Liverpool v Porto – story of the match
This game was the antithesis of their 5-0 win in the first leg at the Estadio do Dragao.
Liverpool eased into the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in nine years with no great alarm in a somewhat lifeless goalless draw at home to Porto.
This game was the antithesis of their 5-0 win in the first leg at the Estadio do Dragao but a professional performance, a fifth clean sheet in eight European matches and no apparent injuries represented mission accomplished.
While supporters may have had a justifiable complaint for being short-changed by the Champions League’s top scorers there was absolutely no point in taking any risks – especially with Saturday’s battle to be the Premier League’s best of the rest at Manchester United looming large.
Tweet of the match
Star man – James Milner
View from the bench
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who had seen his side score 28 goals in the eight Champions League games prior to this, would no doubt have liked the Reds to show more attacking thrust than they did here – certainly, the second-half introduction of top scorer Mohamed Salah suggested as much. But with there seemingly being little else for him to complain about, the German will surely be content enough with how the evening played out.
Data point
Porto have never won an away match against English sides in Europe in 18 attempts (15 losses, three draws).
Player ratings
Liverpool: Loris Karius 6, Joe Gomez 6, Joel Matip 6, Dejan Lovren 6, Alberto Moreno 7, Emre Can 6, Jordan Henderson 6, James Milner 7, Sadio Mane 7, Roberto Firmino 6, Adam Lallana 6. Substitutes: Danny Ings (for Firmino, 61) 7, Mohamed Salah (for Mane, 73) 7, Ragnar Klavan (for Can, 80) 6.
Who’s up next?
Manchester United v Liverpool (Premier League, March 10)
Pacos Ferreira v Porto (Primeira Liga, March 11)