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Porto 0 Liverpool 5: Sadio Mane hat-trick completes record rout with dash and panache

Sadi0 Mane celebrates completing his hat-trick in Liverpool's 5-0 rout of Porto - Action Images via Reuters
Sadi0 Mane celebrates completing his hat-trick in Liverpool's 5-0 rout of Porto - Action Images via Reuters

After the final whistle the whole Porto squad were involved in a prolonged huddle in the penalty area before their most fervent fans. It was obviously a ritual but it felt more like a group-therapy session after Liverpool destroyed this proud Portuguese club.

The Dragons were slain, skewered by an attacking trident of Sadio Mane, who scored a hat-trick, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had declared his side could compete with the best and it was no idle boast. Boom, he said, and here was the evidence that will reverberate.

This was Porto’s biggest-ever European defeat. Twenty-four hours after statement performances on European away days by Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City and this was Liverpool’s impressive goal-laden riposte.

There was a swagger and a killer instinct while there was an imposing defensive barrier in Virgil van Dijk on his Champions League debut. As much as the goals Klopp will have been delighted by a superbly determined late block by his record signing as Francisco Soares seemed destined to score a consolation goal. The clean sheet mattered.

This emphatic result means that after reaching the last 16 of the Champions League for the first time in nine years  Liverpool will at least go one round further. The return leg at Anfield on March 6, four days before Liverpool face Manchester United away in the Premier League, is a formality. And no one will want to face Liverpool in the quarter-finals.

Liverpool look great at both ends against Porto

There were so many different  angles to this encounter. So here are a few: by scoring a hat-trick Mane become only the second  Liverpool player, after Michael Owen (twice), to achieve that feat away from home in Europe.

Liverpool also achieved the biggest away win for an English side in a Champions League knockout tie and by scoring five they have scored 28 times in the competition this season, two more than Paris St-Germain, the next highest. Seven of those have been scored by Firmino, equalling Steven Gerrard’s club record while Liverpool have 99 goals in all competitions.

Salah’s goal was his 30th of the season, and a delightful one at that, which means he is only the 13th Liverpool player ever to achieve that mark. And only one of them, George Allan – in 27 matches  opposed to Salah’s 36 games – has done it in fewer appearances. And that was in 1896. It is also only mid-February and at this rate Salah may even beat Ian Rush’s all-time record of 47 goals in one campaign; and all this in the Egyptian’s first season.

Maybe all of that is information overload but records matter and they tumble when teams play well. But the most relevant fact is that in their brilliant orange Liverpool were simply brilliant and scored some great goals, although the crucial first one was not among them.

Sadio Mane scores Liverpool's first European hat-trick since Philippe Coutinho's in the last game - Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Sadio Mane scores Liverpool's first European hat-trick since Philippe Coutinho's in the last game Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Still it confirmed that in the pouring rain they had weathered the storm as, midway through the first half, Georginio Wiljnaldum burst through a tackle in the penalty area and the ball broke across to Mane who had pulled out to the left and was, somehow, unmarked. Even more inexplicable though was the mess goalkeeper Jose Sa made of Mane’s first-time shot allowing it to squeeze under his body and roll over the line.

Liverpool did not rest on that. It spread panic in the Porto team and they fell even further behind when James Milner’s powerful, curling drive beat Jose Sa and cannoned back off the post. The rebound fell to Salah who flicked the ball, flicked it again and finally headed it to bring it fully under control before calmly stroking it into the net. Jose Sa and his defenders did not know what to do. It was almost mesmeric.

Mohamed Salah juggles the ball round the keeper - Credit: ACTION IMAGES
Mohamed Salah juggles the ball round the keeper Credit: ACTION IMAGES

Porto came into this tie buoyant. They are top of the league, they were unbeaten in 21 games and they had a belief in their goalscoring power and could have struck first had Dejan Lovren not done well to divert Otavio’s shot on to the roof of the net. But once behind they were in a bind with Soares wasting an opportunity as he shot wide.

