Liverpool vs Porto LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight
Follow all the latest action as the Reds host the Dragons at Anfield
The pressure is off for Liverpool tonight as they host FC Porto in the Champions League, but it’s still all to play for as far as the visitors are concerned. The Reds won each of their first four group stage games to seal top spot and qualification to the last 16, while the Portuguese side sit in second with two games to play - just one point ahead of Atletico Madrid.
While some supporters would perhaps like to see the Reds rotate to an extent and preserve the first-choice stars who will have an inevitably busy run over the December fixtures, Jurgen Klopp’s chances of doing that are hampered by ongoing injuries, especially in midfield. They come into this match full of confidence and looking sharp after a thumping win over Arsenal at the weekend, with the Reds having lost just one game in all competitions this term.
Porto are not much worse than that, in fact, with just two defeats for themselves in 2021/22 - but one of those came against the Reds two months ago, when the the trident of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane each found the net in a 5-1 thrashing. Follow all the team news and match action as Liverpool host Porto below:
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HALF TIME: Liverpool 0-0 Porto
I think it’s fair to say that you can tell which team needs to win this, and which is already through a group winners.
Porto, in between a couple of moments of chaotic defending, have been pretty good in attack and have managed to get a number of their players in goal-scoring positions.
Otavio’s miss following Konate’s error was the big one but there have been a couple of other opportunities where they just haven’t been ruthless enough in taking the shot on.
Liverpool have been fine, but they’ve been flat tonight by their own high standards. Mane’s disallowed goal was the closest they came, and the ease of which that chance opened up speaks to the quality they have out on the pitch.
HALF TIME: Liverpool 0-0 Porto
Another half-chance for Porto on the stroke of half time, this time as Dias skips around Thiago and drives at goal from the angle. He was held up by Matip and the chance fizzles out, which has summed up Porto’s half. They’ve had the better chances and positions but haven’t been ruthless enough in front of goal.
Liverpool 0-0 Porto
44 mins: Close! Mane drifts inside and Salah finds him in space. Mane cuts onto his left foot and fires across goal - but a deflection takes it out for a corner.
Liverpool 0-0 Porto
42 mins: Brilliant from Morton! Taremi ghosts in behind Konate with a run into the box and is picked out by Otavio. The shot was on but the Porto number nine decides to try and pull it back to Dias. Morton nipped in front to clear the ball - and Conceição cannot believe his striker didn’t hit the target there.
Moments before, Liverpool were on the attack after Oxlade-Chamberlain skipped past a couple of challenges. He had Salah on his right but couldn’t quite find him.
Liverpool 0-0 Porto
41 mins: This would have been offside, as well, but Liverpool go close as Williams plays an excellent, whipped cross into the box, picking out Minamino. The forward is a couple of yards offside and sent his header well over the bar anyway.
NO GOAL! Liverpool 0-0 Porto
Disallowed! Mane was offside, just, when Thiago played it through. The lines come out and the game is level once again.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Porto (MANE 37’)
Out of nowhere, Liverpool lead! It’s a gorgeous pass from Thiago that slices Porto open - but it’s terrible defending from them to leave Mane in so much space. The forward had all the time he wanted to pick his spot and roll the ball into the far corner.
Hang on though, this is going to be checked...
Liverpool 0-0 Porto
35 mins: Dias sets off on a dangerous-looking dribble down the left wing - he cuts it back towards Evanilson but Thiago tracked the run and got back to toe it towards Alisson.
Liverpool 0-0 Porto
31 mins: Porto win a throw in after Matip is challenged by Dias - and it leads to another chance for Otavio. The throw into the box is not properly cleared from Liverpool and it lands to the midfielder at about hip height. He attempts to a swivel a volley at goal but he gets underneath it and the shot is sliced into the Kop.
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