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Final score: Liverpool 0-0 FC Porto (aggregate: 5-0)
Job well done by Jurgen Klopp and his men as they put in a professional performance to see out the second leg against FC Porto with minimum fuss and guarantee their place in the quarterfinals. Liverpool, as expected, made some alterations to the starting eleven while Porto did the same.
Sadio Mane hit the post in the first half whereas Danny Ings came agonizingly close late in the game. But Porto held on to get something out of this tie and managed to restore some pride after the first leg demolition.
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On that note, here are the five talking points that emerged from a subdued 0-0 draw at Anfield:
#5 Jurgen Klopp rings in the changes
With a crucial league tie awaiting the Reds on Saturday against Manchester United and with the Champions League clash against FC Porto already in the bag, Klopp was expected to make a host of changes to his starting lineup. Understandably, the manager made five changes from the side that beat Newcastle United on Saturday.
Virgil Van Dijk was given a complete and a deserved rest on the night which was also the case with Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Mohamed Salah was introduced late on as a substitute whereas Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was also given a complete rest.
Liverpool should have also given Roberto Firmino a breather with Danny Ings and Dominic Solanke capable and waiting in the wings. He was taken off at the hour mark but a proper rest could have been a better thing to do. Liverpool did not have to get into their usual gear and with no injury concerns on the table, the Reds should be ready for the big one against United.
#4 Adam Lallana comes back into the picture
Injuries and setbacks have derailed the season for Adam Lallana. But he is back on the scene now and was given a start against the Portuguese side. This was Lallana's first start in the Champions League in the 2017/18 campaign and was also just his third start of the season.
Starting on the left, Lallana looked sharp at times with his close control and ability to get out of tight spaces helping Liverpool to keep possession for longer durations. But he was a bit slow of the blocks with his passing and lacked the regular cutting edge to his game which is understandable because of the lack of playing time this season.
But the return of Adam Lallana has provided Jurgen Klopp with a whole new dilemma of selection in midfield. He has six midfielders in his first-team squad at the moment who are in brilliant touch and are fighting for the three spots in the team. He could not have asked more a better situation at the moment and the return of Lallana can also be said as a boost to his chances of getting into England's World Cup squad.
#3 FC Porto give something back to their fans
On the back of their consistent performances in the group stage, FC Porto proceeded to the knockout stage at the expense of AS Monaco and RB Leipzig. The Portuguese giants have had a stellar showing in their domestic competition as well, going 25 games unbeaten so far in the league.
But the first leg drubbing against Liverpool reflected the gulf of class between the two sides and ultimately, the two leagues. It was a hammering that Porto had not even thought of. Hence, coming into the second leg at Anfield, Porto needed a statement from the players to salvage at least pride if not the tie.
They managed to do that on the night as Porto were solid and compact without the ball and made Liverpool work hard to create clear-cut chances. They also had a couple of decent chances to get a lead and win the second leg. But the most striking thing for Porto in the second leg was their travelling fans.
The away section was completely sold out and made the biggest and constant noise in the stands. With a goalless draw, FC Porto gave their supporters at least something to take away from this fixture.
#2 Mohamed Salah dazzles with his short cameo
When Mo Salah replaced Sadio Mane in the 72nd minute, the mood around the stadium suddenly started to change. There was a stark difference between the noise levels before and after Salah entered into the fore. With his arrival, there was a genuine belief that Liverpool may now score a goal to win the second leg.
His first contribution or his first touch on the night was sublime, to say the least. He controlled a long ball from Emre Can brilliantly and displayed the kind of confidence he is currently operating at the moment. His movement was top notch, his passing was crisp and the only thing lacking from his short cameo was an end product for his efforts.
Salah delivered two pinpoint crosses to Danny Ings but the striker was not able to head the ball home. He also had a chance of his own late in the game when he got behind the Porto backline but a tight angle made him shoot straight to Iker Casillas. The man with 32 goals to his name looked sharp as ever and is now ready to trouble Manchester United.
#1 Liverpool will be feared by every team in the Champions League
With a safe passage into the top eight, Liverpool can take pride in the way they have played in Europe this season. The Reds will play in the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in nine years and understandably, the expectations are increasing with each passing game.
Liverpool have been one of the best teams in Europe this season, scoring the highest number of goals (28) in the competition until now. The defence is also looking solid as ever with the backline keeping five clean sheets in the last seven matches in all competitions.
The attacking trio is arguably the best in Europe at the moment and in this form, any team would love to avoid Liverpool in the final eight. On the other hand, Klopp will be confident of playing against any remaining side in the competition and believe that his boys will produce the same fearless performances in the upcoming fixtures.
