Liverpool FC have made a perfect start to the Champions League season: A narrow 3-2 win over AC Milan was followed by a goal festival in Porto – again.
You could be forgiven for thinking that the Estadio do Dragao in the eastern centre of Porto is the Reds’ home fortress. Jürgen Klopp’s team won 5-0 in February 2018 and 4-1 in April 2019 at the 50,000-seater arena. However, the home team on each occasion was FC Porto and they disgraced themselves once again in front of their own fans on Tuesday night – 1-5.
“I really don’t know what the secret is,” said double-poacher Mohamed Salah, who had already scored once in each of Porto’s other two games, about the good run at the stadium on the Atlantic coast, adding jokingly: “Maybe we should play our home games here. We managed to pull off our game, everything went according to plan. “
It was a very special one for his captain Jordan Henderson, who played his 400th competitive game for LFC against Porto. “It’s an honour every time to play in this jersey. To have made it 400 times is pretty special, but I think I still have a lot to achieve,” the 31-year-old midfielder said after the game.
“Fantastic”: Jones sets up three goals
Henderson had particular words of praise for his midfield partner and latest starting eleven colleague. The 20-year-old Curtis Jones put in a strong performance and set up three goals. “Curtis did fantastic,” Henderson praised him. “I know he’s so young on paper but you get the feeling he’s been playing in the first team for a few years now. I think he’s settled in well and matured very well. “
“You get the feeling he’s been playing in the first team for a couple of years now. “
JORDAN HENDERSON ON CURTIS JONES
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp also had nothing but words of praise after the final whistle. That his team remained without a clean sheet after the disappointing 3-3 draw against promoted Brentford did not upset the 54-year-old, because: “Defensively we played a great game today, so it’s not bad that we conceded a goal. Goals happen, and I’m not the type to just focus on that situation and forget everything else. “