The home side desperately needed to score but opened themselves up to a devastating Liverpool counter-attack early in the second half. Mane, Salah and Firmino were all involved with the latter springing the break with a back-heel. That released Salah and suddenly there was a collective expectancy as he returned the ball to Firmino whose shot, as he was pushed, was blocked by Jose Sa only for the rebound to run to Mane who swept it home.

Jurgen Klopp salutes Liverpool's 3,000 travelling fans - Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Jurgen Klopp salutes Liverpool's 3,000 travelling fans Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Tie over? Liverpool had let a three-goal advantage slip in the group stages, away to Sevilla earlier in this campaign, but they already feel a different proposition and wanted more with Firmino gaining his reward. It came from another break, down the left, with Milner cutting the ball into the striker’s path and the Brazilian coolly side-footing it inside the near post.

Even then Liverpool were not finished and quickly worked their way forward again. Mane had the time and space to arrow his shot away from Jose Sa to complete the scoring, to complete his hat-trick and all but confirm his side’s passage into the last eight.

9:37PM

Full time

A comprehensive victory in a match that turned into a cakewalk after a cagey beginning. Once they laid the foundations, they demolished and demoralised Porto. Everyone deserves credit but the fluid movement of the front three, their intuition and understanding of each other's thinking was too hot for Porto to handle. They inflicted Porto's worst ever defeat and that, for double champions, will sting.  Mané, Mané, Mané.

 

9:32PM

88 min

There are barely any Porto fans left in the posh seats. They've been shredded by Liverpool's pace and persistence. It's been the kind of thrashing that is difficult to come back from, killing the home side's confidence and credibility. 

9:30PM

85 min

Hat-trick. Given so much space with Sergio Oliveira, Marcano and Reyes panicked by the presence of Salah and Ings wither side and backing off, Mane torpedoed a rasping right-foot shot from 25 yards into the bottom right corner. 

Porto 0 - 5 Liverpool (Sadio Mané, 85 min)

 

9:28PM

Goal!

Porto 0-5 Liverpool (Mane)

9:26PM

82 min

Tremendous dipping cross from Robertson, curled in from the left on an outswinging trajectory. Mane, on a hat-trick, is undone by the bounce and though he connects crisply he smashes his lunging half-volley over the bar. 

9:25PM

80 min

It's Danny Ings' Champions League debut tonight and he immediately adopts an orthodox centre-forward position. Van Dijk is now playing through the middle of a back three and is wandering forward like a Sammer or Koeman though not yet in that class.  

9:22PM

78 min

Firmino off, Danny Ings on. Joe Gomez also on to replace Trent Automobile-Association. 

9:20PM

76 min

Head tennis in the Porto box - Robertson squares his header to Firmino who batters his over from 10 yards. He was offside, though. 

Liverpool sub: Matip replaces Henderson. 

9:19PM

74 min

 Goncalo Paciencia replaces Tiquinho Soares.

9:17PM

72 min

Another crucial intervention - well crucial to the clean sheet if not the result - from Van Dijk, covering behind Lovren. Cute pass from Herrera pushed the ball on the angle beyond Lovren towards Soares but Van Dijk sprinted round on the cover to deflect the toe-poked shot wide. Karius runs straight over to embrace him. 

9:15PM

70 min

Lining up in the middle for Milner's cross after Mane storms forward and leaves Corona in his wake. The substitute tried to keep pace with Mane's storming run but would have needed a third lung to give him a chance. Mane slipped it to the left, Milner squared it towards the spot and Firmino rattled in a low shot. Salah was free at the back post but wasn't needed.

Porto 0 - 3 Liverpool (Sadio Mané, 53 min)

9:12PM

Goal!

Porto 0-4 Liverpool (Firmino)

9:12PM

67 min

Van Dijk repays his team-mates who got him out of schtuck with a block of Corona's cross by winning the header and clearing the corner. 

