Visualized: Liverpool 4-1 Porto

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Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



Well, we certainly didn't expect that to end 4-1 after the first half.

Porto announced their intention within 40 seconds, Corona firing off a first effort after cutting from the right, curling a wide box shot over. They'd take 14 shots in the opening half hour, which ties the record for the most shots that Liverpool have allowed in a match this season. Which happened at Napoli back in early October, arguably Liverpool's worst performance of the season.

14 shots is a lot of shots. All Porto needed was one goal to turn this match, and it seemed a matter of time before coming.

Except.

Not much to like about that performance but the scoreline is excellent.
Porto 15 shots to 4 and 57% possession but the XG map is important pic.twitter.com/r4QnBucLZA

— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) April 17, 2019

There are a lot of shots there. There are also a lot of shots that probably aren't going in there. Especially from Moussa Marega, who took ten shots over two legs, putting six on target, but with an xG of just 0.09 per shot. And that's including a clear-cut chance from the first leg, saved by Alisson after half an hour. He'd scored six in seven Champions League games prior to this, in every match except the first group tie at Schalke.

It was very much a "bend but don't break" display, something that Liverpool have been reasonably competent at, if more so earlier in the season.

And that Expected Goals map also has one big red dot at the other end of the pitch. Because, once again, Sadio Mané's opening the scoring.

Make that 8 out of Liverpool’s last 10 opening goals for Mané! https://t.co/b12tS3vMtJ

— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) April 17, 2019

First goalscorer in 3 of Liverpool’s past 4 away games:
At Bayern: Mane 26th min
At Fulham: Mane 26th min
At Porto: Mane 26th min

— Bill Edgar (@BillEdgarTimes) April 17, 2019

Also, thank you VAR. I feel bad for folks inside the stadium who've gotta unknowingly sit through decisions but otherwise, it's great and usually works. And it's probably yet another example of just a little swing of luck going Liverpool's way.

But more importantly. We learned something we already knew. Porto learned something Porto already knew.

This side wants to counter-attack. This side doesn't get many opportunities to counter attack. This side can be very good on the counter-attack.

The first goal's against the run of play, but it's not truly a counter, let alone a fast break. It's from one end of the pitch to other, starting from van Dijk's wonderful tackle, but Porto have chances to get back and chances to clear: Otavio's header on Wijnaldum's cross-field directly to Robertson rather than away, two Salah shots blocked, albeit by Liverpool's players, with Porto players in position in their own box.

They all count the same, though.

And Liverpool had a fair few true counter-attacks in the second half. Firmino replaced Origi and Liverpool did the "we're up away from home" thing. Lots of Porto possession, few Porto shots. There were 13 Porto shots in the 25 minutes before Liverpool's opener. There were just four afterwards.

Meanwhile, Liverpool scored from two fast breaks and a set play. And they should have had another on the break, Mané rounding Casillas but firing over off-balance in the 72nd minute. Three second half goals to pull away from an opponent trying like hell to get themselves back in the game. Up and down the pitch. Away from home in the Champions League.

It's "Old Liverpool" back again. Because, once again, Liverpool have more chances to be old Liverpool against European opponents rather than domestic. As Bayern Munich learned in the previous leg.

So, as happened last season, we got a five-goal aggregate win over the Portuguese champions, featuring a romp on their own ground. We get Mané, Salah, and Firmino all scoring, for only the fourth time this season after doing it 11 last season.

We get more Liverpool clear-cut chances than shots from outside the box. They're not super prolific in shots, but the shots are good shots, high value shots, because they're coming in transition, from pressing and from counters.

We get Jordan Henderson, somehow still on the most productive streak of his life, tallying yet another assist off the bench – his third in four games to go along with the goal scored at Southampton – from yet another cross. He already registered four key passes, by far the most from a Liverpool player, in only 20 minutes of action.

We get van Dijk mopping up at the back; I'm still in awe of the tackle on Marega prior to starting the move for Liverpool's opener, but it's not as if that's the only moment. We get seven saves from Alisson, none especially difficult but still the most in a single match this season.

Despite a few tetchy moments – encouragingly few – in the end, we get this.

xG map for Porto - Liverpool.

what kind of person watched this pic.twitter.com/VbWsnIT4V0

— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) April 17, 2019

And this.

Two-legged xG map for Liverpool - Porto

the easy draw is a nice thing to get pic.twitter.com/XNrt7QKe4T

— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) April 17, 2019

"Easy draw" be damned. Once again, we get Liverpool doing what they need to do – with an added dash of élan thanks to style of play and game state – for the eighth consecutive win now that we're reached the absolute meat of the season. And we get Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final in consecutive seasons, for the first time since 1983-84 and 1984-85.

Visualized: Liverpool 2-0 Porto

Previous Match Infographics: Southampton (a), Tottenham (h), Fulham (a), Bayern Munich (a), Burnley (h), Everton (a), Watford (h), Manchester United (a), Bayern Munich (h), Bournemouth (h) West Ham (a), Leicester (h), Crystal Palace (h), Brighton (a), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Newcastle (h), Wolves (a), Manchester Utd (h), Napoli (h), Bournemouth (a), Burnley, Everton (h), Paris St-Germain (a), Watford (a), Fulham (h), Arsenal (a), Cardiff (h), Red Star Belgrade (h), Huddersfield (a), Manchester City (h), Napoli (a), Chelsea (a), Southampton (h), Leicester (a), Brighton (h), Crystal Palace (a), West Ham (h)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



I love European football.

