Liverpool back in Champions League quarters

There’s a familiar name back in the quarter-finals of the Champions League (CL). “It’s time we showed up again,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said after his team secured a place in the last eight for the first time in nine years.

It couldn’t have been an easier passage for the five-time European champions, either, as they coasted to a 0-0 draw against Porto yesterday to clinch a 5-0 aggregate win in the last 16.

Having scored five goals without reply in a dazzling first-leg display in Portugal three weeks ago, this was always going to be a procession for Liverpool at Anfield — a ground that has been something of a fortress this season.

At times, it felt like the English club was going through the motions, especially since it faces a huge Premier League game against Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday.

No major injuries were sustained — captain Jordan Henderson had strapping applied to his right thigh after the game, but Klopp said it was nothing more than a dead leg — and Liverpool rarely looked like conceding.

TOP SCORERS

Now, a member of European football’s royalty can look forward to the draw for the quarter-finals on March 16. They return as the competition’s top scorers this season with 28 goals and will be feared by the other qualifiers.

“This year, we belong there,” Klopp said, “it should not be a surprise. There will be seven other very good teams — maybe four of them will be from England, which doesn’t make it easier, to be honest. But we have a chance, for sure, to go through to the semi-finals.”

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (left) makes an attempt to shoot the ball as PSG’s Thiago Silva tries to stop him during the round of 16, second-leg Champions League match at the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris yesterday.

AP Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp talks with the fourth official (right) during the Champions League round of 16, secondleg match between Liverpool and FC Porto at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England.