from Sadio Mane helped Jurgen Klopp’s side secure a cushion of away goals.
The Senegalese attacker has been in the shadows of Salah and Roberto Firmino of late, but he stepped up here with a hat-trick of goals which will give him plenty of confidence for the rest of the season.
Klopp had been wary of tonight’s opposition prior to the game, praising them in his pre-match press conference, no doubt being aware of their strengths across the field which they have showed so impressively in the Primeira Liga.
And Porto showed their cards early with threats down the flanks from both full backs. Left back Alex Telles, who has 16 assists in all competitions already this season, showed his set piece prowess with a dangerous early corner.
There were other encouraging signs for the hosts early on which may have given them a false sense of security. A chance fell to Otavio after Moussa Marega used his strength to carve out an opening against the Liverpool defence, but the Brazilian’s shot was blocked by Dejan Lovren.
Klopp’s side weathered the metaphorical storm as well as the literal rain which poured down on the Estadio do Dragao.
Liverpool-born 19-year-old Trent Alexander-Arnold was particularly impressive during this opening period, comfortably stepping up to Champions League level and dealing well with the tricky Yacine Brahimi. But the solid all-round play from the teenager, and from fellow full back Andy Robertson on the other side, was soon overshadowed by the usual suspects in the Liverpool attack.
Salah promptly found space for himself, but his attempt to find Mane on the opposite side was intercepted by Ivan Marcano. The centre back was required again when Firmino flung himself at Robertson’s cross, but the Porto defence couldn’t hold out for much longer.
When Mane found himself behind the opposition defence a simple pass to Georginio Wijnaldum would have been enough to give the Dutchman a tap in, but instead he played the ball back into trouble and the chance came and went.
Just seconds later, in the next phase of play, Wijnaldum took matters into his own hands, trundling through the centre of the pitch into the area only to see his shot blocked by Diego Reyes. Luckily, the ball rebounded back into his path and he picked out Mane whose well struck effort squirmed under Jose Sa.
It feels like Liverpool’s goals regularly come in bunches, and the next one arrived just four minutes later. James Milner won the ball in midfield, ploughing forward as Wijnaldum had done for the first. His shot from just outside the area hit the post, but the rebound fell to Salah and the Egyptian juggled the ball along the edge of the six yard box, rounding Sa and scoring after playful header to set himself up.
But this is Liverpool, and this isn’t Anfield, so opposition chances would inevitably arrive. Brahimi had given up trying to beat Alexander-Arnold and had instead come inside in search of joy. He was able to feed Tiquinho Soares whose shot veered just wide thanks to an intervention from Virgil van Dijk. The big money centre-back may yet make all the difference for Liverpool when it comes to the small margins.
By the time the third goal came, less than ten minutes into the second half, Porto looked lost in their own home. A neat flick from Firmino in midfield, similar to that which lit up the game at Southampton last weekend, set Salah free.
The forward weighed up his options on the run before eventually making the right decision with excellent execution to return the ball to Firmino who had sprinted forward in typically tireless fashion. The Brazilian’s left foot shot was saved by Sa but Mane, so often the third man in Liverpool’s attacking triumvirate, was on hand to tuck the ball home for his second.
Mane was the main man on this occasion, and played a more Firmino-like part in the fourth. He won the ball back in midfield, showed good strength and tenacity to hold off the retreating defenders who fouled him, before picking out Milner who fed Firmino. The No 9 wasn’t in the mood to give the keeper a chance this time, as he had done with his earlier attempt from a similar position, and found the corner of the goal.
Van Dijk was called upon again to make a block from Soares, before Klopp attempted to shut up shop by adding Joel Matip to the back line alongside the new Dutchman and Lovren.
Firmino was also given the most deserved of rests later in the game, which in turn mean Danny Ings was given a well-earned Champions League appearance. All the hard work and rehabilitation following his injury troubles had paid off.
Mane seemed to have spurned the chance of a hat-trick when he fired a good cross from Robertson over the bar, but he was determined to engineer another chance for himself and powered in a shot from distance following a layoff from Ings.
It had looked like Manchester City would be the English club with the easiest route into the next round after beating Basel 4-0 in their away leg, but Liverpool went one better here against a team which are on paper, stronger opposition. They are now the competitions leading scorers, and you wouldn’t bet against them adding to this tally in three week’s time at Anfield.