Because, unlike the vast majority of the Premier League, European sides do not set up to specifically deny Liverpool opportunities to press.

And then matches like this happen.

For a team who had 64% possession, them’s some big Reds numbers. pic.twitter.com/8Rlv1KIzLg

— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) April 9, 2019

As Beasley says, that's an egregious amount of tackles and ball recoveries for a side that had that much possession. 64% possession is about what Liverpool averaged against Southampton (67%), Fulham (63%), and Everton (59%) over the last month or so.

Those matches did not look like this one, even if the results were mostly similar (*glares at Merseyside Derby*).

More importantly, it's probably not coincidence that both of Liverpool's goals came from winning the ball back in midfield.



Fabinho presses the Porto attack, and while Danilo tries to tackle him, Milner – even though he's at left-back, is there to pick up the pieces, immediately looking long for Mané and going, allowing Liverpool to run at Porto before Porto can regroup.

Mané does the right thing up against two defenders, Firmino somehow finds space in the box for the layoff, and Keïta's shot is at least going to be on-target before the deflection, but this very much starts in midfield and in transition.

Similar goes for Liverpool's second, as Mané's tackled in the final third but Henderson's forward to back him up, spreading play to Keïta, who finds Firmino once again in a pocket of space, returned to Henderson who's now joined the attack.



So, we can highlight individual performances. Firmino was heavily involved in both goals, and not for the first time over the last month, having scored four and assisted three in his last six games.

Porto's system – with three deeper center-backs, one a right-back by trade – and Oliver Torres rather than Hector Herrera – probably gave Firmino a bit too much space to operate.

The average position map kind of lies – being an average position map – but there also aren't many Porto players near Firmino's position.



When Firmino plays this well, it is very, very hard to stop Liverpool. Salah and Mané get the attacking headlines, van Dijk and Alisson the defensive, but I'm still tempted to argue that no player is as essential to Jürgen Klopp's style of play as Roberto Firmino.

But there's also Naby Keïta, leading the side in tackles, almost top in ball recoveries, an opening goal within five minutes no matter the heavy deflection, and so much running. So, so much running, compared to what Liverpool's midfield has looked like with Milner and Wijnaldum in advanced positions.

There's also Jordan Henderson, again in a more advanced position, complementing Keïta, and similarly all-around everywhere, highlighted by his role in Liverpool's second goal, both in ball recovery and hockey assist.

There's Alisson, saving two clear-cut chances from Moussa Marega in two minutes, less than five minutes after Liverpool scored its second. The game is very, very different had Porto made it 2-1 in the 30th or 31st minute.

There's Fabinho, stood tall in the center circle shouting YOU WILL NOT PASS.

There's Virgil van Dijk, the best defender in Europe, and Dejan Lovren partnering him, uncertain early on having just returned from injury, but increasingly comfortable as the match progressed.

There's Trent Alexander-Arnold, another assist from a wide position, even if it wasn't a cross, and there's James Milner on the other flank, deputizing at left-back even though he hadn't played that position in ages, because he's James Milner and will do a job at any position.

Aside from finishing one or two more chances (*glares at Mo Salah's form*), it's pretty much all you could have hoped for. And it all sets up Liverpool nicely for the second leg. Because Liverpool again won a European match at Anfield.

The last time Liverpool lost European match at Anfield was October 2014, 0-3 to Real Madrid under Brendan Rodgers. Klopp's still yet to lose one, winning 14 and drawing four in the Champions League and Europa League.

We've seen clean sheets in 11 of those 18 games. We've seen two or more goals in 13 of those 18 games, with three or more in nine of them.

We've seen Liverpool in the Europa League final, then the Champions League final, and now putting themselves in position to qualify for this season's semi-finals.

European nights are assuredly back at Anfield. And Liverpool are back amongst European's elite.

Visualized: Liverpool 0-0 Porto

Previous Match Infographics: Newcastle (h), West Ham (h), Porto (a), Southampton (a), Tottenham (h), Huddersfield (a), Swansea (a), Manchester City (h), Everton (h), Burnley (a), Leicester (a), Swansea (h), Arsenal (a), Bournemouth (a), West Brom (h), Everton (h), Spartak Moscow (h), Brighton (a), Stoke (a), Chelsea (h), Sevilla (a), Southampton (h), West Ham (a), Maribor (h), Huddersfield (h), Tottenham (a), Maribor (a), United (h), Newcastle (a), Spartak Moscow (a), Leicester (a), Burnley (h), Sevilla (h), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Hoffenheim (h), Crystal Palace (h), Hoffenheim (a), Watford (a)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



(Here's the formation diagram usually included in match reviews.)

Let's be honest. There's not a lot to write about here. Liverpool were up by five goals after the first leg, and Porto were happy to not lose by more than five goals on aggregate.

It was something that Liverpool matches rarely are. It was boring, from almost start to finish.

And boring was exactly what Liverpool needed. Boring, for once, is good.

It wasn't a complete waste of 90 minutes.

Firmino and Mané started – playing 61 and 73 minutes respectively – with Salah coming off the bench for the latter. You can complain about all three playing in a dead rubber but given how the side's fitness has been this season – especially compared to last – I'm more than willing to give the staff the benefit of the doubt here. Keep 'em hungry.

