How about some ratings? Hmmm? Oh, very well.
That was most enjoyable. Another clean sheet and another devastating display of fast, ruthless counter-attacking football.
Karius (7) Had almost nothing to do. Alert to what little threat there was, and kicked quickly and accurately for the most part.
TAA (7) I know everyone talks about Europe being a "big stage" and all that shit, but TAA has played better teams than this already, and faced better players. He had a slightly tentative start, then remembered that, and played accordingly. Solid, confident and safe, he had the pace and skill to deal with the Porto winger.
Lovren (8) Seems to enjoy having a dominant, alpha-male partner next to him. Won everything in the air and on the ground, and was aggressive throughout.
Virgil (8) A couple of nerve-jangling moments, but largely an oasis of calm authority. Seems to have added some kind of +5 defensive buff (one for the kids there) to the entire defence. Top dog.
Robertson (8) It's great to see a milky-white, gingery Scot playing so well in a Liverpool team. It's been a long time. He isn't perhaps the most silky, easy on the eye, Rolls-Royce player, but who cares. Just like someone who lives or works in the countryside won't buy a BMW X%, but instead knows the Subaru or Mitsubishi will be far better, and get the job done more reliably. He never stops moving, rarely wastes a pass, and doesn't do anything stupid. Class.
Milner (8) Another of Liverpool's more agricultural-looking players and how wonderful it was to watch. Never gave Porto a second to rest, and crashed into tackles all over the pitch. They must have felt like they were in John Carpenter's Halloween; every time they looked up he was there, expressionless, remorseless and killing any chance they had to survive the tie.
Henderson (7) Ran about chucking water over any fires they tried to start. Efficient, simple and alert.
Wijnaldum (7) With Henderson and Milner scaring up possession and shutting down attacks. Wijnaldum joined in happily, shuttling the ball around the pitch and driving play forward. Porto simply could not wrest any control from the three of them.
Salah (9) Another irrepressible display of pace, movement, amazing control and a dead-eyed accuracy. His goal was beautiful and arrogant and perfect.
Firmino (9) Non-stop and all-action. He rarely gives anything less, but what he has added to his game this season is a more consistent end product and goals. Clinical finish.
Mane (10) Wonderful to see him back to his exhilarating best, full of pace, menace and goals. Brilliant.