Liverpool host Porto in the Champions League quarter-final first leg looking to build a crucial lead to take to Portugal next week. We’re live to bring you the latest.
Kick off at Anfield is 8pm, and the referee is Spanish official, Antonio Mateu Lahoz.
This afternoon’s blog is run by Ben Twelves, get involved by Tweeting @thisisanfield, @bm12s & in the comments below.
Teams
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Milner; Fabinho, Henderson, Keita; Salah, Firmino, Mane.
Subs: Mignolet, Matip, Gomez, Wijnaldum, Sturridge, Shaqiri, Origi.
Porto: Casillas; Maxi, Militao, Felipe, Telles; Corona, O.Torres, Danilo, Otavio; Tiquinho, Marega.
Subs: Vana, Hernani, Brahimi, A.Pereira, Andrade, Leite, Costa.
Our coverage updates automatically below:
Thanks for your company!
That’s it for tonight’s live match coverage, thanks as always for joining us on another victorious night for the Reds.
Stay tuned across all our platforms for all the post-match reaction and analysis to the comfortable win – plenty of quality content is already on the way.
Be sure to join us here again on Sunday afternoon as the title run-in resumes with a blockbuster showdown against Chelsea at Anfield.
Before then, enjoy the rest of your week.
Up the Reds!
Big result in London
It's finished Tottenham 1-0 Man City after Son's winner. Shame Spurs couldn't hold on until the Premier League game! At least this result might dent City's confidence.
"Fantastic Firmino gives Reds first-leg lead"
Relive all the action with our on the whistle match report of tonight’s victory, which you can find HERE.
Full-time thoughts
- Good win with a comfortable cushion to take to Portugal
- Excellent first-half did the job
- Professional second-half sees the victory home
- Clean sheet vital but Reds not totally impressive defensively
- Henderson and Keita the standout players, Firmino also very good
- Reds seemed to conserve energy after the break, perhaps with Chelsea in mind
- WE MARCH ON!
FULL-TIME!
Liverpool 2-0 Porto.
First-half goals from Keita and Firmino give the Reds a comfortable cushion to take to Portugal next week.
Stoppage time
Three minutes added on. Can we find a third goal?
Closing stages
Second-half has not been as good as the first, with Liverpool having stepped off the gas. Vital we don't concede an away goal in the final minutes.
VAR
First a Porto penalty appeal is turned down, then Salah seems fortunate to get away with a studs-up challenge. Not sure how that was missed and the Egyptian King is lucky there.
Second Reds sub
Sturridge enters for the final nine minutes of regulation time.
There's been a big goal in London
Son has put Tottenham 1-0 up against City. Would be nice if Spurs held on to dent City's confidence.
Big chance!
Marega runs off the back of Lovren but fires into the Anfield Road end. Thankfully he didn't spot Otavio waiting for a tap-in at the back-post.
Liverpool slightly fortunate to still have a clean sheet tonight.
Final Porto change
Fernando replaces Maxi Pereira for the final 13 minutes.
No messing about from Origi
The Belgian picks the ball up instantly, goes on a driving run from the left and is only stopped by being fouled. Nice injection which hopefully can bring a third goal.
Substitutions
Origi replaces Mane in Liverpool's first change. Porto make a second sub as Oliver Torres makes way for Bruno Costa.
Into the final 20 minutes
Reds remain in control at Anfield but have lost the spark in the final third, giving Porto some encouragement.
Brahimi's influence
The substitute has got straight involved and has brought some sharpness to Porto's play. The Reds are a little flat at the moment.
Porto sub
Brahimi replaces Soares. He will add some extra creativity to the Porto side.
That's better!
Great combination play between Trent and Salah opens Porto up, but the former can't get a shot away. Nice, slick move there. More of that needed.
An hour played
Liverpool haven't really hit the same levels in the first-half since the restart. Need to raise it again and if we can, no doubt more goals will follow.
Good spell for Porto
The visitors sustained some pressure with a couple dangerous balls into the box and a corner.
Liverpool held firm but Porto still look lively.
Defensive uncertainty
The Reds haven't looked settled defensively all night and it continues with a mix-up between Van Dijk and Alisson, followed by some poor clearances.
Really don't want to give Porto a route back in.
Goal disallowed!
Mane volleys in at the back-post from another brilliant Henderson cross, but it's ruled out for offside, confirmed after a check by VAR.
BACK UNDERWAY!
