UCL: Liverpool Perfect Into Last 16 - Concluding Part
.jpeg)
Both sides squandered chances in the first half as they entered the interval goalless. Liverpool would, however, break the deadlock not long after the restart.
Chamberlain's free kick was well defended and cleared by the Porto defence, but only as far as Alcantara, whose sizzling low shot found its way through the bodies in the box into the net to break the deadlock. His first goal in the competition since April 2018 for Bayern Munich.
The hosts went in search for a second on the night, which failed to come as they saw another goal, this time from Takumo Minamino also ruled out for offside.
The icing was finally put on the win with about 20 minutes of regulation time left. A fine interchange of play between Jordan Henderson and Salah saw the former release the latter on goal, who calmly slotted into the bottom corner of the post and confirmed Liverpool's 100 per cent record in the group; five wins out of five.
Concluding Thoughts
It was not an unexpected result, giving Liverpool's fine run of form in Europe this season as they have now won all five of their group game matches.
This is the first time they are winning all first five games of the group stages in the Champions League and they have scored 15 goals in the process. Only during the 2017/2018 did they better this tally at this stage with 16 goals.
No gainsaying that Mohammed Salah would be a big miss for the Merseyside outfit when he joins Egypt for the African Cup of Nations in Cameron in January. His strike was his sixth in five games in the competition this season.
Porto now have it all to play for in their last group game as they must avoid defeat against against Atletico Madrid, who themselves need to win to qualify for the knockout stage, barring that AC Milan do not defeat Liverpool. A win however, regardless of AC Milan's result will see Porto through.