There were six players in the starting XI likely to feature in Saturday's side at Manchester United. But Lallana, Moreno, and Gomez all made needed starts, with Ings also getting half an hour off the bench.

Despite playing at half-pace, Liverpool had three clear-cut chances – three more than Porto had in 180 minutes – and also hit the woodwork.

Liverpool still ran a lot – the 115.1km covered as a team was Liverpool's second-highest total in the Champions League this season, behind the 116.5km at Sevilla.

Liverpool were still fairly Liverpool, just with a firm grasp on the handbrake. Because Liverpool were so potent in the first leg, what happened here almost didn't matter.

Two-legged xG map for Liverpool - Porto. The Reds walk to the quarterfinals. pic.twitter.com/ur6G4VAdnE

— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) March 6, 2018

Yes, yes, game state, but still. You over-performed Expected Goals by a healthy margin. You held Porto scoreless over two legs. You held Porto to around 0.556 xG per shot, which is an insanely low total. Liverpool scored more goals in 60 minutes in the first leg than Porto had shots on-target in both legs.

It was a good 180 minutes against good opposition, because of a great first 90 minutes in Portugal. It was exactly the way Liverpool needed to navigate its first Champions League knockout tie since 2009.

I'm sure you've seen "this was Liverpool's eighth Champions League game at Anfield this decade." That's eight games in eight years. It's almost embarrassing.

The Champions League because the "Champions League" in 1992. 25 years ago. This is the sixth time Liverpool will be in the quarterfinals. 2001-02, 2004-05, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, and now 2017-18. That doesn't seem like many appearances. But this is also only the 10th time Liverpool have been in the Champions League. Six quarterfinals in ten appearances. Two finals, one trophy.

I ain't saying this stage of the competition is Liverpool's birthright, but it's kind of Liverpool's birthright. This is where Liverpool belong. And it's long past time that Liverpool reestablish that.

Visualized: Liverpool 5-0 Porto

Previous Match Infographics: Southampton (a), Tottenham (h), Huddersfield (a), Swansea (a), Manchester City (h), Everton (h), Burnley (a), Leicester (a), Swansea (h), Arsenal (a), Bournemouth (a), West Brom (h), Everton (h), Spartak Moscow (h), Brighton (a), Stoke (a), Chelsea (h), Sevilla (a), Southampton (h), West Ham (a), Maribor (h), Huddersfield (h), Tottenham (a), Maribor (a), United (h), Newcastle (a), Spartak Moscow (a), Leicester (a), Burnley (h), Sevilla (h), Manchester City (a), Arsenal (h), Hoffenheim (h), Crystal Palace (h), Hoffenheim (a), Watford (a)

Match data from WhoScored, except average position from the SofaScore app. 



(Here's the formation diagram usually included in match reviews.)

Sometimes this season, Europe hasn't known what's hit it.

When Liverpool met Hoffenheim in the first leg of the Champions League playoff qualifiers, the German side hadn't lost at home in more than a year, unbeaten in 17 matches. Liverpool won 2-1, to set themselves up for a 4-2 second leg win and the competition proper.

Porto hadn't lost at home in their previous 15 matches, with 13 wins and two 0-0 draws. And Liverpool just did that. Porto had never been so thoroughly beaten in European competition; they'd never conceded more than three in a European match at home. I can find full results going back to 1994-95; Porto hadn't conceded five at home in any match in any competition until yesterday.

There are also the two 7-0 victories in the group stage, both home and away, against the best team in Slovenia and last season's Russian champions.

Teams are becoming – have become – scared of what Liverpool can do to them. And rightfully so. It's not something the majority of them are used to in their domestic leagues.

It, unsurprisingly, starts with Liverpool's attack.

Liverpool's non-penalty Expected Goals tally in the Champions League so far is just shy of 25. Liverpool have scored 32 non-penalty goals. Sure, that over-performance is almost solely down to three matches – 7-0 Maribor, 7-0 Spartak, and 5-0 Porto – but it's also symptomatic of Liverpool in Europe so far this season. When Liverpool are on, Liverpool are really, really on.

Maybe it's easier for Liverpool in Europe – although that's not necessarily the right word – because teams aren't as familiar with Liverpool's ferocity. Even Sevilla were all but hammered in both meetings, only for Liverpool to allow very very bad comebacks in both matches, while the 1-1 at Spartak is even more baffling every time you think about it. Maybe it's further proof that on their day, in one-off matches – as they've done in the league against Arsenal (h), West Ham (a), Bournemouth (a), City (h), and others – Liverpool can be really, really potent and thus really, really good.

Either way, Liverpool's attack sure is something. Liverpool's attack is the foundation upon which this house is built.

Today is February 15th. Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mané have scored a combined 63 goals. In 39 games. 63 of 99 goals in total, almost two-thirds of Liverpool's season-long output.

Mané, Firmino, and Salah have all scored in five different matches this season: Watford (a), Arsenal (h), Spartak (h), City (h), and now Porto (a). And two of those three players have scored in ten more matches.

Sadio Mané is the first Liverpool player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League knockout round, with five other Liverpool hat-tricks coming in either the qualifying rounds or group stage. Two of Liverpool's six Champions League hat-tricks have come this season – the other in the previous Champions League match, from the player-who-shall-not-be-named. It has been more than 33 years since Liverpool players scored hat-tricks in consecutive European matches: John Wark and Ian Rush, in October 1984.

Not to take absolutely anything away, but, yes, Liverpool needed more than a little luck. As always seems to be the case, whether for Liverpool or their opponents.

