Report as Liverpool prepare for Chelsea with routine victory
Wednesday 10 April 2019 08:23, UK
Liverpool put one foot in the semi-finals of the Champions League with a 2-0 first-leg victory over Porto in the quarter-finals.
Goals from Naby Keita (5) and Roberto Firmino (25) put Jurgen Klopp's men in a dominant position in the tie ahead of the second leg on April 17.
However, Porto striker Moussa Marega showed enough with his play to keep hopes alive of a Porto recovery, while Mohamed Salah escaped a red card for a dangerous-looking tackle on Danilo late on - a decision that survived a VAR review.
Klopp will be happy his side - who strolled through the second half - seemingly did not have to expend too much energy ahead of their key Premier League clash with Chelsea on Super Sunday.
In a break from the pressures of an emotional and nervy title race, Liverpool found their stride early in front of an expectant Anfield.
James Milner sprung Sadio Mane into action down the left and he found Firmino, who shifted one back for Keita to strike home via a deflection. Having gone nearly a year without a goal, Keita now has two goals in a week.
Salah spurned a glorious one-on-one with Iker Casillas before Firmino showed him how it should be done on 26 minutes.
Jordan Henderson threaded the eye of a needle with a clever ball in behind for Trent Alexander-Arnold and the full-back sent one across goal which was tapped home by the Brazilian. Firmino has now been directly involved in 12 goals in his 11 Champions League games at Anfield for Liverpool.
Porto threatened in behind Alexander-Arnold and he survived a VAR review on a handball after a bit of a mix up with Alisson.
Mane thought he had scored the third just after half-time but VAR upheld the assistant referee's decision to flag him offside.
From that moment Liverpool took their foot off the gas and survived a couple of late scares. Marega had already tested Alisson with a low drive before blazing a good opening from a tight angle into the side netting. And, Salah recklessly left a boot on the shin of Danilo but despite a VAR review, the officials decided there was no malicious intent.
The theory of 'when Firmino plays well, Liverpool play well' was relevant here as the Brazilian was at his imperious best when his team needed him. His clever movement and pass set up Keita for the opener while he was on hand to put the Reds in full control of the tie by knocking home the second.
Since the start of last season, only Cristiano Ronaldo (24) has been directly involved in more goals in the Champions League than Firmino (13 goals, 8 assists).
He's a master of his craft playing as the central striker.
"We deserved the win 100 per cent and we scored two wonderful goals.
"Overall it was a really good performance.These two legs are like a normal game. The first half is played and now we have a bit longer than 15 minutes to prepare for the second half.
"There is still a lot to do and we know that. The atmosphere in Porto will be really tough for us but this is a result we wanted before the game, now we have it and we have to work with it."
Liverpool now host Chelsea in a big Super Sunday clash as they look to keep their hopes of a first league title since 1990 on track. The second leg of this tie takes place at Estádio do Dragão on Wednesday night, at 8pm.