9:10PM

66 min

Van Dijk makes a crummy attempt at a tackle, going for the block tackle but side on and in a namby-pamby style, not commiting the full weight of his foot to it. Porto whip it past him and win a corner. Van Dijk needed to welly that. 

9:09PM

64 min

Wijnaldum, for the second time, insouciantly robs Marega whose composure and confidence is being slowly punctured by the Dutchman's persistent sttention.  

9:05PM

61 min

Porto substitution. Majeed Waris replaces Brahimi. Karius plucks a tame, floaty centre from Alex Telles from the rain-filled sky. 

9:03PM

59 min

Liverpool are stroking the ball around at the back, Romeo y Julietas aglow. Porto look demoralised. 

9:00PM

57 min

Herrera, Sergio Oliveira and Corona are being made to look like carthorses chasing Liverpool's thoroughbred front three. 

8:59PM

55 min

Made by the three musketeers, Salah breaking after being played in by a gorgeous Firmino backheel 10 yards outside his own box. Firmino hares off straight through the middle as Salah dribbles forward at full pelt. Salah spears a pass to the left of the D, perfectly weighted and Porto can't keep pace with any of them. Firmino goes for a side-foot finish to Jose Sa's left but the keeper does reach it at full stretch but can only parry it to the supporting Mane who rolls the ball into an empty net. 

Porto 0 - 3 Liverpool (Sadio Mané, 53 min)

 

8:55PM

Goal!!

Porto 0-3 Liverpool (Mane)

8:55PM

51 min

Ricardo prepares to race past Milner who decides to kick him across the shins to halt his progress. Free kick, protested spuriously by Henderson, but no  yellow card. 

8:53PM

50 min

Brahimi has come inside now but is too close to his own box and gets in a tangle. Herrera, his captain, bails him out. 

8:52PM

48 min

Mane comes out to defend by the left-back corner flag when Robertson makes his way back into the box to win a header. He sticks to Corona and wins a throw-in off him with some neat control. 

8:49PM

46 min

Porto get things underway - no changes for Liverpool. Otavio is off for Porto - Corona has come on to play centre mid. Steve McManaman advises Porto to move Brahimi in from the left wing - but he's still out there so far. 

8:40PM

Liverpool on the front foot

I've gone back to put in photos of Salah's juggle in stages. You may have to refresh your browser to see them. 

Possession: Porto vs Liverpool

Average touch positions (half time)

Porto vs Liverpool shots on goal

 

8:32PM

Half time

Liverpool walk in 2-0 up after a strange opening half. Porto were disjointed, devoid of inspiration while Liverpool picked them off after gradually taking a decisive grip on dominance. 

8:30PM

44 min

Lovely pass from Brahimi slides the ball past Lovren and Tiquinho Soares has a shot from 18 yards that takes an undetected but vital touch off Van Dijk's toe that takes it inches wide of the left post. 

Miss: Porto 0 - 2 Liverpool (Tiquinho Soares, 44 min)

 

8:28PM

42 min

Porto at last break free of the stranglehold that has pinned them in their own box. Otavio runs forward down the left and exchanges passes with Brahimi. 

8:27PM

40 min

Firmino has a shot from 25 yards, wide on the left, and launches it into orbit a la Chris Waddle. 

 

8:25PM

39 min

Robertson has demoralised Marega with his bustling shuttles up and down the left touchline. Robertson should, however, have made more of a lightning charge from defending a corner to launch a counter-attack. His imprecise pass to Mane killed all the momentum. 

8:24PM

37 min

Wijnaldum  dispossesses Marega who isn't at all impressed. He's everywhere. The crowd want another foul but it was perfectly legal. 

8:22PM

35 min

When Liverpool have the ball at the back thy line up almost in a 2-4-1-3 with Milner ahead of the full-backs and Henderson and Wijnaldum. He's also playing well tonight, popping up right, left and centre. 

