Operation Porto accomplished.
In the their first appearance in the Champions League Round of 16 since 2009, Liverpool traveled to Portugal for a European midweek match. The Reds announced their return in style, pounding the home side 5-0 at the Estádio de Dragão.
Despite Porto having avoided defeat for 24 straight matches, Liverpool stamped that streak with authority, announcing to the rest of Europe that their return to the competition is no fluke.
All three front men scored in a performance that started deliberately, with Liverpool growing in dominance as play progressed.
Sadio Mané put the visitors in front, slotting a shot underneath the goalkeeper with the benefit of a slick surface. It was the result of the Reds grabbing the game and gradually imposing themselves on it with greater force. Moments later, Mo Salah made a show of the goalkeeper as he kept the ball in the air with three touches before finishing off the circus-style move.
After the break, Mané pounced on a Roberto Firmino rebound, all but ending the contest, but the Reds were far from finished. Firmino eventually found the net. Yet, Mané would end things with an emphatic finish for the hat-trick. Even more impressive, Liverpool looked like they need not even go through all the gears as they put proceedings out of reach, making the second-leg at Anfield a mere requirement.
Here are four findings from the match.