Liverpool's opener came from a goalkeeping error that'd see us hang Mignolet or Karius from their toes outside the Shankly Gates had either done similar.

Liverpool's first three goals came from shot rebounds: Wijnaldum following up his blocked effort before finding Mané, Salah first to Milner's strike off the post, and Mané quickest after Jose Sa stopped Firmino's blast.

Liverpool's second, third, and fourth goals came from stealing possession back from Porto: Milner in the final third, robbing Marega for the second; Milner in his defensive third, stopping Brahimi for the third; and Mané on the halfway line, outmuscling Corona for the fourth. You could even count the first if so inclined, with Lovren stepping into the opposition half to intercept Jose Sa's throw before setting up Wijnaldum.

Each of Liverpool's goals took around ten seconds from winning possession to ball in the net. Nine for the first, nine for the second, 11 for the third (starting just outside Liverpool's own box), nine for the fourth, and nine for the fifth.

But when you score five, and hold the opposition to none, there's more than luck involved.

That both Wijnaldum and Milner feature in the above couple of paragraphs is a massive positive. The first two goals, featuring the more-advanced midfielders breaking into the box before getting a shot off. Constant switching between the two, changing the angles of attack as well as supplementing the full-backs when defense was needed.




Special mention to Milner, who's somehow responsible for six assists in the Champions League this season – seven if you want to give him rightful credit for the own goal at Hoffenheim.

And some credit needs to go to Liverpool's defense. Virgil van Dijk, again the necessary organizing presence at the back, leading the side in both interceptions and clearances, plus a handful of pinpoint long passes to release Liverpool's attack early. Dejan Lovren, surprisingly steady, with two crucial blocks, especially the early one to deflect Otavio's shot over the bar. And Andy Robertson, bombing up and down and up and down Liverpool's left flank.

I was most impressed with how Liverpool kept the incredibly dangerous Brahimi and Telles quiet. In the league and Europe, Alex Telles has a goal and ten assists. Yacine Brahimi has six goals and seven assists. They are, by far, Porto's more creative players, from both open play and set plays.

They created just one chance yesterday. Sure, it was Porto's best chance, Brahimi's throughball pushed narrowly wide by Tiquinho just before halftime, but still. One chance, from a left flank which has averaged five per 90 in the league this season.

Granted, after Porto's early attempt to take the game to Liverpool, Salah's absolutely terrifying pace forced Telles to play deeper than he's used to, with Brahimi also needed in tracking back. It's another example of how Liverpool's superlative attack can and often does relief pressure on Liverpool's defense. Nonetheless, Trent Alexander-Arnold is 19, and this is the first time he's started three consecutive matches for Liverpool. Both Wijnaldum and Milner – especially the latter - tracked back on both sides of the pitch to help. And Dejan Lovren, more comfortable on the right and more comfortable with van Dijk, certainly helped as well.

This was the joint-largest margin of victory away from home in a Champions League knockout match, along with Bayern at Sporting Lisbon in 2009 and Real Madrid at Schalke in 2014 by the same scoreline.

Since 2001-02, the first Champions League with a group stage then knockout round format that Liverpool participated in, Liverpool have never scored five goals in a knockout round match. They've played 28 Champions League knockout matches. Liverpool have scored four three times, twice against English opposition – Arsenal in 2007-08 and Chelsea in 2008-09 – and once against Real Madrid. They've scored three on four other occasions times: Leverkusen (twice), AC Milan, and PSV Eindhoven.

Liverpool have scored five or more goals in the European Cup/Champions League – at any stage – 15 times in 190 matches. Three of them have come this season.

That performance and result was historic. There's no other way to put it. Not to take anything for granted – never take anything for granted with this club – but Liverpool are now all but in the last eight of the Champions League.

But, of course, they still have to show up for the return leg in three weeks. And this performance, this result, won't mean anywhere near as much as it should if Liverpool don't continue on against West Ham in nine days.

Liverpool at Porto 02.14.18

2:45pm ET, live in the US on Fox Sports 2

Group Stage results:
Liverpool: 7-0 Spartak (h); 3-3 Sevilla (a); 3-0 Maribor (h); 7-0 Maribor (a); 1-1 Spartak (a); 2-2 Sevilla (h)
Porto: 5-2 Monaco (h); 1-1 Besiktas (a); 3-1 RB Leipzig (h); 2-3 RB Leipzig (a); 3-0 Monaco (a); 1-3 Besiktas (h)

Last three matches:
Liverpool: 2-0 Southampton (a); 2-2 Tottenham (h); 3-0 Huddersfield (a)
Porto: 4-0 Chaves (a); 1-0 Sporting (h); 3-1 Braga (h)

Goalscorers (Europe):
Liverpool: Firmino 7; Salah 6; Coutinho 5; Can, Mané 3; Alexander-Arnold 2; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sturridge 1
Porto: Aboubakar 5; Brahimi, Danilo, Felipe, Herrera, Layon, Marcano, M Pereira, Telles, Tiquinho 1

Referee: Daniele Orsato (ITA))

Orsato also had the home leg of the Champions League playoff against Hoffenheim.

Guess at a line-up:
Karius
Trent A-A Lovren van Dijk Robertson
Wijnaldum Henderson Milner
Salah Firmino Mané

3,227 days.

That's how long it's been since Liverpool were in a Champions League knockout match.