8:20PM

33 min

The conservative, probing, patient start has had spectacular results for Liverpool. 

8:18PM

30 min

Salah has ice in his veins. Milner brushes past Marega who falls flat on his face and demands a foul but nothing doing. Spoggy Milner uses the space to set up a bending right foot shot from the left that arcs around Jose Sa and crashes into the post. It bounces fortunately for Salah who shows tremendous composure as Jose Sa leaps back to his feet and tries to flying starfish him. Salah cushions it on his head, juggle it with two left foot taps to glide past and elude the keeper before stabbing it in from three yards off the turf with the side of his left foot. 

Porto 0 - 2 Liverpool (Mohamed Salah, 29 min)

 

8:14PM

Goal!

Porto 0-2 Liverpool (Salah)

Salah begins his juggling routine - Credit: Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
Salah begins his juggling routine Credit: Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
Salah's immaculate control - Credit:  Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
Immaculate control Credit: Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
The finish - Credit: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
The finish Credit: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

 

8:14PM

27 min

Iker Casillas, benched in the autumn, is captured on the bench with a stone-faced expression. Wijnaldum is having a fine game. 

8:12PM

25 min

A goalkeeping error. Mane, right-foot shot when found by Wijnaldum who, 30 seconds earlier ought to have been played in by Mane for a tap in. Mane makes amends, finishing off Wijnaldum's driving burst, but the keeper takes the credit/blame by diving over the top of it and squirming as it slithered beneath him. 

Porto 0 - 1 Liverpool (Sadio Mané, 25 min)

 

8:10PM

Goal!

Porto 0-1 Liverpool (Mane)

Sadio Mane of Liverpool scores the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between FC Porto and Liverpool at Estadio do Dragao  - Credit: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Mane scores Liverpool's opener with a great deal of help from Jose Sa (out of the picture) Credit: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

 

8:09PM

23 min

Terrific clearance from Marcano again, this time whipping the ball away when Firmino went headlong to graze his nose on an Andy Gray turf-skimming diving header among the flying boots, muck and nettles. Vicious fizz on the cross from Robertson. 

8:08PM

20 min

A sniff of a chance for Liverpool when Sa slips and scuds a clearance at Firmino who feeds Salah. He has the clearer route to goal, opts instead to try to find Firmino by the penalty spot as he ran towards the box from the right. Marcano slides in to block. Liverpool take the corner but Lovren is penalised for jostling. 

8:03PM

17 min

Otavio is a tidy player, spinning quickly and laying off short passes. He does Salah in the centre-circle, pops it off to Brahimi who spots a gap down Liverpool's left but overhits his pass intended to let Ricardo run at Robertson. 

8:01PM

15 min

Van Dijk drills a long diagonal 40 yards over to the left for Mane to chase. He can't control it - for the second time - but the centre-back's ability to ping long passes can unpick this Porto defence. 

7:58PM

12 min

Brahimi plays a blind pass intended for Alex Telles but give sit straight to Salah who skitters forward and passes to Firmino to tee up a shot from the left, 25 yards out, from Robertson. He doesn't hit it properly so it floats instead of flies and Jose Sa, cranes his neck and  watches it as it drifts over. 

7:56PM

10 min

Important block by Lovren when Otavio shoots from 15 yards having been played in by Marega's neat footwork in the box. Liverpool look shaky at the back, especially down the inside-right channel. Corner that Telles bends out then in again to give Karius catching practice.  

7:54PM

9 min

Brahimi is freed on the left when played in by Sergio Oliveira who turned a Liverpool midfielder. The diligent Alexander-Arnold escorts him up a cul de sac and takes the throw when he tries to turn him. 

7:53PM

7 min

For a team that has pressed hard all year, Porto are letting Liverpool have a lot of space and time. Ricardo, who has a monster throw, tracks Milner back all the way to his own corner flag and squuezes him out of room. 

