LFC Forever 2017/18

Liverpool 0 (5-0) 0 Porto

On Monday, yesterday, I couldn't believe it when I went on Liverpool Echo and saw the press confrence was hours away like how has that and the match come around so much.

The u23s have gone down to 2nd, Leicester battered them 4-0.

While that was going on bloody Crystal Palace, Man United happened. Swear it would've gone different if I'd managed to completely avoid it. Was great while it was 2-0, not so much afterwards seeing loads of comments making a big thing of us being back to third rather than celebrating for themselves.

MotM- The Porto fans

(I decided Moreno at one bit, now I can't decide between him, Milner and Henderson, I just loved everything they were doing, especially Moreno keeping the ball in by the flag and his shot so I'll put aside our lot's practice session and give it to the Porto fans, they were bouncing and singing and everything all the way through where as, as far as I could tell our fans were quiet)

I was surprised by the strength and lack of change in the team despite seeing the press conference and knowing Klopp's not gonna lie. City put one of their kids on while 1-0 against Chelsea, we didn't throw any of ours on with a 5-0 safety net. I got so shaky nervous at the start but then I guess I had waited around and built it up so much and anything is possible. It was the commentators saying the ref last refed one where 5 was scored.

Speaking of commentators, I could only get a stream for Fox and oh my god they speak so American, I know they are American so they should do but it made me focus on the match a lot more and try to shut them out a bit. They kept saying that the score was five oh (zero) and every time I heard five all and I'm like what are they on about?!

They also said Salah has gotten so many nicknames like the pharaoh and... the king of Egypt and I was like that's basically the same thing.

I'm so glad my dad was at work for this one because he'd have been complaining SO much. He would've had no patience for the fact that for the most part we were just moving the ball around.

I completely saw this as a game management exercise, how to manage a game to either hold a lead or keep it 0-0 with not too much attention toward going for goal. I mean we did try to score obviously, we're Liverpool. The commentators thought Porto was denying us by sitting back and that but I don't know, I'm pretty sure they didn't try to score more than one goal, never mind 5. It was a strange one already winning 5-0 but not. If it was Porto defending it's all practice for the next match.

It was still so exciting when Mane hit the post. That was the only thing that made me think we would ever score since he likes a miss or two first. Their goalkeeper this time was good, wasn't he? I'm glad he wasn't around for the first leg.

My mum and Mama (maternal grandmother) were watching too and Mama said they all looked foreign so I spent ages pointing out where everyone in the team and the squad was from, being really proud that we have players from so many different places while also pointing out we have a significant chunk of the England squad from the Euros playing for us. It was a bit of an interesting distraction from all the the ball moving the lads were doing.

So good to see Lallana get proper game time and Danny Ings getting subbed on. Mum asked if Ings coming on was a good thing and I was like yeah, but no cos he's been out so long, but we're not gonna score. In that same vein at the end I didn't understand why Salah was brought on and played about 15 minutes. He made it really lively and everything but why not throw on anyone else who isn't so vital for us?! I decided because the fans who go to European nights may be different to the ones at the weekend so they should get to see Salah live too.

Ings was denied his first goal under Klopp by Casillas' long arm as his header looked to be looping in and he got on the end of another Henderson cross but couldn't get power on the header.

Milner and Salah almost managed to swap roles when Milner almost managed to score a header from Salah's cross. He could have had European assist number eight when Mane hit the post or when Lovren headed his free-kick over.

It felt so weird when the whistle blew because obviously woo we're into the next round but oh, we drew this game. I just really hope none of our players feel disappointed in themselves for drawing and not scoring because they already did the hard work and need to keep going with confidence.

The draw for our quarter final team is on the 16th March.

Next up Manchester United, away, Saturday 10th March 2018, 12:30

I saw it was an anniversary of the Kuyt hat trick 3-1 win today and got really confident for the weekend. I don't know whether I've just not been watching sky enough but I don't think I've seen any hype for this one. Has anyone else noticed that?