Porto draw eases Liverpool into Champions League quarterfinals

LIVERPOOL: Liverpool cruised into the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in nine years with a 5-0 win on aggregate over Porto, despite settling for a goalless draw in last 16, second leg at Anfield on Tuesday.

Sadio Mane inflicted most of the first-leg damage on the Portuguese outfit with a hat-trick and came closest to breaking the deadlock with a first-half effort that came back off the post.

With the job done three weeks ago, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp could even afford the luxury of starting Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk on the bench with one eye on Saturday’s vital visit to Manchester United.

It took 17 minutes for the hosts to threaten when Joe Gomez’s cross was acrobatically flicked towards goal by Mane, but looped just over the bar.

Mane was inches away from his fourth goal of the tie when he controlled James Milner’s pass before smashing the inside of Iker Casillas’s far post. Dejan Lovren then headed narrowly over as Liverpool threatened to raise the pulse of an understandably more subdued Anfield.

Casillas was given a standing ovation by the Liverpool fans in the Kop end as he took to the field after the break on his record 167th and possible farewell appearance in the Champions League. However, that was one of few moments that got the home fans off their feet as Liverpool settled on their lead.

Roberto Firmino had one clear chance to add to his seven Champions League goals this season when his shot was blocked by Porto captain Felipe.

Salah was given 15 minutes to find the winner when he replaced Mane. The Egyptian had one opportunity to extend his scoring streak to eight straight games, but Casillas smothered his low effort.