A stunning hit from Thiago and another goal from Mohamed Salah saw Liverpool secure a 2-0 gain over Porto and stay on course for a perfect Champions League group stage. Heading into the bet on, Liverpool had already qualified as Group B winners, but Jurgen Klopp made good four changes from the weekend ‘s victory against Arsenal and handed a european debut to 19-year-old Tyler Morton .
Porto began promptly and the complexion of the match could have been thus different if Otavio had fired home a glorious gamble in the 12th moment. Liverpool besides had the ball in the net in the first half, but Sadio Mane ‘s strike was ruled out by VAR for offside.

It took good seven minutes for the hosts to take the lead after half-time thanks to a fantastic half-volleyed strike from Thiago, described as a “ thunderball ” by Jurgen Klopp after the game. After another goal was ruled out for offside – Takumi Minamino ‘s attempt flagged – salat fired home his 17th goal in 17 games to make it five wins in five in the group phase so far for Liverpool. As for Porto, their quest for the knockout rounds was helped by AC Milan ‘s recently acquire against Atletico Madrid in Group B ‘s other plot, meaning all three teams will battle it out for the final last-16 stead in two weeks ‘ prison term.

Liverpool continue fine European form

Mohamed Salah celebrates with Jordan Henderson after scoring Liverpool's second goal
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Mohamed Salah celebrates with Jordan Henderson after scoring Liverpool ‘s moment goal
Porto dominated the open exchanges at a packed-out Anfield, and should have taken the go in the 12th moment. It was a brilliant break from Luis Diaz after Ibrahima Konate was caught in possession. He drove into the box, squaring the ball for Otavio, but he lashed his effort wide-eyed – Kostas Tsimikas putting him under pressure. There was VAR crack for a penalty, but nothing was given .
But soon after, Porto lost their captain Pepe to injury, with the Portugal international having only merely returned to the starting eleven. It handed Liverpool a opportunity to apply some pressure, but it was contrary extremely from goalkeeper Diogo Costa that about allowed them through .

Player ratings

Liverpool: Alisson ( 6 ), Williams ( 6 ), Matip ( 7 ), Konate ( 7 ), Tsimikas ( 7 ), Morton ( 7 ), Thiago ( 8 ), Oxlade-Chamberlain ( 7 ), Mane ( 7 ), Salah ( 7 ), Minamino ( 6 ).

Subs used: Henderson ( 7 ), Robertson ( 7 ), Origi ( 5 ), Fabinho ( 6 ), Milner ( n/a ).

Porto: Diogo Costa ( 5 ), Joao Mario ( 6 ), Pepe ( 6 ), Mbemba ( 6 ), Sanusi ( 6 ), Otavio ( 6 ), Uribe ( 6 ), Oliveira ( 6 ), Diaz ( 7 ), Evanilson ( 6 ), Taremi ( 6 ).

Subs used: Cardoso ( 7 ), Conceicao ( 5 ), Vitinha ( 5 ), Grujic ( n/a ), Martinez ( n/a ).

Man of the match: Thiago .
first base, one of his kicks hit Mane in the expression, landing in front of Salah, but the latter ‘s feat was scooped up by Costa. then, his poor fall out from the back went straight to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who slotted Salah through. however, he was well offside, having been caught out by the speed of the situation. Liverpool thought they had taken the lead concisely before the separate. Thiago slotted Mane through into the area, with the forward afforded far besides much time and quad. He easily slotted home into the far corner, but after a VAR match, the goal was ruled out for the rigorous of offsides.

Team news

  • Liverpool made four changes from the side that beat Arsenal at the weekend. Academy graduate Tyler Morton made his Champions League debut, with Neco Williams, Ibrahima Konate and Takumi Minamino also coming into the XI.
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil Van Dijk, Fabinho and Diogo Jota dropped to the bench, with James Milner, Andy Robertson and Divock Origi returning among the substitutes.

