Liverpool will meet Barcelona in a mouthwatering semi-final tie in the Champions League after Porto were eventually pulverised at the Estadio Do Dragao.
Mightily impressive in the first half, the hosts were however guilty of frittering away a succession of gilt-edged goalmouth opportunities as they let a jittery Liverpool off the hook – with Moussa Marega particularly off key.
Jurgen Klopp’s men went ahead with their first meaningful attack, Sadio Mane sliding in to convert Mohamed Salah’s deft pass. Porto pushed on but in truth it was a long way back – they needed four goals.
They were eventually picked off in the second half – Salah, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk turning it into a rout, Real Madrid-bound Eder Militao heading in a consolatory goal – as Klopp’s side went through in eventually commanding fashion.
PORTO POSITIVE BUT PROFLIGATE
Next up, @FCBarcelona. 💪
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) 17 April 2019
UP THE REDS. 🔴🔴 pic.twitter.com/zvxWvSUJ47
The only quarter-final tie that was a foregone conclusion, apparently. Yet Porto threatened to surge back into contention with a ferocious start that bamboozled the usually rock-solid Reds.
Totemic Van Dijk wobbled as he struggled to cope with the pace and power of Marega, while the returning Hector Herrera had Liverpool’s defence and midfield hanging on every stroke of his boot. The Mexican midfielder – who missed the first leg – was a menace, probing at and pulling the visiting defence uncomfortably all over the place.
If only they had stellar finishers in their ranks and not a journeyman striker in Marega who, although works hard, lacks an elite pair of scoring boots.
The Mali international – who was industrious yet insipid in the first leg – was again energetic and all-action here, but his finishing was also all over the place – his night summed up as he shanked one volley hopelessly wide.
He had five shots overall, but none of them threatened Alisson’s goal, while Yacine Brahimi fired three in anger, but not in accuracy.
Overall, Sergio Conceicao’s side attempted 19 shots to Liverpool’s 13 – and the Reds’ tally was only inflated late on when Porto faded with the result out of reach.
A TIMELY REMINDER
And Porto ultimately paid the price for their profligacy as Liverpool’s front three 2.0 continued to combine with devastating effect to take the tie out of the hosts’ reach.
Despite Porto’s purring start and commendable commitment to attack, Liverpool always knew they could afford to sit back and soak up pressure – knowing one goal would leave the home side requiring four.
And, after weathering a ferocious early storm in which Porto really should have scored at least once, Liverpool struck a decisive, clinical blow. In one of their few forays forward, Salah fashioned space in the box before flicking a deft floated ball into the path of Mane who slid home – albeit there was a lengthy wait while VAR came into play.
It was a timely reminder of the Egyptian’s alternate, yet equally intrinsic, value to Liverpool on the day he was named as one of six global icons featuring as a cover star on TIME 100, the magazine’s annual list of the world’s most influential people.
Critics ignore Salah’s transformation into a more well-rounded player in Klopp’s improved, almost impervious, Liverpool this season – shouldering a more creative and defensive burden while also still jointly leading the Premier League goalscoring charts.
