Liverpool have taken control of their Champions League quarter-final tie with Porto courtesy of a 2-0 victory in the first leg at Anfield on Tuesday.
The Reds – who beat the same opponents 5-0 on aggregate in the round-of-16 last season – looked like they could be on course for a similar rout when Naby Keita gave them the lead after only five minutes.
Roberto Firmino then doubled that advantage before the half-hour mark as Liverpool cruised to a comfortable victory that leaves them on course for a second consecutive semi-final, crucially avoiding conceding an away goal in the process.
Liverpool’s main focus for much of the second half appeared to be keeping their clean sheet intact and they comfortably saw out the win without shipping what could have been a damaging away goal.
The Reds will travel to the Estadio do Dragao for the second leg next Wednesday, but only after another crucial match in their Premier League title challenge as Chelsea visit Anfield on Sunday.
Porto are also involved in a top-of-the-table tussle which looks set to go down to the wire, with only goal difference separating them from leaders Benfica ahead of Saturday’s visit to Portimonense.
In the other quarter-final fixture, Tottenham Hotspur registered a 1-0 win over Manchester City at the White Hart Lane.
Son Heung-min scored the only goal of the game 12 minutes from time.
Harry Kane suffered an ankle ligament injury in the encounter and look set for a spell on the sidelines.
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