Both sides saw more half-efforts fall their means. A adorable swinging cross from Neco Williams pinged wide off of Takumi Minamino ‘s head – with the offside flag up again – before Mehdi Taremi ‘s crisscross from the veracious was wonderfully cleared by Champions League debutant Tyler Morton. just seven minutes after the break and after more skew efforts from Porto, Liverpool took the leash. Oxlade-Chamberlain ‘s free-kick was well cleared, but alone fell deoxyadenosine monophosphate far as Thiago. He ran onto the ball before sending a fizzing, gloomy hit through a backpack area and into the back of the net. Liverpool continued to go close to a second. Oxlade-Chamberlain sent an campaign just wide-eyed, before Minamino had the ball in the second of the net, but again found himself flagged for offside .
Porto captain Pepe was taken off injured in the first half
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Porto master Pepe was taken off hurt in the first half
It was Salah who did double the hosts ‘ lead with 20 minutes to play. A fantastic give-and-go between Jordan Henderson and Salah down the right ended with the Liverpool captain sending the forward through into the area. Salah dinked past Mateus Uribe ‘s challenge before slotting home into the bed corner. Liverpool dominated the final 20 minutes as they comfortably saw out the crippled at Anfield, continuing their superb form in the Champions League this temper.

Man of the match – Thiago

Thiago's stunning strike gave Liverpool the lead early in the second half
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Thiago ‘s stunning rap gave Liverpool the star early in the second half
A superb goal from the midfielder, who followed up a good read against Arsenal with another on Tuesday. He is finally starting to show the Liverpool fans barely what a talented musician he is .

What the managers said

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Jurgen


Liverpool director Jurgen Klopp says he was ‘really pleased ‘ with his side ‘s performance in their 2-0 home succeed over Porto in the Champions League
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told BT Sport : “ It was good. We could have done better, we could have been calmer in the first half specially with our potentially goalscoring situations. We were a moment feverish. It ‘s not unusual when you put a team together that has not played in concert all the time. “ But you could see in these situations, the desire of the boys to win the game. Some people may have thought we might have played an easy game, but we ‘re not here for that. If Anfield is sold out, it means we want to go and that ‘s what we did. “ We won the game with two exceeding goals, specially Thiago ‘s – belly laugh. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video recording player


Klopp has clarified his comments about the Africa Cup of Nations in his media conference following Liverpool ‘s Champions League gain over Porto
“ so many good things happened tonight individually. Players could get minutes, assurance, rhythm method of birth control and all these things, cipher got hurt. Our head of rehab gave Milly [ James Milner ] 15 minutes, and I think he played 12 or 13. Hendo and Robbo came on which is full. “ The right players could be rested. For Trent, I think it ‘s right that he does n’t play constantly and for Virgil angstrom well. “ If you are in our squad, you are a good football player. I ‘ve been long enough in this clientele that I would not throw a player in the plot when I think he is not ready for it. “ With Tyler, some people might have been surprised and he did exceptionally well. He was fit and there was no motivation to rest him, and I ‘m very pleased for him that he could put a operation like this in. ”
Champions League Group B
Porto bus Sergio Conceicao said : “ I think it was an inauspicious game for us for what we prepared the players for. We created more than enough opportunities to be winning in the first half ; we had three or four with which we should have been more efficient. ”

Opta stats

  • Liverpool have won their first five Champions League group stage games for the first time, scoring 15 goals. Only in 2017/18 have the Reds scored more goals at this stage in the competition (16).
  • Mohamed Salah has scored six goals in this season’s UEFA Champions League group stage, the joint-most any Liverpool player has scored in a single group stage, equalling Roberto Firmino’s six goals in 2017-18.
  • Three of Liverpool midfielder Thiago’s nine goals in the Champions League have been against Porto. Tonight’s was his first goal in the competition since April 2018 when he scored for Bayern Munich in a 2-1 win against Sevilla.

What’s next?

Liverpool render to Premier League action on Saturday, hosting Southampton ; kick-off 3pm. Their final Champions League group game will be on Tuesday 7 December with a trip to AC Milan. Porto master of ceremonies Vitoria in the Primeira Liga on Sunday, before hosting Atletico Madrid in their final Champions League group game.