It is far too trite to make the goals scored by Liverpool a tribute to the death of Roger Hunt. They owed too much to calamitous Porto defending for that. Nevertheless, this was a performance on a far-flung European field that in its own sweet way connected the present with a past that Hunt did so much to shape.
Hunt’s total of 285 goals in 492 matches helped lay the foundations for the club’s rise from the Second Division to the game’s summit. Only Ian Rush has scored more for the club, which gives some indication of his quality to the many who will never have seen him play.
Liverpool wore black armbands to mark his passing at 83. Jurgen Klopp paid Hunt the honour of awarding him a notional place in today’s team. He was right. Hunt was a tireless grafter who pressed before we had a name for it. He was quick, built like a middleweight and gave the ball a heck of a belt.
His death six months after his Anfield strike partner Ian St John would not have registered with the Super Dragoes in the curva behind the goal but he will get his heartfelt due on Sunday when Liverpool host champions Manchester City.
Covid restrictions in Europe’s most vaccinated country continue to keep seats empty in this modernist concrete bowl. Still, those permitted entry gave the best of themselves during the habitual flag waving ceremony, demonstrating both a love of their team and deep respect for the visitors, one of the grand houses of European club football no matter the monied claims of PSG and City.
The group of mort this certainly is not. What looked an awkward set of fixtures when the draw was made is turning effortlessly routine for Liverpool. The inequalities in a tournament that is supposed to represent a pinnacle were all-too apparent providing Liverpool a suitably stress-free engagement ahead of Sunday’s clash of tectonic plates at Anfield.
The antecedents were not good for Porto, who had failed to register a win in five previous Champions League meetings with Liverpool under Klopp. They were not helped by the loss of Pepe in the warm-up, but that does not excuse the pantomime defending. He’s behind you. No, he really is.
Liverpool were given a harder workout in Brentford, who must have been watching this believing it a realistic goal to bring European football to the Chiswick roundabout. This was played at little more than training ground pace by Liverpool who were two up at the break and when the third went in on the hour, a reprise of the 5-0 rout of four seasons ago in the last 16 seemed a formality.
As it was Liverpool’s own knack for nodding off in recent matches allowed Porto a consolation to scupper the reference. Somehow Liverpool kept it social until the 17th minute when a typically opportunist poke from Mo Salah set them on their way.
It was Salah who initiated the breakthrough with a rapid counter through the middle. The ball was worked left where Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones combined to deliver the ball that evaded keeper Diogo Costa and the left back before bobbling up for Salah to bundle over the line.
Jones continues to impress as he strives to convince Klopp he has the consistency to match his talent. With Harvey Elliott recovering from a fractured ankle and Thiago Alcantara nursing a fragile calf Jones has jumped ahead of the recently rehabilitated Naby Keita in midfield. With Andy Robertson behind and Jota ahead that left side of the park is inviting territory for any with feet as quick and aggressive as his.
Sadio Mane made the most of another desperate muddle to convert James Milner’s cross a minute before the break and Salah ended the idea that this was ever a contest with his second on the hour. He was of course unmarked and simply caressed the ball past the keeper.
Taremi’s goal with 20 minutes remaining, an excellent diving header, was utterly out of context with what had gone before and what was still to come. Costa was now in full Chuckle Brothers mode, coming for a ball he was never going to get and then turning on his heels in a forlorn attempt to keep Robert Firmino’s stroked effort out of his net.
Firmino had a second five minutes later tapping home after Jones had a shot blocked. The time it took VAR to decide it was a legitimate goal made it all the more painful for Porto. With AC Milan and Atletico Madrid drawing in the San Siro, the night got even better for Liverpool, who sit atop the group four points clear of Madrid, who they face next.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3EXd1mG
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