Reds attacking the Kop end, who just gave Casillas a wonderful ovation. Would be great to stick a couple more past him though to get this wrapped up.
In London...
It's goalless between Tottenham and Man City at the break as Aguero missed a penalty.
The goal-scorers
The new Naby
What a completely different prospect Keita looks now he has some confidence and a couple of starts and goals to his name. Looked a class act out there.
Half-time thoughts
- Very pleasing first-half performance in an open contest
- Reds’ energy in midfield has dominated the game
- Keita and Henderson the standout performers
- Salah sharp despite not scoring
- Porto have looked capable of scoring
- Slight concerns defensively with Trent and Lovren disjointed
HALF-TIME
Liverpool 2-0 Porto. Goals from Keita and Firmino give the Reds a comfortable lead.
Stoppage time
One minute added on at the end of the first-half.
Both sides hungry for goals
As soon as possession is won, both teams instantly look to break forward. Get the feel there's more goals in this, potentially at both ends.
Give the ball to Bobby and he will score...
Henderson impressive
The Captain has been excellent so far, with several impressive forward passes, forward runs while using his energy to win the ball back. Once again he looks much better playing higher up.
It should be three!
Henderson breaks from midfield and crosses to the back-post, but Firmino volleys over. Should have done better there.
VAR has spoken!
NO PENALTY! Let off for Liverpool there.
Alisson to the rescue!
Marega breaks in on goal in the box, but Alisson makes the block before a scramble sees the ball hit Trent's arm inside the box. VAR is now involved...
Another great move!
Henderson cuts Porto open to find Trent's marauding run, and the full-back rolls across the box to Bobby who can't miss.
GOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!
BOBBY MAKES IT 2-0!
Room for improvement
It's down our right that Porto are causing problems - they're looking to exploit the space Trent vacates which leaves Lovren isolated. Need to be wary of that.
A man on a mission
Despite the miss, it's been a really good performance from Salah so far. He's been and has fired a couple of efforts on goal. Should get on the score-sheet tonight.
What a miss!
Salah reads a short back-pass, rides a challenge but can only slot wide of the far post. Huge chance for 2-0 goes beginning.
20 minutes played
Porto growing back into this and looking like they have belief that they can score a potentially priceless away goal At the same time, the Reds are cutting through the visitors at will. Open contest.
Big block!
Soares slides in Marega in the box, but Van Dijk gets a great block in. Pefect positioning and marking.
Great work from Salah
Porto break from a corner, but who is tracking back to win the ball back? The Egyptian King. What a man.
The Reds are buzzing
The visitors can't string more than two passes together currently, as Liverpool press to win the ball back with ease.
Good first 10 minutes
Liverpool now in firm control and moving the ball nicely. Salah and Mane both looking threatening, with Keita impressing in midfield.
Naby has arrived
What a start!
Keita's strike inside the box takes a deflection pass Casillas, but it was a great move involving Mane and Firmino after a great pass from Milner to start the attack.
GOOOOOOOAAAALLLLLL!
TWO IN TWO FOR NABY!
Early ambition from Porto
Porto go on the front foot from the off and Danilo flashes an effort wide. Visitors not looking wary or damaged from last season's result launching some early attacks.
KICK-OFF!
Porto get the match underway, with Liverpool kicking towards the Anfield Road end in this first 45 minutes. Come on Reds!
Allez allez allez pic.twitter.com/5c8ZrgswOE
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) April 9, 2019
Welcome back, Joe
Here come the teams!
The two teams emerge from the tunnel with Anfield already in full voice singing Allez, Allez, Allez.
No need for Klopp to call for a big atmosphere tonight! Kick-off now moments away!
Stunning 
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) April 9, 2019
YNWA
pic.twitter.com/G98mTVR01k
Reds need a lead
The main task tonight it all about building an advantage to take to Portugal. Anything more is a bonus, despite last season's events. Take a lead into the second leg and we will reach the semi-finals, IMO.
Reds’ Q-Final record
Liverpool have won 10 of 14 last-eight ties in the European Cup and have progressed from four of the last five – the defeat coming against Chelsea in 2008/09.
Key battle: Maxi vs. Mane
Sadio Mane, if all goes as expected, should be up against veteran right-back Maxi Pereira.
The No.10 should have too much for full-back and Liverpool should give Mane plenty of service to get at Maxi.
Preparations for #LIVPOR are nearly complete.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 9, 2019#UCL pic.twitter.com/TBVBKbUAdD
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