Porto 1-4 Liverpool (1-6): Reds storm into yet another European Cup semi-final

Champions League Quarter Final 2nd Leg
Wednesday 17 April 2019 - 8:00 pm
Estadio do Dragao, Porto
Porto1
4Liverpool
Show Match Events
28'Mane ⚽️
32' Mane
Pepe36'
46'↔️ Origi off, Firmino on
Otávio off, Soares on ↔️46'
65'Salah ⚽️
67'↔️ Alexander-Arnold off, Gomez on
⚽️ Militão69'
71'↔️ Robertson off, Henderson on
Corona off, Andrade on ↔️78'
78'Firmino ⚽️
Brahimi off, Costa on ↔️81'
83'van Dijk ⚽️
Possession %
5149
Total Shots
1913
Shots on Target
85
Shots Blocked
31
Offside
22
Hide Match Events

Liverpool stormed into the Champions League semi-finals for the second consecutive season after weathering an initial storm from the Portugese side.

The reds ran out comfortable winners both on the night and on aggregate, thanks to goals from the front three and Virgil van Dijk.

Klopp started with Origi instead of Firmino, but replaced the Belgian at half time with Liverpool already 1-0 ahead.

Liverpool can now prepare to face Barcelona in the semi-final with the first leg in the Nou Camp where they will face former players Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho.

Team news

Klopp made three changes - bringing back Wijnaldum and Milner, and preferring Origi over Roberto Firmino.

Porto knew they were up against it and came flying out of the blocks looking to secure that first goal to give Liverpool some jitters.  They didn't manage the goal but they certainly caused Liverpool's defence some anxiety.

Within 100 seconds Jesus Corona had powered into Liverpool's area and curled a shot narrowly over the crossbar.

As it happened: Porto 1-4 LFC

More chances came their way but perhaps none as clear as that initial one.

The reds, despite their 2-0 lead, didn't look their usual calm selves but all that changed in the 25th minute with Liverpool's first attack of the game.

Mo Salah feeding a delightful ball across the goal and Sadio Mane stepping up to poke it home.  The linesman raised his flag for offside which meant an immediate VAR review.

There was a slight delay before Mo Salah peeled away celebrating.  He had seen the video at the side of the pitch, and a few seconds later the referee gave the goal.

It was a killer blow for Porto - taking the winds out of their sails.

Second half

Roberto Firmino came on at half time to replace Divock Origi who did not enjoy the best of the first half and Liverpool went on to complete their mission.

Alexander-Arnold fed the ball through to Salah who fired in for his 23rd goal of the season.

Porto grabbed one back through Militao but it was all too little too late, and Liverpool hadn't finished.

Another substitute, Henderson, then sent in a cross for Firmino to head in before Van Dijk headed in after Sadio Mane headed on a James Milner corner.

Liverpool's work was done and done admirably.

Barcelona up next in what will be a serious step up in class as the prospect of another Champions League final rears its head.

Allez, Allez, Allez!

 

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Porto 1-4 Liverpool (1-6): Reds storm into yet another European Cup semi-final

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