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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in 'broken leg' jibe as Porto president turns on Champions League officials

Porto president Pinto da Costa believes his team were harshly treated in their Champions League defeat at Liverpool - and Mohamed Salah was lucky not to break Danilo Pereira's leg.

The Reds have taken control of their quarter-final against their Portuguese rivals having won the first leg 2-0 at Anfield on Tuesday night.

Salah was involved in one of several flashpoints when, towards the end of the match, he caught Danilo above the ankle with his studs when challenging for possession.

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Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz opted not to show the Egyptian a card while VAR decided there was no reason to ask the official to further review the incident.

Danilo was able to play on, but Da Costa said: "Danilo has to give thanks to God because this is a tackle to break a leg, it is not to take the ball.

"I thank God for it not having broken his leg."

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Da Costa was also unhappy at the officials and VAR refusing to award Porto at least one penalty at Anfield.

"All we want is equal treatment for all," he said. "Look at the tackle where Felipe saw yellow and then this one on Danilo. We're lucky Danilo isn't on his way to hospital.

"There was a penalty that wasn't given, there was a handball, there was another where Felipe is grabbed."

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool challenges Danilo Pereira of FC Porto (Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Liverpool won through goals from Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino but managed only one further shot on target.

And Da Costa believes Porto can turn the tie around at the Estadio do Dragao next Wednesday.

"Casillas did not have much to do, today he was off duty. We can score two goals against Liverpool. The first goal was the first time Liverpool went upfield, and it was a deflection."

Danilo himself added: "The result is bad, but it’s still wide open. Next week we play at home and we are perfectly capable of scoring two goals.

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“We started well, but the goal shook us a little. The goal was against the run of play.

"Worse was conceding the second goal, but in the second half we responded very well. When we attacked Liverpool we caused them lots of problems.”

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