4-4 at Chelsea, an utterly furious, bonkers encounter where Liverpool almost, somehow, but finally didn't overhaul a 1-3 first leg deficit.

That was almost nine years. Four managers ago. Unsurprisingly, there's not a single player left in that season's side, not since Lucas Leiva went to Lazio. Five of Liverpool's starting XI – including three of the four scorers – have since retired from football.

It has been way too long.

Karius should and hopefully will keep his place in goal, it'll be Matip or Lovren to partner van Dijk. Maybe Moreno comes in from Robertson, but I doubt an away European knockout round is when he makes his return to the XI, not with 10 days following this match until the next. And while Joe Gomez is included in the squad, he's seemingly in a similar position, a shorter injury layoff but also having just returned to training.

And, as usual, there are questions about the midfield composition. Emre Can's suspended, so we're down four midfielders for three places. Or, really, two from three, as Jordan Henderson's certain to start. Will he be joined by Milner, Wijnaldum, or Oxlade-Chamberlain? Probably the first two, with Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench if needed either in the front three or midfield, the most versatile sub of those midfielders. As happened against Tottenham. But I wouldn't be surprised by any of them starting.

At least we're sure what the front three will look like.

Meanwhile, Porto. Top of the Portuguese League. Unbeaten in the Portuguese League. They've won ten and drawn just one at the Estadio do Dragao, with six clean sheets.

There are a few names in the Porto squad that American soccer fans will recognize: Hector Herrera, Jesus Corona, and Diego Reyes. All three feature for the Mexican national team, at least two will start tomorrow. Porto made – and still make – use of value from the Brazilian market, and now they're doing it with Mexico.

As for the others. Danilo's definitely out injured, but more players are listed as questionable: Aboubakar up front, Andre Andre in midfield, Marcano in defense. Center-back is Porto's biggest concern; if Marcano's unable to start, with Felipe also suspended, it'll have to be Yordan Osorio partnering Reyes, a January signing yet to feature for the club.

But it's the Champions League and I've no real clue so let's guess everyone's available. That should lead to an XI of Jose Sa; Ricardo Pereira, Marcano, Reyes, Telles; Corona, Herrera, Sergio Oliveira, Brahimi; Marega, Aboubakar. That left flank is terrifying, with Brahimi behind only Aboubakar and Marega in goals, and with Telles and Brahimi Porto's top two assist creators. It'll be a massive test for either Alexander-Arnold or Gomez, and whomever plays on the right side of midfield, because Liverpool do not need Mo Salah having to track back all match.

If Aboubakar can't go, it'll be Triquinho, and if Andre Andre's available, maybe we'll see a diamond midfield rather than a more orthodox 4-4-2, as in the last group stage game against Monaco.

With the first leg away from home, against compact, resilient, difficult opposition, I'm tempted to think we'll see what Liverpool tried to do against Villarreal in the 2015-16 Europa League semifinal. A surprisingly defensive Liverpool, reliant on the counter and preserving the second leg home advantage. It didn't quite work, with Villarreal finally scoring late late late on, but it ultimately worked with a 3-0 second leg win.

I'm also tempted to think that'd be a mistake. For all of "Porto are tough to beat," Porto win games with their goals, and finished second in their group because of big wins over Monaco (twice) and Leipzig, scoring three, three, and five in those matches. And we know what Liverpool are capable of when sitting back and hoping for the counter. Sometimes we get Sunday's Southampton game. Sometimes we get the second half against Tottenham.

We saw similar to that Villarreal match in Liverpool Champions League qualifier at Hoffenheim. Liverpool won 2-1, Hoffenheim had all the possession, and it worked, but Liverpool needed a phenomenal free kick from Alexander-Arnold and an own goal, and for Hoffenheim to fail to convert three clear-cut chances – including a saved penalty – before they finally got a consolation late on. And, like against Villarreal, it was moot after the second leg with a riotous home performance.

But it's worrisome. And it's not where Liverpool are usually at its best.

It's been too long since Liverpool were in this position. So do what got you here. Do Liverpool.

Liverpool 4-1 Porto

Reina
Finnan Carragher Hyypia Arbeloa
Babel Gerrard Mascherano Benayoun
Torres Voronin

Goals:
Torres 19’ 78’
Lisandro 33’
Gerrard 84’ (pen)
Crouch 88’

Don’t let the scoreline fool you; this game could have gone a lot differently.

Liverpool began well enough, and looked to have a dream start with Torres’ free header (thanks to a Lucho Gonzalez slip on a wet night) from Gerrard’s corner after 19 minutes. Although Porto looked to slow the tempo and keep possession, Liverpool increasingly gained a foothold, especially after the opener, and truth be told, Porto didn’t look much like getting into the game after the first 30 minutes.

But in the 33rd, after excellent work by Kazmierczak bullying his way past Mascherano down Liverpool’s right, Lisandro got free from Arbeloa and replied with a header of his own, Porto’s first real shot on target.

And for the rest of the half, Liverpool was completely at sea. The team looked shell-shocked, and was lucky not to concede again, with a last ditch tackle by Finnan preventing Quaresma from getting a shot off, and Lisandro spurning an excellent chance after getting behind the defense, amongst other opportunities.

By halftime, Liverpool had started to settle (and looked to counter to finish the half, only for the referee to strangely blow for halftime on exactly 45:00, despite the two goals), and after the break, the game looked like it could go either way. Liverpool still wasn’t clicking, but at least they had collected themselves and Porto threatened far less. After Benitez made a couple of excellent substitutions (Kewell for Voronin, Crouch for Benayoun) while Porto began to wear down, the floodgates finally broke.