7:50PM

5 min

Otavio skates away from Henderson and raids through the middle but Liverpool scramble it clear. 

7:50PM

4 min

Porto corner on the left, swung out by Alex Telles in such a dramatic parabola that it flirts with going out. Lovren heads it straight back to him but Karius catches his second effort. 

7:48PM

3 min

Very patient so far, moving the ball up the left until Mane runs out of space to chase and Porto have a goalkick. 

7:46PM

1 min

W're off and Liverpool attack from left to right. Trent Alexander-Arnold takes the pace off and Liverpool sweep the ball from right to left and back again. 

7:15PM

And your teams in black and white

Porto Jose Sa; Ricardo, Reyes, Marcano, Alex Telles; Sergio Oliveira, Herrera; Marega, Otavio, Brahimi, Soares.
Substitutes Casillas, Maxi Pereira, Osorio, Torres, Paciencia, Corona, Waris.

The away dressing room at Dragao - Credit: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Massage for four? Credit: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Liverpool Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Substitutes Mignolet, Gomez, Moreno, Matip, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ings.

Referee Daniele Orsato (Italy)

6:41PM

No Aboubakar in Porto's starting XI

He didn't train last night and the muscle injury he reported must be worse than originally feared.

 

6:40PM

A colleague flies out

 

6:32PM

Liverpool name expected line-up

Looks like they've opted for the old tangerine nightmare strip again:

 

6:31PM

Good evening. 

Back in 2002, George W Bush gave an eloquent sheen to an old proverb. "There's an old saying in Tennessee," he said. "I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, 'Fool me once, shame on ... shame on you. Fool me ... you can't get fooled again." Well, quite, you may say but consider the case of Rabah Madjer, the Algeria winger. In 1982 he hooked in his side's opener in the historic 2-1 defeat of West Germany at the World Cup and five years later, for Porto, he scored the equaliser against Bayern Munich with the most insouciant goal in European Cup final history, before setting up Juary's winner three-minutes later to do to Michael Rummenigge what he had already done to Karl-Heinz. 

That victory at the Prater, perhaps the least remembered European Cup final of them all in England, was Porto's first of two, picking up their second 17 years later in Gelsenkirchen under Jose Mourinho's guidance. It tends to puzzle people that Porto have won as many European Cups as Juventus - as have Nottingham Forest - and a third would put them on the same footing as Manchester United and Inter. Liverpool, England's most successful club, would like a sixth to move them ahead of Barcelona and Bayern and take third place in their own right again behind Milan and Real Madrid. 

Jürgen Klopp understandably seems reluctant even to contemplate it. “I don't think the 2005 side thought about winning the Champions League before the last 16,” he said.

“I'll ask Rafa but that would surprise me because it makes no sense. If we are in the final then I'll say we will try to win it but that is too far off. I don't like talking about the round after the round you are playing, in fact I hate it. I only answer nicely now because I am friendly and we are in public but if someone asked me about the round after the round in private I would leave the room.”

Where does Spurs Juventus rank in the most exciting CL games?

Leaving aside that we know that he wouldn't leave the room but breezily rain suitable invective on his interlocutor, there are plenty of signs that they have a decent chance of at least making the semis. The front three's movement is mesmerising, Andrew Robertson, who will surely make his Champions League debut tonight, is having a sensational debut season and Giorginio Wijnaldum covers a multitude of sins further back. Emre Can is suspended tonight which should open a spot for James Milner who may have been required anyway to help keep Porto's African trident - Yacine Brahimi, Vincent Aboubakar and Moussa Marega - at bay. 

Porto are undefeated in the league and are unbeaten in 24 games (won 18, drawn six) in all competitions. Liverpool, who have lost two of their last five in all competitions, have been to the Dragao twice and come away with a pair of draws, 0-0 in 2001 and 1-1, by virtue of Dirk Kuyt's equaliser in 2007. They would probably settle for the same tonight.