Champions League: The unsung heroes of Liverpool

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The windows of the pubs in the streets around Anfield Stadium were misted. There was not much to see outside except a pair of red and white scarves swung through the air. But there was a lot to hear.

The people who celebrated the 2-0 win in the quarter-final first leg of the Champions League against FC Porto shortly after 23 o'clock local time beer sang their heroes. They sang the song about Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian king, as the text says. They sang the song about Roberto Firmino and that about Virgil Van Dijk.

Naby Keïta did not sing it. Nor does Captain Jordan Henderson.

The two midfielders had marked the game against Porto and once again proved that Liverpool is more than the offensive series from Salah, Firmino and Sadio Mané or the much-vaunted defender Van Dijk. They have shown that the team has a solid foundation. Coach Jürgen Klopp said afterwards that he had seen "many good performances" with his team.

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Keïta was probably the best game since his move to Liverpool for allegedly 60 million euros in the summer. He arrives slowly at Anfield. After his first goal ever for the new employer had succeeded on Friday in the 3-1 in the Premier League against FC Southampton, he brought his team against Porto in the fifth minute with a deflected shot from the edge of the box in the lead.

In the final season phase Keitas works better and better

The goal was not Keïta's only contribution to the victory. He prepared many dangerous actions with good passes to the top and helped with the back. He was found at both penalty rooms. Just as Klopp wishes. "He was a bit unhappy in the first one or two situations a couple of times and today he was fully there from the start", praised the German coach. It is good news for Klopp that Keïta is working better and better - in time for the final phase of the season, in which Liverpool will have to contend for the championship until the end with Manchester City, despite losing only one league game.

Henderson has been around for a while. He has often shown how important he is as a stabilizer in the middle of the field and as an emotional leader. In the first knockout round tie against FC Bayern at Anfield (0-0) he was the best man in his team. Against Porto, he played in a more offensive role than usual and led Firminos 2: 0 in the 26th minute with a nice pass on the right wing.

Henderson is a "brilliant player," says Klopp

Klopp had to laugh when he was asked after the game if he had deliberately demanded such action from his captain. "It would be cool if I could tell my players: Play those passes, and then we'll meet right away - he's a brilliant player and I'm glad he showed that," the coach said of Henderson.

Carl Recine / REUTERS

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson (l.) In a duel with Porto's Yacine Brahimi

In addition to the individual performances of his pros Klopp was also satisfied with the outcome of the game. "2: 0 is a very, very good result, I would have bought that before," he said. It had looked like the two early goals as if an even higher victory was possible. Maybe even a 5-0, as in the first knockout round first leg of last season against the same opponent, then away.

But after a very active first half, Liverpool offered a rather passive second and focused with the progress of the game on avoiding a goal that would have complicated the starting position for the return leg next week Wednesday (21 clock, live ticker SPIEGEL ONLINE). That succeeded. Fortunately, Liverpool had no red card after Salah's fierce entry into Porto's captain Danilo in the closing stages.

For Klopp's team, the gameplay was a welcome change. Most recently, she needed several times until just before the end to secure the victory, with late goals against Fulham, Tottenham and Southampton. Against Porto she completed the job early by the two goals in the first half and could save strength for the fight for the championship, where on Sunday (17.30 clock, live ticker SPIEGEL ONLINE) the next heavy stage is pending. Then Chelsea is a guest at Anfield.