FC Porto 1, Liverpool 5 - Match Recap: Rampant Reds Run Riot
We react to Liverpool’s Champions League victory over FC Porto and give you a chance to vote for Man of the Match.
FC Porto 1 - 5 Liverpool
FC Porto: Taremi 75’
Liverpool: Salah 18’, Mane 45’, Salah 60’, Firmino 77’, Firmino 83’
Pre-Match
Most Liverpool fans thought that Jurgen Klopp would rotate for this one, but the manager elected to make only one change as they head to Portugal to take on FC Porto. Trent Alexander-Arnold was a late scratch from training on Monday with an apparent groin injury that he picked up. James Milner has filled in at RB against Porto. With 5 full days ahead of the huge clash with Manchester City, the rest of the side is very strong. Pepe, the evergreen defender, was set to start for Porto but picked up an injury in the warmup.
First Half
The Reds started the first half on the front foot as intended. FC porto was forced to make an early change just 13 minutes into the first half as Otavio is forced off due to injury. The young Fabio Vieira was his replacement. Liverpool opened the scoring in the 18th minute with Mo Salah practically walking the ball into the net after the goalkeeper spilled a save from a Curtis Jones shot. It’ll go into the books as a Salah goal, but that happened because of Jones’s individual brilliance to dribble a defender on the left wing.
Porto’s best chance of the half came in the 38th minute when they finally got a bit of possession in the attacking third. They worked the ball up their right side and found Luis Diaz with a cross at the back post but he was unable to get any power on his shot.
Liverpool would find their second goal of the match after James Milner played in a beautiful cross from the right flank to find Sadio Mane, who softly cushions the ball into the net. It’s a deserved second and Liverpool took the lead into the half.
Second Half
Jota began the second half on the front foot nearly scoring twice in the opening 10 minutes. Salah finds his second and Liverpool’s third in the match as Jones wins the ball at midfield and calmly dribbles up the field, slots it to Salah, and Mo scores. Jota, who was active through his time on the pitch, will feel like he could’ve scored a hattrick in the second half.
Salah wasn’t able to get his actual hattrick as Klopp brought him, Milner, and Mane off at the 65th minute mark with one eye on the weekend. Medhi Taremi ensures that Liverpool won’t be leaving Porto with a clean sheet, pulling one back in the 75th minute. Roberto Firmino was able to get Liverpool’s fourth after the opposing goalkeeper went well out of his box and Firmino trickled the ball in from distance. Firmino snagged his brace in the 83rd minute after a lengthy VAR review.
Final Thoughts and Man of the Match
Tonight’s match couldn’t have gone any better from Jurgen Klopp’s point of view. The Reds absolutely danced to a massive victory away from home. Squad players got involved and Curtis Jones balled out. They’ve responded nicely after the disappointment of the Brentford match without having to exert too much energy ahead of the Manchester City game.
Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com
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