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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Xherdan Shaqiri's new snub, Torres makes Anfield mark and other Liverpool moments missed vs Porto

Liverpool took control of their Champions League quarter-final against Porto with a comfortable victory in the first leg on Tuesday night.

Naby Keita opened the scoring with a deflected shot before Roberto Firmino earned the Reds a 2-0 win.

The result means Jurgen Klopp's side are in a strong position for the return game in Portugal next Wednesday.

But there was plenty that went unnoticed or under the radar during the 90 minutes at Anfield.

Shaqiri snubbed again

Xherdan Shaqiri arriving before the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg match between Liverpool and Porto (John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

If the ECHO readership figures are anything to go by, a lot of Liverpool fans are obsessed with Xherdan Shaqiri.

Or more pointedly, any reasons that speculate as to why the Swiss hasn't been playing.

Shaqiri hasn't featured since coming off the bench at Manchester United on February 24, so would have been itching for action when stood on the touchline ready to come on during injury time against Porto.

Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz had other ideas, though, and blew for full time before the substitution could be made. Maybe next time, Xherdan.

Torres makes mark at Anfield once more

Porto's Oliver Torres vies with Liverpool's Naby Keita (PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Mention the name Torres at Anfield, and instantly visions of goal after goal spring to mind.

Mention the name Torres at Anfield on Tuesday, and instantly visions of one thing come to mind.

It isn't a goal. In fact, Porto midfielder Torres - Oliver, that is, not Fernando - somehow managed to fire in a shot from 25 yards out that not only went out for a throw in, it ended up behind where he was stood.

That, people, is rare talent.

Salah goes leftfield

It wasn't so much a moment missed, but certainly one that deserves greater attention.

Liverpool had a corner in the second half when, suddenly, Porto were on the counter-attack.

Mohamed Salah, though, had seen the problem and sprinted back into the left-back position with the same pace that saw him home in on the Southampton goal on Friday.

The Egyptian then made the block and carried the ball clear until winning a free-kick. Well played, Mo.

VAR-ce

Slightly less well played was Salah's tackle on Danilo that still photos suggested should have at least been a yellow card.

VAR deemed any action unnecessary. But the lack of a video screen inside Anfield meant supporters barely had a clue what was going on.

Keep up to date with all the reaction to Liverpool's win against Porto here

Not least during that passage of play with VAR also checking and dismissing a handball call against Dejan Lovren.

George Sephton, given the onerous task of informing the crowd as to what was happening, later informed a bemused crowd that a VAR check they didn't even know was happening had given the all clear. "To what?!?" was the almost universal Anfield response. Quite.

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