Fantastic performance from the Reds.
Eamon Dunphy and his fellow RTE panellists were full of praise for Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp’s side demolished Porto 5-0 in Estádio do Dragão in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
Dunphy called Liverpool’s ruthless attacking display “outstanding” after a hat-trick from Sadio Mane and goals from Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino put the tie to bed after the first leg.
“It was a great performance from a lot of players, and collectively.”
Dunphy added: “Mane with a hat-trick, Milner was really good, Firmino was really good, Salah was amazing. To see a Premier League club go there and do that, when you put it together with Spurs against Juventus – we used to sit here for years until recently saying ‘the Premier League is overrated, and over-hyped’ but now, two nights back-to-back, we have had outstanding performances.
“That was an outstanding performance by Liverpool.”
Former Ireland international Richie Sadlier was also impressed with how the Reds went about their business on Wednesday night.
“It was a thoroughly dominant performance,” the former Millwall man said.
“You can imagine the level of confidence in that dressing room. We discussed beforehand the merits of Klopp’s comments that beating Man City made them a contender to win the Champions League, but winning away from home in the knockout stages so thoroughly, that dressing room must be a nice place to be tonight.”
Both Sadlier and Dunphy were uncertain when they were asked if Liverpool could go far in the competition, highlighting the back four Klopp’s side has as the team’s achilles heel.
Liam Brady, however, was more optimistic, saying the Reds “are a good outside bet.”
The second leg takes place on March 6th at Anfield.
Written by Sam McKeever.
85' Sadio Mane completes his hat-trick with a peach of a strike from outside the box Porto 0-5 Liverpool https://t.co/FLIoa87crF #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/W7x16v534Y
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) February 14, 2018
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