Jürgen Klopp appeared to indulge in promotional duties for Uefa when giving this quarter-final a billing Liverpool’s recent history with Porto did not merit. The Liverpool manager had suggested the reunion would be awkward against an opponent with revenge on the mind. It may not have been a rout but it was another comfortable win that sets his team on course for the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Had Porto forward Moussa Marega converted even one of several presentable chances for an away goal than Klopp’s pre-match prophecy would have come true. He squandered them all. Naby Keïta, courtesy of a deflection, and Roberto Firmino, at the end of a fine team goal, converted their chances to give Liverpool a commanding first leg advantage. It said everything about their control of the quarter-final that Klopp was able to withdraw Firmino and Sadio Mané in preparation for Sunday’s vital Premier League game against Chelsea.
Written by Andy Hunter at Anfield
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/apr/09/liverpool-porto-champions-league-quarter-final-first-leg-match-report under the title “Liverpool cruise to victory over Porto after Naby Keïta’s flying start”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