First, Kewell put Torres through (although Torres’ strength and turn created the chance) in the 78th. Four minutes later, Stepanov (who had been excellent until this point) handled Gerrard’s free kick in the box under pressure from Hyypia (it was a penalty, and it wasn’t a foul by Sami). Despite Torres on a hat trick, Gerrard stepped up, and scored his 7th goal in the last 8 games.

Out of the game by that point, Porto’s heads dropped, and Crouch got in on the act from another Gerrard corner (3 goals stemming from set plays?). Again the goal was contested, with Porto players pleading for infringement on Kuyt, but it stood, and the scoreline was complete.

The two-goal performance of Torres (his first two goals in the Champions League) will get the headlines, but I thought Finnan was extraordinary today. Nothing spectacular, but a couple of last ditch tackles, excellent positioning, covering, and overlapping with whomever was on the right at the time (usually Babel, but Voronin, Benayoun and Kuyt all occupied the flank at some point). Easily his best game of the season, and making me feel like an idiot for questioning his inclusion.

Gerrard will also get a lot of the plaudits, and deservedly so. He’s returned to form over the past month or so, and continues to be Liverpool’s talisman. Torres again showed why Liverpool shelled out a record fee for him (and what Benitez can do when given significant money). It’s great to see Crouch continue to score. And despite the shakiness following the equalizer, the rest of defense had their moments, and it’s worth noting that Liverpool’s nemesis in the last match, Ricardo Quaresma, was quiet no matter where he popped up on the pitch.

I am a bit afraid that the final score will overshadow some of the problems. It was very worrying to see Liverpool’s collapse following Porto’s equalizer, and I can’t emphasize enough how lucky Liverpool was not to concede a second. Too many passes went astray, Liverpool was unable to get their wits about them and reestablish possession. After they had steadied themselves in the second half, the team tried to be too intricate in unlocking the defense, and frequently broke down in the final third without getting a good chance at goal.

Voronin and Babel, and Mascherano and Arbeloa to a lesser extent, all could have had better nights as well. None were bad, but none were up to their standards either, and I think Voronin’s invisibility (although that’s a bit harsh) hurt Liverpool when they were unable to settle after Lisandro’s goal, while I still believe that Babel is more suited to a substitute role, although Kewell filled that role well tonight.

But more importantly, Liverpool didn’t concede a second. And with past complaints over creating goals in the latter stages, Liverpool scored 3 in the last 15 minutes. There are lessons to be learned from the match, but on the whole, something to be positive about. Porto is a very good team, and it’s a credit to them they kept Liverpool on the ropes for nearly half the game. But bad teams don’t score 4 against Porto either.

This result, even with Besiktas’ win against Marseille, doesn’t change an awful lot. Thanks to Marseille’s win at Anfield, Liverpool still need to win in France to go through. Porto leads the group on 8, both Liverpool and Marseille follow with 7, and Besiktas still in contention on 6. (Edit: Whoops. If Besiktas beat Porto in Portugal and Liverpool draw, Porto, Liverpool and Marseille will all be on 8 points, and it'll go to goal difference.)

But again, at the end of the day, it’s a very good result. Liverpool’s scored 17 goals in their last 4 games. It was an emphatic reply to the media turmoil of the last week, especially by the fans, who chanted “Rafa, Rafael” all match long. And Liverpool can still qualify for the money-spinning knockout stage with a win in Marseille December 11th.

And if this is the result following a sub-standard performance, I can’t wait until they click more often.

Liverpool v Porto 11.28.07

2:45pm on Setanta

Porto is currently 1st in the Superliga

Group Stage:
Liverpool: 8-0 Besiktas (h); 1-2 Besiktas (a); 0-1 Marseille (h); 1-1 Porto (a)
Porto: 2-1 Marseille (h); 1-1 Marseille (a); 1-0 Besiktas (a); 1-1 Liverpool (h)

Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 3-0 Newcastle (a); 2-0 Fulham (h); 8-0 Besiktas (h)
Besiktas: 2-0 Vitoria Setubal; 2-2 Estrela Amadora (a); 2-1 Marseille (h)

Goalscorers (Europe):
Liverpool: Benayoun, Crouch, Kuyt 3; Babel, Gerrard 2; Hyypia, Voronin 1
Besiktas: Gonzalez 2; Lopez, Quaresma, Sektioui 1

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (ITA)

Guess at a squad
Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Hyypia Aurelio
Gerrard Lucas Mascherano Kewell
Kuyt Torres

Outside of the likely return of Mascherano to the starting line-up, I don’t know how different the team will look from that on Saturday.

Another change could be the inclusion of Crouch, as it’s Europe and he might have only played 10 minutes on Saturday with an eye on this game. Guessing Crouchy to start has gone poorly for me recently, and if Liverpool plays in a similar formation to that at Newcastle, I don’t know where Peter will fit in, but it is still European competition, and continental teams don’t come up against a striker like Crouch often. However, Kuyt scored in the away fixture, and has three goals in the CL, and the team played cohesively against Newcastle 3 days ago.

Then again, maybe Rafa will throw us for a complete loop, remembering how Torres marked out of the game in Portugal and is still without a goal in Europe. Also, Voronin played very well against both Besiktas and Fulham before the break. It’s nice having four strikers capable of starting, but it certainly doesn’t help trying to forecast the team.

