Mane, Salah and Firmino strike while Van Dijk heads in fourth as Liverpool set up Champions League semi-final tie with Barcelona
UNLIKE elsewhere, here in Portugal, there was no major excitement or drama. The moment VAR ruled that Sadio Mane’s first-half effort was onside, this quarter-final was over as a contest and Jurgen Klopp would not have wanted it any other way. Ultimately, Liverpool demolished their opponents in yet another remarkable win at this level of […]
UNLIKE elsewhere, here in Portugal, there was no major excitement or drama.
The moment VAR ruled that Sadio Mane’s first-half effort was onside, this quarter-final was over as a contest and Jurgen Klopp would not have wanted it any other way.
Ultimately, Liverpool demolished their opponents in yet another remarkable win at this level of European football.
On a thoroughly cold and miserable night, Liverpool’s fans secured to what should be a far sunnier Barcelona in a few weeks and what we expect will be a not-so-friendly reunion with Philippe Coutinho.
And watching this, Barca have every reason to be extremely worried.
In what had real potential to be a nasty evening, particularly when you consider the way Roma were turned over at the Estadio do Dragao in the last 16, Jurgen Klopp’s team delivered a thoroughly professional performance to ensure there were no fireworks.
After surviving an early onslaught, Liverpool took the lead with the help of VAR and Mane’s effort.
Mo Salah grabbed the second midway inside the second half before Eder Militao pulled one back – and Liverpool’s humiliated Porto with further goals from Roberto Firmino and Virgil Van Dijk.
But having wasted 13 chances in the first 26 minutes, as Dutch referee Danny Makkelie ended a two-minute VAR wait by pointing to the centre-circle, Porto knew they were about to be dumped out of the Champions League for the second time in succession by Liverpool.
While 14 months ago Liverpool stormed to a strange 5-0 win, here it was all much more low key.
After Liverpool held firm, Mane scored his 22nd goal of the season in his team’s first attack of the match.
While Mo Salah has come to life over these last few weeks in spectacular fashion, it is Mane who has been Liverpool’s most consistent attacker this season .
So, a fascinating semi-final with Lionel Messi’s team now waits although the focus will now most certainly be on Sunday’s Premier League trip to Cardiff.
But Klopp will be happy that this was not an energy-sapping, backs-to-the-wall 90 minutes.
Like they have done all season, apart from that blip at the start of the year, Liverpool used different tools to find a way to win and that is why they have such great momentum.
It was indeed difficult on but Liverpool are no longer Euro novices.
This was a really good test and another important experience for Klopp’s team and particularly for the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, a young player who has found it tough in some of the big previous European night but last night, in front of England boss Gareth Southgate, he delivered an impressive performance.
Any Liverpool fans expecting some nice, warm Portuguese weather would have got a shock as the temperatures were not only cooler than England yesterday but it was incredibly wet.
And that torrential downpour shortly before kick-off made the conditions particularly tricky.
With in-form Jordan Henderson carrying a knock, it was no major surprise that he started on the bench – although Divock Origi getting the nod ahead of Roberto Firmino was a surprise. It was Origi’s first Champions League start for the club and he had not managed more than 17 minutes in any of his four previous appearances in the Champions league.
He started out on the left, with Mane playing central, but at half-time, was replaced by Firmino.
The focus at the start was always going to be on Liverpool’s back four and their ability to stand firm in an expected early barrage from the home side.
The first quarter of the game certain had a similar pattern. Porto had the ball, wasted a chance and Liverpool booted the ball back into their half – and repeat.
And then Mane scored.
Talk about a goal coming against the run of play in their first attack of the game to completely and utterly stun the home crowd and their team.
Mane and Andy Robertson played a one-two, Salah scuffed a shot, Gini Wijnaldum returned the ball and Liverpool’s Egyptian had another effort.
While he looked to be aiming for the corner it was going wide until Mane charged in at the far post.
The linesman’s flag was raised immediately and it looked a tight decision. Other than kick the ball away, Mane did not protest too much although Salah had stuck his thumbs up, insisting the outcome would be positive. After a two minute wait, referee Makkelie pointed to the centre spot and mane was able to celebrate.
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James Milner came close to score via a deflection in first half injury time and that would have really taken the biscuit.
While Porto huffed and puffed, they never came really close to hurting Liverpool before Salah scored the second midway inside the second half after being sent clear by Alexander-Arnold.
For Liverpool’s right-back, that was the end of his evening and he was replaced by the fit-again Joe Gomez.
Porto defender Militao, who will be heading to Real Madrid for £45million in the summer, scored with a powerful header from a corner.
Mane then missed a good chance before Firmino headed Jordan Henderson’s cross into the net for 3-1.
Virgil Van Dijk headed the fourth and it all became a bit embarrassing for the Portuguese champions.
In reality, Champions League quarter-finals do not come any easier than this.
Any Barca fans booking their accommodation for the final in Madrid should hold fire.
