Liverpool vs Porto LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight
Follow all the latest action as the Reds host the Dragons at Anfield
The pressure is off for Liverpool tonight as they host FC Porto in the Champions League, but it’s still all to play for as far as the visitors are concerned. The Reds won each of their first four group stage games to seal top spot and qualification to the last 16, while the Portuguese side sit in second with two games to play - just one point ahead of Atletico Madrid.
While some supporters would perhaps like to see the Reds rotate to an extent and preserve the first-choice stars who will have an inevitably busy run over the December fixtures, Jurgen Klopp’s chances of doing that are hampered by ongoing injuries, especially in midfield. They come into this match full of confidence and looking sharp after a thumping win over Arsenal at the weekend, with the Reds having lost just one game in all competitions this term.
Porto are not much worse than that, in fact, with just two defeats for themselves in 2021/22 - but one of those came against the Reds two months ago, when the the trident of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane each found the net in a 5-1 thrashing. Follow all the team news and match action as Liverpool host Porto below:
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Liverpool 0-0 Porto
6 mins: A couple of ‘nearly’ moments for Liverpool - first Pepe looked to have made a mess of his clearance as Mane is played in behind, with goalkeeper Costa not helping matters by rushing out, but the defender did just enough to steer the ball away.
Liverpool again look to hit Salah quickly but Pepe stepped across to intercept.
Liverpool 0-0 Porto
4 mins: Evanilson flicks an effort on target from the edge of the box but that it is comfortably saved by Alisson - Liverpool’s captain for the evening.
Morton gets his first couple of touches and is tidy with a couple of balls around the corner in a packed midfield. Oxlade-Chamberlain releases Salah but Zaidu gets back to make an important intervention.
Liverpool 0-0 Porto
2 mins: Porto stay on the attack and recycle possession impressively before Oxlade-Chamberlain is finally able to block a pass from the left-back Zaidu.
Liverpool 0-0 Porto
1 min: Otavio pressures Tsimikas in the corner and wins an early set-piece for the visitors. Matip rises well to clear but Konate is then caught out on the edge of the box.
KICK-OFF! Liverpool 0-0 Porto
We’re underway at Anfield! It’s Oxlade-Chamberlain who gets us going, at the second attempt as the referee wasn’t ready. Liverpool are defending the Kop in the first half and Matip’s long pass is charged down but thankfully for Liverpool goes out for a throw-in.
Liverpool vs Porto
Porto are led out by the 39-year-old defender Pepe as the teams make their way onto the pitch at Anfield.
The Portuguese side have never won at Anfield and they are the side most in need of three points tonight.
Kick-off is next!
Liverpool vs Porto
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, speaking to BT Sport:
On his starting team: “Some changes we needed to make, some were made for tonight. I like the line-up a lot, I like the bench a lot. We have the most experienced bench I’ve ever had at Liverpool. We’ve got five substitutes and we will use them. I really hope we can play a good game.
On Tyler Morton: “The boy is ready. He is a smart kid and he will know what to do. He will be excited, he will be nervous, he is human. But at the end he has everything in his toolbox because he’s a good footballer. Nobody plays like 6 like Fabinho, so why should he? He’s a brilliant football player but we have to look after the spaces to make sure he can defend them. That will give him security, confidence, and we then have a good footballer in that position.”
Liverpool vs Porto
While Liverpool have already booked their place in the Champions League group stages, and as Group B winners, there is still plenty at stake at Anfield tonight.
Porto are locked in a tussle with Atletico Madrid and AC Milan for the second qualification spot, and the visitors are in pole position with two rounds of fixtures remaining.
Sergio Conceicao’s side sit second with five points, one ahead of Atletico. If Porto were to get a result tonight, and Atletico are held by Milan, it would mean that they would qualify with a draw against the Spanish champions on the final day.
Luis Diaz is the one to watch for Porto tonight.
Liverpool vs Porto
Thiago has had a frustrating start to his Liverpool career, but the Spain international makes consecutive starts for the first time this season tonight. A sign, perhaps, that his injury troubles are behind him.
The midfielder insisted this week that he “100 percent” made the right choice moving to Anfield and is fully committed to the club despite being linked with a return to Barcelona.
Reports in Spain have claimed the Catalans’ new coach Xavi wants to bring his former team-mate back to the Nou Camp.
“I made the right choice, the right move,” he said. “You never know because the injuries make you stop your frequency to play, to know much more of how your team performs on the pitch.
“I just want to know about this new adventure that I have here in the Premier League and to try to win all the trophies I can and my commitment is much more with this team.”
More here:
Thiago Alcantara convinced Liverpool was ‘right choice’ amid Barcelona rumours
Reports have claimed Xavi wants to bring his former team-mate back to the Nou Camp
Liverpool vs Porto
Jurgen Klopp has stayed true to his word tonight and picked a Liverpool team that is capable of beating Porto, with Salah and Mane both starting at Anfield.
"We always respect the competition but we have to think about ourselves, our schedule and the situation of our players first," Klopp said earlier this week.
"If we leave them all out, we're going to play with a team that is not a Champions League team. We don't have enough players for that, by the way.
"We have to line up a team that has a chance to win the game. We need stability, the players need rhythm.
"Whatever line-up we show tomorrow night, it's all about winning the game - that's what we are here for."
Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Andy Robertson and Diogo Jota have all been given some time off tonight, which is a boost ahead of Saturday’s clash against Southampton.
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