And I still think Liverpool’s going to look a lot like they did at St James’ Park. I’ve written up the formation as a 4-4-2 for simplicity, but there were similarities to 4-3-3 (4-3-2-1, whatever) with Kuyt and Kewell playing off of Torres, and 3 “central” midfielders.

Gerrard was massively influential in this formation, able to pop up all over the pitch and with the freedom to orchestrate the game as he saw fit. Bringing Mascherano in for Sissoko would allow Liverpool to have someone in there to break up Porto's attacks through the middle, but Mascherano is still more assured and composed on the ball than Sissoko, and Liverpool’s ability to retain possession is going to be extremely important, especially given how Porto controlled the game in Portugal.

Babel’s played well of late, but I still believe he’s more suited to coming off the bench at his age and with his skill set. I admittedly am worried about Kewell starting twice in a week, but he only played 58 minutes against Newcastle. Benayoun may be back on the right, as Benitez only said that Agger, Alonso, and Pennant are assuredly out (relatedly, that Finnan picked up a knock last time out and was tormented by Quaresma in the away leg is why I'm guessing Arbeloa on the right), but after missing the last three weeks, I don’t know if Yossi will go straight back into the line-up.

My biggest fear is Porto’s ability to control tempo and possession, although that should be partly allayed with the game at Anfield. Plus, the form Liverpool’s been in over the past few matches is markedly different from when these two teams last met. But in the last meeting, Liverpool got the fewest shots on goal and had the least amount of possession so far this season. Liverpool started exceptionally poorly, and it set the tone for the rest of the game. The group standings make it imperative for Liverpool to attack, attack, attack, but given how the last match between the two went, it’d probably be a good idea anyway.

But I don’t need to say much more about how Liverpool must win, not only to keep progression in the Champions League alive (and all the lovely money that comes with it), but to put this nonsense surrounding Benitez behind us as well.


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Completely unrelated, but I want to get a prediction for Blackburn v Villa (3pm, not on TV in the US) on record in my attempt to forecast every non-Liverpool Premiership game (65-59, with 16 exact so far).

Blackburn 2-1

Liverpool 1-1 Porto

Reina
Finnan Carragher Hyypia Arbeloa
Pennant Gerrard Mascherano Babel
Torres Kuyt

Goals:
Porto: Lucho Gonzalez 8’ (pen)
Liverpool: Kuyt 17’

In a game where Liverpool didn’t get out of their own half for the first five minutes, gave up a penalty after eight (their 4th in 8 games), and played over half an hour with 10 men, a point doesn’t seem such a bad result. Then why am I so angry?

Liverpool lined up as thought, with possibly the strongest XI (outside of Hyypia for Agger), but the game certainly didn’t begin as hoped. As said, Porto, with Ricardo Quaresma outstanding, kept Liverpool penned in until Reina’s goal kick just before the clock hit five minutes. Porto had an excellent opportunity to score within two, when Finnan’s clearance deflected to Lisandro in front of goal, but Reina made a smart save.

Liverpool didn’t hold out long. Reina brought down Sektioui in the box after Hyypia was beaten for pace (I will say that contact looked minimal, but it appeared to be a penalty nonetheless), and Lucho Gonzalez scored the resulting spot kick. It’s the third time a team has scored from the spot against Liverpool this season; I might be wrong, but I don’t think Liverpool had three penalties scored against them through all of last season.

To their credit, Liverpool played their best stretch following Porto’s goal, although that’s not saying much. They did settle, and Kuyt got the equalizer in the 17th minute from a Hyypia header across goal after a Finnan free kick. That would be Liverpool’s lone shot on target all game. Yes, you read that right.

To be fair, neither team had any real chances, but Porto was clearly better. They never again dominated as they did to start the game, but absolutely nothing was coming off for Liverpool.

The game had been chippy from the start and was even more so after the goals. Both Pennant and Boswinga picked up yellow cards in the first half, and the way that Lubos Michel was calling the game, more always looked likely.

Pennant’s second card, for a completely needless foul on Fucile at Porto’s back line after 58 minutes, seemed a long time coming. He kept committing fouls after his first booking, and kept complaining about them as well. Many had to be surprised (a friend of mine was utterly livid) that Pennant was still on to get the second yellow. I know Benitez can be a hands-off manager, lets players play their games, and expects them to be smart about it, but there are games where Pennant can’t be treated like that. Unfortunately, this was one of them. He’s shown less and less of those flashes of immaturity as he’s improved at Liverpool, but they still linger.

And when all’s said and done, Liverpool were lucky not to pay for Pennant’s error. Other than a moment where Reina was caught in no-man’s land and Hyypia had to make a smart clearance on Quaresma’s goal-bound shot, they defended admirably and even carved out a chance in the dying minutes, with Quaresma getting back to intercept the ball in front of Kuyt on goal after some lovely work from Gerrard.

That the most encouraging part of the game for Liverpool came after they were reduced to ten men is not a good thing. Even though the point’s welcomed, especially after the way the game played out, there are far more negatives than positives in my mind. The pluses I can think of are the point gained, the fortitude shown, an Aurelio sighting, and Kuyt’s superhuman effort everywhere on the field, especially when Liverpool needed it. That’s about it.

