It’s fair to say that Porto has become a happy hunting ground for Liverpool in the Champions League. On three occasions in the last five seasons, the Reds have found themselves making the trip to Portugal to take on FC Porto, and on every occasion they have run out convincing winners, racking up 14 goals and conceding just two.
It’s been a remarkable trio of results, especially when you consider that Porto are usually an extremely difficult side to break down. But something has clicked for Jürgen Klopp men at the Estádio do Dragão, and they have always exerted complete control over their matches there, living up to their favourite status among those who bet on the Champions League. With the team’s 5-1 group stage win fresh in the memory, let’s run through all three of Liverpool’s magnificent wins in Porto.
Porto 0-5 Liverpool, February 2018
When Liverpool drew Porto in the last 16 of the 2017-18 Champions League, it was seen as a favourable match-up for the Reds, but there was certainly no room for complacency. After pipping RB Leipzig and Monaco to reach the knockout stage, Porto would be stiff opposition, but Liverpool blew them away in a blistering display of attacking football.
Wearing their striking luminous orange shirts, Liverpool were a blur at times. They took the lead after 25 minutes when Sadio Mané’s strike squirmed under the body of Porto goalkeeper José Sá. Moments later, Mohamed Salah made it two, tucking the ball away expertly after a scramble in the Porto box.
The Reds seized full control in the second half. Mané scored a further two goals to rack up a hat-trick, whilst Roberto Firmino also got in on the act to make it a night to remember for the travelling Liverpool fans, this was the Reds trio at their devastating best.
Porto 1-4 Liverpool, April 2019
Given the ruthless nature of that performance, Liverpool fans were licking their lips when they drew Porto in the quarter-finals the following season. But this was an even more solid Porto team. They had reached the last eight after knocking out Roma in the last 16 and Liverpool needed to be on their best form to get the job done and prove the Champions League betting tips right.
With a 2-0 lead from the first leg at Anfield in the bag, Klopp’s men went to Porto with a lot of confidence, and put on a dominant display. Mané again found the net at the Dragão, giving Liverpool a 1-0 lead at half-time. Further strikes from Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Firmino sealed the win, with Éder Militão’s goal for Porto just a footnote in the end.
Liverpool were into the semi-finals, and we all know what went on to happen that season!
Porto 1-5 Liverpool, September 2021
The Champions League group-stage draw was not entirely kind to Liverpool this season, pitting them up against Atlético Madrid, AC Milan and, you guessed it, Porto. Having earned a creditable draw against Atlético in their first match, Porto were out for revenge when they welcomed Liverpool, but the game soon turned into a very familiar story for the Portuguese side.
Some poor goalkeeping allowed both Salah and Mané to score in the first-half, and there was only likely to be one winner after that. Salah doubled up in the second half to make it 3-0, and despite Mehdi Taremi’s bullet header, Liverpool were in unstoppable form. Firmino took advantage of some more suspect goalkeeping to notch a brace and seal yet another five-star performance from Liverpool in Porto.
