Porto 0-5 Liverpool: Match Analysis

On Wednesday evening,  Liverpool produced an amazing performance against Porto, as the Reds claimed a terrific win in the first leg of the Champions League at Estádio do Dragão.

The 5-0 hammering of the Portuguese giants, in their own backyard, was the biggest ever away win by an English side in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Prior to Wednesday evening’s game, Porto had only lost once at home all season: a 3-1 defeat to Group G winners Besiktas on Matchday 1. The Portuguese runners-up are unbeaten in the Primiera Liga so far this season and Wednesday night was the first time they’d conceded more than four goals at home since 2005.

We remain unbeaten against Porto in our history but last night was our first win away against the Dragons: on the previous two occasions we have won in Portugal, we have gone on to win the Champions League.

Jurgen Klopp made three changes going into the game as skipper Jordan Henderson came in along with Dejan Lovren and James Milner. Joel Matip and Oxlade-Chamberlain dropped to the bench whilst Emre Can was suspended for accumulating too many yellow cards in the group stage.

PORTO, PORTUGAL – Wednesday, February 14, 2018: Liverpool’s xxxx during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st leg match between FC Porto and Liverpool FC on Valentine’s Day at the Estádio do Dragão. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Sadio Mané opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Porto goalkeeper José Sà was unable to keep out the Senegalese winger’s deflected strike. Just four minutes later, it was 2-0 when Mohamed Salah was quickest to react after James Milner hit the post and the Egyptian made no mistake as he produced a clever ‘messi-esqe’ piece of skill with the finish. It was Sadio Mané who got the third, 8 minutes after the break, when Liverpool countered quickly and José Sà parried a Bobby Firmino strike into the feet of Mané. Bobby Firmino himself got on the score sheet 16 minutes later when Milner squared the ball from the left to the Brazilian who finished from 12 yards. Liverpool’s fifth came from Sadio Mané who completed his hat-trick with a great strike from outside the area.

READ MORE: Why nobody will want to draw Liverpool in the Champions League

Wednesday nights 5-0 win means Liverpool are now the highest scoring team in the Champions League this season with 28 goals. Loris Karius’ 4 clean sheets is the joint most in the CL so far.

Wednesday night’s match was terrific. It was the perfect performance. The Reds play Manchester United 5 days after the second leg at Anfield and the 5-0 win now means Klopp is able to rest key players in the second leg with Liverpool in a very comfortable position in the tie having scored 5 away goals.

There wasn’t a bad performance from anyone in an orange shirt last night. Sadio Mané was back in form in front of goal, bagging a hat-trick, his third being the pick of the bunch. The Senegalese winger won BT Sports Man of the Match after undoubtedly his best performance of the season. Mané deserved the hat-trick  more than anyone else on the pitch. He has struggled in front of goal this season, scoring only 9 goals in all competitions prior to yesterday’s hat-trick. Jurgen Klopp has been bombarded with questions regarding Mane’s form in recent weeks from the media and the Liverpool boss believes that Mané is now ‘back at his brilliant best’ after his last couple of performances.

PORTO, PORTUGAL – Wednesday, February 14, 2018: Liverpool’s hat-trick hero Sadio Mane celebrates after the 5-0 victory over FC Porto during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st leg match between FC Porto and Liverpool FC on Valentine’s Day at the Estádio do Dragão. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Klopp: “He gave the right answer. We met on the pitch after the last game and I said to him: ‘Finally, you are back’. Tonight he showed it again.”

“He was always important, he was always fantastic for us even in his ‘not that good’ moments. That’s real quality.”

“If you are not at 100% but still involved in goals that’s really important. Then it will come, if you keep working really hard like he did.”

Virgil Van Dijk yet again produced an outstanding, commanding performance at the back and is showing that he is worth every penny of that 75 million price tag. Not only does his own quality improve our defence, but his leadership is aiding the performances of other players in the side, most notably Loris Karius and Dejan Lovren. Van Dijk has to be considered as one of the best centre-back’s in world football, his aerial dominance along with outstanding passing for a centre-back and the ability to control play from defence as he often carries the ball forwards from deep. His presence at the back is improving the whole Liverpool defence who are looking more and more confident every time VVD features in the side.

Mohamed Salah, the winger, got his 30th goal of the season last night. Since the departure of Luis Suarez many have said that we have been crying out for a ‘30 goals per season player.’ This season we have found one in Mo Salah whose £36 million fee now looks an absolute bargain. He has been compared to Lionel Messi by Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Gary Lineker this season as the Egyptian winger continues to get better and better every single game. His low centre of gravity added to his pace and control of the ball makes him a player who is very hard to defend against. Salah has broken numerous records this season and well on his way to scoring more goals in a season for Liverpool than any other player in the Premier League era. Robbie Fowler currently holds that record with 36 goals in 1995/96. Mohamed Salah already has 30 and he’s a winger, AND it’s only February, quite incredible really.

PORTO, PORTUGAL – Wednesday, February 14, 2018: Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring the second goal during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st leg match between FC Porto and Liverpool FC on Valentine’s Day at the Estádio do Dragão. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Last but not least, I’d like to highlight the performance of Andrew Robertson. The Scot endured a difficult start to his Liverpool career but since Moreno’s injury against CSKA Moscow he has made that left-back position his own and produced an expert performance on his European debut last night. Mohamed Salah will undoubtedly be called the bargain of the season, but Andy Robertson for 8 million is an absolute steal of a signing. The 23 year old was playing in the fourth tier of Scottish football only a few seasons ago, but now he seems to have concluded Liverpool’s long search for a quality left-back as he continues to impress LFC fans.

Last night’s performance will be remembered for a long, long time as Liverpool once again excelled on a European night in the Champions League, and with a place in the last 8 now looking all but certain, I am dreaming of being in Kiev on the 26th May

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