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:
Liverpool 2-0 Porto
84 mins: Francisco Conceição, who is the son of Porto manager Sérgio Conceição, goes down under a challenge from Milner. Liverpool briefly tried to play on as the forward was down - but the play broke down anyway.
Liverpool 2-0 Porto
82 mins: James Milner is the next returning Red to come on for a run-out. Oxlade-Chamberlain makes way after another positive display for Liverpool.
Liverpool’s injury problems in midfield are starting to clear up with Henderson, Thiago, Fabinho, Milner and Oxlade-Chamberlain are playing a part tonight.
And that’s without mentioning Morton, who has been excellent on his debut.
Liverpool 2-0 Porto
79 mins: Liverpool take a corner quickly in front of the Kop and Porto are slow to respond. Henderson flights a cross towards Origi at the back post but he is unable to steer the header back on target.
Liverpool 2-0 Porto
76 mins: Henderson goes low from the free kick, trying to sneak it under the wall. He drags it slightly and it ends up wide of the post.
Liverpool 2-0 Porto
75 mins: Lovely from Origi! He drops a step-over to beat Mbemba after the defender gave the ball away on the edge of his box, before he is tripped. The referee points to the spot but he is quickly corrected by the VAR. It was a clear foul, but also clearly a yard outside the box.
Liverpool 2-0 Porto
73 mins: Mane is also taken off, with Fabinho replacing him.
Tonight is unfolding pretty perfectly for Jurgen Klopp. Liverpool haven’t been at their best but they now hold a comfortable lead and have been able to give Salah and Mane a rest ahead of Southampton on Saturday.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Porto (SALAH 70’)
It’s brilliant from Salah, and Liverpool double their lead!
Morton starts the move with a fantastic pass over the top to Salah down the right. He holds it up before linking with Henderson, who cuts it back to Salah in the box.
The next step is wonderful. He feints to shoot, sitting Uribe down on the turf, before steering the ball back across goal and beyond Costa at his near post.
It’s Salah’s last involvement, as he comes off for Origi. That’s his 17th goal in 17 competitions this season.
Liverpool 1-0 Porto
68 mins: Nice work from Robertson on the left, as he flies in between three Porto tackles. He couldn’t supply the cross, though.
Williams then takes off down the right after a nice one-two with Henderson, but the flag goes up for offside.
Liverpool 1-0 Porto
65 mins: Chance for Mane to double Liverpool’s lead after the ball drops to him in the box from a corner, but he slices well wide on his left foot.
Moments before, Robertson almost made an instant impact after good work from Minamino. The forward held the ball up before finding Robertson on the overlap.
The left-back drilled the ball across the box towards Mane at the back post - but it was blocked and put out for a corner.
NO GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Porto
63 mins: Minamino briefly thinks he’s scored on his second Anfield appearance in a row - but the flag goes up for offside.
It came after a lovely move, with Salah linking up with Thiago with a clever one-two that drew Porto players to the ball.
Salah then switched it wide. The ball was intended to Tsimikas, but it fell to Mane and his shot was blocked.
It looped up to Minamino who volleyed into the net, but he was offside.
Henderson and Robertson come on for Thiago and Tsimikas.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies