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It was the fight that Jürgen Klopp had envisaged, not always the procession suggested by another total defeat against Porto, and Liverpool pbaded all the tests in a rough Estádio do Dragão. Strong, resilient, clinical and cutting; All the attributes that propelled Klopp's team into a formidable European unit were evident when they qualified for the semifinals of the Champions League for the second year in a row. Messi is waiting.
Liverpool does not lose in Porto. Under Klopp, they also do not lose their two legged European ties and a tenth consecutive knockout victory keeps their chances of a third UEFA final under the orders of the German coach who has revitalized this club. Barcelona represents an intriguing prospect in the last four games, a meeting with Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho, and Liverpool will benefit. Sadio Mané put Liverpool on the road to a comfortable victory before Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Virgil van Dijk inflicted heavy penalties on Porto in the second half. Firmino and van Dijk both scored with close headers to deliver a convincing victory.
Liverpool warmed up in a deluge as the rain that fell on Porto all day intensified half an hour before the kickoff. They then went through a different storm when Porto swept over Liverpool as early as the opening whistle with an intensity and quality illustrating the depth of his conviction. After 17 minutes, the score was 8-0 in favor of the locals. After 28 he was 13-0. However, for the first time against Liverpool, they failed to count the best players and were duly punished by a much more clinical opponent.
That said, it seemed ridiculous for Liverpool to take the lead after spending the whole match until Mané's goal frantically cleared his defensive lines. Dutch referee Danny Makkelie spoke of the loss of time for Alisson, as visitors tried various tactics to disrupt the pace of their opponent.
In search of new legs to stretch a Porto defense containing Pepe, 36, the Liverpool manager has turned to Divock Origi for the first time since the Merseyside derby on March 3, the last time his team had not won. Roberto Firmino was resting after seven consecutive games alongside Mané and Mohamed Salah. His replacement has spent most of the first period trying to fight the far-right raids of Eder Militão, the stylish defender who will be heading to Real Madrid this summer. Sérgio Conceição made his own tactical change by deploying Otávio behind a line of two men and beating Liverpool in the middle of the field. Klopp's constant gestures on the sidelines as he looked for a reaction reflected the impact of his counterpart's move.
Barely 39 seconds elapsed when Porto created his first opportunity. Jesús Corona fought a way between Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson in the Liverpool area before taking a tight shot from a very close angle. The noise level inside the Estádio do Dragão has been increased. Porto played at a fast pace and their fans reacted in the same way.
Moussa Marega had missed several chances to change the complexion of the draw at Anfield and continued in the same erratic way in front of the goal here. Powerful, with a lot of movement and awareness, he would be an attacker if he could finish. Fortunately for Liverpool, he could not. The Malian international had already fired on Alisson and failed to connect to the corner of his head as he headed for a center in Corona who surprised him by surprise. Alex Telles was pushed back by a cross on the penalty box but, to the disappointment of his audience, he was completely missed. Otávio and Héctor Herrera also had good chances, the latter stripped by Van Dijk in the box, while Porto besieged the Liverpool defense for 28 minutes. And at the 29th they fell back.
Liverpool's first attack on the game immediately caused problems for local defense as Origi and Salah found space in the box. Salah worked the ball from under his feet to place an inviting center in the center of the post, where Mané, completely extended, was converting beyond Iker Casillas. An offside flag seemed justified and put to the test of Liverpool's hopes of ending the match before half-time. After a lengthy review of the VAR, Mané turned out to be supportive, and he went away in a celebration to a man when Makkelie pointed the center circle.
The leaders of the Premier League were about to double their advantage on a stunned Porto before the interval. Origi was slow to react to Fabinho's beautiful ball behind Militão and gave Casillas time to not have to erase the danger. The Belgian international was withdrawn after an anonymous first half. James Milner was on the verge of converting a Trent Alexander-Arnold center, the only international available in England for Gareth Southgate, but his improvised film deviated away from the far post of Casillas.
Porto persevered and continued to play the match in Liverpool in the second half but, to be honest, the confidence of their players and supporters evaporated as soon as Mané's goal was reached. They needed four goals to reach the semi-finals and knew that four would not be ready to face a team with Liverpool's European and defensive skills.
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Substitute Francisco Soares made a wide header and Herrera shot straight at Alisson from a distance, while pushing for a tying goal. Once again, Liverpool gave them a clinical finishing lesson when Salah captured a sublime pbad from Alexander-Arnold. The right-back sent Salah into the net on goal and he managed a convincing pbad from left foot under Casillas.
The militia finally gave Porto the reward it deserved by giving the nod of the corner of Telles. But Liverpool responded with goals from Firmino and Van Dijk. Let's Make History pleaded a big banner over Porto fans before the kickoff. It's Liverpool who dreams about it.
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