Lovren basks in the crowd’s appreciation following his robust challenge on Fernando as the latter drove towards Liverpool’s six-yard area from the wing.
90'
There will be three minutes of added time to be played.
88'
Liverpool are doing well to hold off Porto’s desperate efforts as we approach injury time, given the away side’s propensity to score in European away games this season.
84'
Danilo goes down after Salah makes full contact with his ankle while studs-up, but the Liverpool winger escapes punishment and Lahoz only blows for the foul! Salah should be mightily relieved to not have been sent off for that dangerous tackle!
83'
Felipe goes down in the Liverpool box after getting bundled over by Van Dijk, but despite his protests, referee Lahoz waves them away and lets play carry on!
82'
D. Sturridge enters the game and replaces Roberto Firmino.
Firmino comes off to a standing ovation as Klopp brings on Sturridge in his place.
77'
Fernando Andrade enters the game and replaces M. Pereira.
Maxi Pereira comes off for Fernando as Conceicao rounds off his number of substitutions.
75'
Origi already makes an impact, winning a foul off of Corona in a promising set-piece position for the Reds. Salah lays the ball off to the onrushing Alexander-Arnold, but the young full-back is stopped before he could attempt a shot.
73'
Bruno Costa enters the game and replaces Óliver Torres.
D. Origi enters the game and replaces S. Mané.
Mane doesn't get a chance to add to his goals tally for the season, as he is hooked off for Origi in Klopp's first substitution of the match.
Conceicao also makes a change, with Torres coming off for Bruno Costa.
Minute
Description
70'
Mane takes a pass in his stride and attempts to beat the keeper with a curling effort, but the shot flies just wide of the right post after being played in by Keita.
65'
Porto win a corner off Milner after another searching ball towards the path of Corona. The set-piece comes to nothing though, and Liverpool clear without effort.
63'
Salah manages for evade Brahimi’s challenge in the box and tries another effort only for his chance to hit Henderson and out of play for a Porto goal kick.
62'
Y. Brahimi enters the game and replaces Tiquinho Soares.
The ineffective Soares comes off for Brahimi in Conceicao's first change of the game.
61'
Felipe gets yellow.
Felipe becomes the second player to get booked following a foul on Salah just as the winger was about to create himself another chance.
59'
Liverpool are now confidently dictating play in the Porto half, with the impressive Henderson and Fabinho spraying balls around the pitch.
54'
Lahoz runs over to Milner intent on cautioning him for handball only for the Liverpool left-back to state that the ball hit his chest, with replays successfully proving his case.
52'
Henderson leads the charge as Liverpool venture forward in numbers once more, and finds Alexander-Arnold on the overlap before the full-back delivers it towards the onrushing Salah who fashions a chance despite pressure from Felipe.
50'
Alisson and Van Dijk nearly tangle with Marega breathing down the latter’s neck, but the centre-back is able to clear the danger away despite intense pressure from the Porto forward!
46'
Liverpool get play restarted as the second half gets underway!
No changes for either side after the interval, as Porto look to maintain their offensive threat against a Liverpool side who have been exposed at several times before half-time.
45' +1
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-0 PORTO
45'
There will be one minute of added time to be played.
44'
Fabinho scythes down Danilo with a crunching challenge and is called for the foul, despite replays showing the tackle to be deemed well within the laws of the game.
42'
Otavio wins the ball off Fabinho and tries to start an away attack by trying to find Soares, but Van Dijk is able to intercept the pass and calmly plays the ball out of the Liverpool half.
40'
Keita continues his good start, proving himself to be a threat on the counter. He nearly finds Mane with a quick pass, but the Senegal winger can’t catch the ball and Casillas is able to collect and clear.
38'
Telles finds Corona with a short quick free-kick, but the latter is quickly crowded out by the Liverpool defence who attempt to launch another fast counter-attack only for Mane to lose possession. Porto clear the danger away.
26'
Roberto Firmino has scored a goal for Liverpool! Assist by T. Alexander-Arnold.
GOOOOAAAALLLL!!! EXCELLENT TEAM GOAL BY LIVERPOOL TO MAKE IT 2-0!! Liverpool play it around from the back and continue up the pitch towards the Porto half, ending with an exquisitely threaded throughball by Henderson towards the path of the overlapping Alexander-Arnold, and the full-back crosses it low to Firmino who is able to tap the ball into an empty net! Anfield is rocking, and the Reds now have a firm grip on the tie!
Henderson deserves just as much credit for the assist as Alexander-Arnold, as it was the Liverpool skipper’s throughball that sliced the Porto defence wide open for the young full-back to cross it to Firmino to double their advantage.
23'
Liverpool are now finding time to settle and play a possession-based game as their opponents continue to chase shadows around the Anfield pitch.