But the negatives. Liverpool looked disjointed and incoherent. They couldn’t pass to save their lives. Again, there was one shot on target (albeit, they took advantage of it), and the only other shot I can remember was Babel’s deflected effort after a Gerrard free kick on the stroke of halftime. All too often, players were caught on the ball and Porto quickly regained possession. It was a pretty needless foul, and a play where both Hyypia and Reina should have done better, which led to the penalty. And while he had little end product to show for it, Quaresma absolutely embarrassed people at times, Pennant and Finnan most frequently. I know I should watch games on ESPN on mute, but if I hear Tommy Smyth bring up the speculation about Quaresma joining Liverpool over the summer one more time, all bets are off.

Meanwhile, the two stars noticeable in their absence against Portsmouth did little today. Torres was isolated and marked out of the game, even more so (naturally) after Liverpool went down to 10 men. Voronin certainly seemed the better outlet for that style of play after he came on. Gerrard was invisible for much of the match, although the few times he was on the ball he made a decent move or pass. I hope it’s a sign of tiredness following the internationals and a lack of match-fitness prior to that, and not a recurrence of injury.

But I will calm down. I know Liverpool is better than they played today. And it’s a point earned, when they might not have deserved it, from what’s probably the toughest away game. Benitez will make sure that players learn from today, hopefully none more than Jermaine Pennant.

And there are less than four days until Liverpool gets to make amends for today’s performance.

Liverpool at FC Porto 09.18.07

2:45pm EST on espn2

Qualifying Round:
Liverpool: 4-0 Toulouse (h); 1-0 Toulouse (a)
Porto qualified for the group stage as champions of Portugal.

Last 3 matches:
Liverpool: 0-0 Portsmouth (a); 6-0 Derby (h); 4-0 Toulouse (h)
Porto: 1-0 Maritimo (h); 3-0 Uniao Leiria (a); 1-0 Sporting Lisbon (h)

Referee: Lubos Michel (SVK)

Guess at a squad
Reina
Finnan Carragher Agger Arbeloa
Pennant Gerrard Mascherano Babel
Torres Kuyt

The first choice pairing of Torres and Kuyt seemingly has to start on Tuesday. Liverpool missed Torres’s class from the off against Portsmouth on Tuesday. Let’s hope he displays it against Porto and has a point to prove as well, as a big reason he left Atletico was to play in the Champions League.

Just as Torres was left on the bench against Portsmouth and should start here, barring any injury complications, Gerrard should as well. Hopefully resting him for the majority of this weekend’s match has helped; he clearly tired while playing for England, but I have to believe he’ll start in what will be one of Liverpool’s toughest group games.

And he’ll probably be paired with Mascherano, who played in both of Liverpool’s European qualifying games and wasn’t even in the squad against Portsmouth. Mascherano and Gerrard has been a formidable pairing for Liverpool. They’ve been the central midfield partnership (without Alonso or Sissoko) in 3 games for Liverpool since Masch joined. Those games were 4-0 Sheffield Utd, 1-0 Chelsea (CL) and 1-0 Toulouse (CL). Not a bad precedent.

Riise’s ruled out with a groin injury picked up while playing for Norway while Aurelio returns, but I’ll be very surprised if Fabio’s thrown directly into the squad. There had been injury concerns over Finnan, Arbeloa, and Alonso following the Portsmouth match, and if those three players are out, changes will have to be made to the backline, but it looks like Riise, Sissoko, and Kewell are the only players definitively ruled out.

Had Riise been fit I would expect him in the team, at either left back or in left midfield with Porto’s strength on the flanks. Similar to the conservatism in tough away games like Benitez used against Aston Villa. But with Riise injured and Aurelio unready, I have to believe that Babel will start on the left. I still think Babel’s better as a substitute at this stage, but Benayoun wasn’t nearly influential enough on the left on Saturday, and this is probably too tough a game for Leto to get a second start. Either Pennant or Benayoun seems likely to line up on the right, and while neither did themselves much justice in the last match, chances are it’ll be Pennant.

Despite their much-discussed personnel losses over the offseason (Pepe to Real Madrid and Anderson to Manchester United), Porto is an excellent team. Defending champions of the Portuguese Superliga, and back on top of the table, undefeated, after four games this season. Like Liverpool, they’ve been exceptionally stingy at the back. They haven’t shipped a goal in their last three, and have only let in one this season, in the first match against Braga.

Ricardo Quaresma, who’s been rumored to join basically every big club in Europe over the past couple of years, will get most of the press. Unfortunately, he’s frequently compared to his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, and can play on either the left or right flank. The young winger leads Porto in both goals (2) and yellow cards (3). Argentinean playmaker Lucho Gonzalez is also going to attract a lot of attention in midfield, and Porto’s strength in the middle of the park is part of the reason I’m guessing Gerrard and Mascherano will play.

However, Porto has injury concerns as well, with their goalkeeper (Helton), one of the central defenders (Pedro Emanuel) and two strikers (Helger Postiga and Adriano) all probably out, while right back Boswinga, who was linked to Aston Villa over the summer, is questionable.

Benitez has already said that Liverpool could need 12 points to assure passage to the knockout rounds. If that’s to be attained, Liverpool needs to win all their home games, which is certainly achievable, and away at least once.

A win here, while getting that vital away victory, would also start Liverpool on the right foot in the competition. A weaker line-up was played against Portsmouth partly because of the international break, but also with an eye on this game. A win would definitely remove those last lingering tastes of Saturday’s draw.

Roll on Porto.