Liverpool, November 25 (BNA): Thiago Alcantara and Mohamed Salah scored in the second half a less than powerful victory for Liverpool with a 2-0 victory over Porto to maintain their 100% record in the second group of the Champions League.
Porto, who started the second day in the group behind already qualified Liverpool, squandered several first-half chances and paid a heavy price.
Their record against Liverpool is now 10 games, drawn 3 and lost seven, according to Reuters.
Liverpool, with players the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Jordan Henderson, took the lead with Thiago’s stunning low shot in the 52nd before Salah made points safe with a clinical finish in the 70th.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have a maximum of 15 points from their five games and set an impressive record as they became the first English side to score two goals in 16 consecutive games in all competitions since Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1939.
Porto retain their hopes of joining Liverpool in the round of 16, as they stuck to second place with five points thanks to Atlético Madrid’s 1-0 defeat at home to AC Milan.
Porto hosts Atletico (four) in its last match in the group, while Milan (four) hosts Liverpool.
“A lot of good things happened tonight, the players got minutes, rhythm and confidence, no one was hurt,” Klopp said. “Tiago’s goal…wow!”
Fringe players
With first place already confirmed, it was an impressive night for some of Liverpool’s players, as 19-year-old Tyler Morton made his Champions League debut and Takumi Minamino made a rare start.
However, they struggled in the first half as Porto were the better and more motivated team.
The Portuguese champions were on the verge of advancing when Mehdi Taremi’s header hit Joel Matip and narrowly missed the post.
Evanelson then hit a shot from Ibrahima Konate but Porto’s best chance came when Colombian Luis Diaz sprinted into the square for Otavio, who cut a terrifying display under pressure from Costas Tsimikas.
Liverpool sometimes switched up their strength and thought they were ahead when Thiago’s pass cut through Porto’s defense and Sadio Mane ran to score. However, his celebrations for his 50th European game for Liverpool were cut short by a VAR check that showed he was partially offside.
Then, Porto coach Sergio Conceicao was furious before the break as Tarime oddly chose to try to pick a teammate when he had the opportunity to test Alisson.
Chances continued to reach Porto at the start of the second half as Mateus Uribe’s shot crossed the turn over the post and they quickly regretted their extravagance.
In the 52nd minute, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hit a free kick with a header and the elegant Thiago rebounded to the edge of the area with the most beautiful low kicks with his right foot from outside to hit a skimming ball past goalkeeper Diogo Costa. And inside the publication.
“The goal was the beauty that I love to bring into football,” Thiago said of his first goal for Liverpool in the Champions League.
Salah then merged with substitute Henderson before cutting from the right and defeating Costa with a left-footed shot to score his sixth goal so far in the group stage.