21'
Soares gets the ball out on the wing and floats one in the Liverpool box towards Otavio, but Milner manages to boot the danger away. Porto regain possession with Casillas starting from the back.
17'
Tiquinho Soares gets yellow.
Soares is shown the first yellow card of the game after taking down Salah.
15'
Salah turns away from Telles and goes on a trademark run down the wing only for Militao to stop him in the box and concede a corner. Alexander-Arnold’s set-piece is headed away only as far as Keita, but his shot is blocked and the visitors go on a quick break only for Salah to not only prevent the danger after tracking back, but also stopping play by winning a foul off Otavio!
13'
Keita once again finds Salah, and the winger goes on a threatening run into the box before his cross is intercepted then headed away by the Porto defence. The visitors are getting overrun in midfield, with the goalscoring Keita already dominating the middle of the park.
9'
Keita is having a terrific start to the game, and he manages to win the ball in midfield before nearly finding Salah in the Porto box with a lofted throughball.
8'
Militao shoves Salah down to the ground near the touchline to the fury of the home support, but referee Lahoz lets play go on.
5'
N. Keïta has scored a goal for Liverpool! Assist by Roberto Firmino.
GOOOOAAAALLLL!!! LIVERPOOL GET THE EARLY LEAD!! Milner plays a beautiful long ball out on the other wing to Mane, who dribbles past a couple of defenders before finding Firmino in the box, and the Brazil forward plays the onrushing Keita on the edge of the area whose heavily deflected shot bamboozles Casillas and goes in the back of the net! First blood to Klopp’s Reds, who are 1-0 up with only five minutes played!
Brilliant wherewithal by Firmino, whose quick thinking found Keita near the edge of the box after Mane played him in from the wing.
2'
Marega manages to fashion himself a half-chance after receiving a cross from out wide, but he doesn’t make a clean connection and watches as his opportunity sails harmlessly away from goal.
1'
Both sides are decked in their usual colours, with the hosts in all-red while the visitors are sporting their famed blue-and-white stripes.
Referee Miguel Lahoz blows his whistle, and Porto get us underway at Anfield!
Milner manages to clear an early cross by the overlapping Telles as Porto start the match with an aggressive manner.
Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of this Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash as Liverpool host Porto at Anfield!
Jurgen Klopp will be pleased to see his Liverpool side in fine form at a crucial stage of the season as they continue their march towards domestic and European glory. Now top of the Premier League, albeit only two points above Manchester City having played an extra game, Klopp’s Reds must now focus their attention on their opponents as they look to knock them out of the Champions League knockout stages for the second year running, and are deserved favourites having not lost in 14 straight competitive matches heading into this tie.
LIVERPOOL XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dejan Lovren, Virgil van Dijk, James Milner; Jordan Henderson (c), Fabinho, Naby Keita; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane.
And without further ado, let’s take a look at how both sides line up, starting with the hosts.
SUBSTITUTES: Yacine Brahimi, Fernando, Andre Pereira, Vana Alves, Hernani, Bruno Costa, Diogo Leite.
PORTO XI (4-4-2): Iker Casillas; Maxi Pereira, Felipe, Eder Militao, Alex Telles; Otavio, Oliver Torres, Danilo Pereira (c), Jesus Manuel Corona; Moussa Marega, Tiquinho Soares.
However, the hosts will do well not to underestimate Porto, who are in the midst of some excellent form themselves. Sergio Conceicao’s outfit haven’t lost in over a month and are also locked in a tight title race of their own, only trailing Benfica on goal difference at the summit of the Primeira Liga. Revenge will surely be at the forefront of Conceicao’s mind, as he was in charge when his Dragons were on the receiving end of a first-leg 5-0 hiding at their own backyard by the same opponents in last season’s round-of-16 stage.
SUBSTITUTES: Simon Mignolet, Georginio Wijnaldum, Divock Origi, Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Xherdan Shaqiri, Daniel Sturridge.
The players are out and kick-off is drawing near.
Aware of the danger that Conceicao’s Dragons will pose, Klopp will aim for the same defensive solidity from Van Dijk and company that has greatly aided them on their domestic and continental endeavours this season. It won’t be a surprise to see Porto come flying out of the boxes once Lahoz blows his whistle to start the second half, but the hosts may have done enough to see them through to the second leg.
And that wraps up our coverage. We hope you enjoyed our commentary, and until next time, goodbye!
Both sides lock horns again next Wednesday in what is sure to be a hotly-contested second-leg at the Estadio de Dragao, but they each have important domestic matters to attend to beforehand. Conceicao’s side travel to Portimonense on Saturday as they look to maintain their charge towards the Primeira Liga title, while Klopp’s men resume hosting duties against Chelsea on Sunday as they seek another win in their quest to capture that elusive Premier League crown.
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