Liverpool against FC Porto

Dirk Kuyt comes on for the closing stages in place of Babel.

Stepanov handles inside the box and gives STEVEN GERRARD the chance to put the game out of reach of Porto. He sends Helton the wrong way from the spot and the game is done and dusted.

GOAL: LIVERPOOL 3-1 PORTO

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL.

Helder Postiga comes on for the holding midfielder Assuncao as Porto aim for an equaliser. They've only got 10 minutes to find one now, though.

Torres finds Babel who cuts in from the right and drills a low left-foot shot into the arms of Helton. Liverpool right in the mood now.

FERNANDO TORRES' persistance gets him beyond Alves and he clips his effort beyond the keeper. It was a fine run from Kewell that set up the chance and Torres expertly drove the finish home.

GOAL: LIVERPOOL 2-1 PORTO

Porto make a change as Liverpool prepare the corner. Sektioui comes on for Gonzalez.

Porto are back in numbers having to contend with a barrage of crosses and shots. Kewell hits a volley that takes a deflection and goes behind for a corner.

Meireles likes a shot from range but his latest effort thrashes into the advertising hoardings.

Liverpool increase the tempo and get the crowd roaring. A couple of neat touches from Crouch has got the crowd to their feet and Gerrard is breaking at every opportunity.

Marseille have equalised in their game with Besiktas. That's not great news for Liverpool but good news for Porto.

Here he comes. Benayoun comes off and the big man is on to try and rescue this game.

Crouch warms up on the sidelines and looks a cert to come on.

Porto starting to build in confidence and win a corner thanks to substitute Meireles. The set piece fails to beat the first man, though. Poor.

Gerrard skies an effort from 20 yards. He had time and space and will be disappointed that he didn't make the keeper work.

Porto opt to change things around with Raul Meireles coming on for Kaz.

It looks like Kewell is joining Torres up front. How must Crouch be feeling?

Here comes the change with Voronin making way for Kewell.

Gerrard fails to beat the first man and Porto clear again.

Liverpool win a corner but Babel wastes it by hitting it too deep. Gerrard retrieves it, though, and wins another.

Liverpool need a spark and there could well be changes with Harry Kewell prepped and ready on the sidelines.

The game is starting to become stretched now and gaps are opening up in the centre of the park. If Quaresma could hold on to the ball for more than 10 seconds Porto might have had a few more opportunities.

A few groans and moans around Anfield as Benayoun and Babel get caught out around the opposition box.

Scratchy start to the half with neither side able to stamp their class or authority on the game. Needs a spark from someone.

Torres squares for Benayoun who had all the time in the world to deliver a shot but he cuts across it and slashes it well wide. Decent chance, poor miss.

Signs that Liverpool and Gerrard are starting to get impatient. The Reds skipper is looking for the glory pass but it's not coming off for him so far.

Poor passing again is littering the half. Both sides struggling to find their rythmn this half.

Stepanov gets there ahead of Hyypia to clear and Porto survive another corner.

Liverpool continue to press and win a corner.

Liverpool, and particularly Benayoun, have sprung out of the traps this half. A neatly worked free-kick almost presents Voronin with a free header. Porto do well to clear.

Here we go then. Liverpool need to win to keep qualification in the next stage. Porto restart.

HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-1 PORTO

Torres almost sneaks in on a poor back pass. There's contact between Alves and the striker, but not enough for the referee to give a penalty.

There's such a difference in Porto's appetite since the goal. They're spraying the ball around with ease and flair now and it's Liverpool who have to sit back and admire.

Gerrard hits a piledriver from all of 35 yards. It moves away at the last moment and drifts wide of the post. Stunning effort.

The visitors had hardly posed a threat until their goal and Liverpool have opened the door and let them right back in. Panic stations in the Liverpool defence.

Reina clears well from the corner but Porto are dominant now.

Liverpool have been run ragged since the goal and Cech fires in an effort that takes a deflection and wins them a corner.

Horrendous miss from the goalscorer Lopez. He beat the offside trap but couldn't produce a finish to match his fine run and his effort drops inches wide of the upright.

Porto survive as Torres dallies and gives Alves time to get back and make a crucial clearance.

An unlikely equaliser from a superb header from LISANDRO LOPEZ. He stretched and was falling away but still managed to direct his header beyond the helpless Reina.

GOAL: PORTO 1-1 LIVERPOOL

Porto are really struggling to pick up red shirts. Torres is peeling off left and right and the latest break sees Stepanov make an important block on Benayoun who had got well forward.

They deal with the corner better than the previous one as Helton comes out to confidently gather the danger.

Important challenge from Cech halts Babel on the edge of the box. Finnan picks up the pieces and wins a corner for Liverpool.

Further good news for Liverpool as Besiktas take the lead against Marseille.

So far, so good for the Torres, Voronin partnership. Both have looked dangerous going forward, particularly the Spaniard who has broke through on three occassions.

It's all Liverpool now as Porto look to dig in and gather themselves after falling behind. Still plenty of space for Liverpool's midfield and forwards to exploit.

Nice spell this for Liverpool. They're passing it about between them and keeping the ball well. The confidence is up now.

The Liverpool fans are buzzing now. The game had threatened to go back into his shell but Torres' strike has brought it back to life.

Porto were starting to look lax and unsettled before the goal and their frailties in the back line were exposed from the corner for the goal.

FERNANDO TORRES picks his spot with a simple header from close in after a Gerrard corner. The marking was woeful and the Spaniard took full advantage.

GOAL: LIVERPOOL 1-0 PORTO

The tempo has settled after that early burst of enthusiasm. Torres is chancing his arm against the Porto back line and looks a threat to the visitors.

Quaresma whips in a free-kick from the right but it's too high and too long for Kaz who was lurking at the back stick.

The passing hasn't been up to scratch so far. The surface us quite greasy and more than a few passes are going astray.

Couple of sloppy mistakes from both sides make for a scrappy five minutes. Mascherano leaves Quaresma in a heap but nothing doing from the referee.

Another chance for Liverpool - this time it falls to the head of Voronin who can't get enough purchase on the effort and Helton gathers the looped header.

Up the other end and Quaresma sees his low tame effort drag wide of the post when Porto had numbers forward.

Torres breaks through from deep and goes on a solo run through the defence. He's forced slightly wide and his shot can only find Helton's gloves.

Porto look as though they're here for goals too. There's no sitting back and getting settled - they're on the front foot too.

Positive start for Liverpool. They look spritely and confident going forward but no clear chances yet.

Half a shout for a penalty as Benayoun's scuffed shot appears to strike Alves on the arm. The referee waves play on, though.

Marseille are out in Istanbul playing Besiktas in the other game in this group. It's 0-0 there and Liverpool could do with getting a favour from the Turks.

Many of those fans will be wondering what Peter Crouch has to do to get into this Liverpool side. Voronin is preferred once again despite Crouch's fine form.

Ahead of this critical tie, 2,000 fans marched from a nearby pub in support of Benitez, while banners and flags backing the Spaniard filled the Kop. Feelings are running high on both sides of the Atlantic.

Porto have got plenty of attacking threats in their line-up and know that a win for them would take them through.

Liverpool have never beaten a Portuguese side in the Champions League but that will need to change tonight. They won't go out if they don't win, but face an almighty struggle of making it through if they don't.

Liverpool get us under way.

Kick off is minutes away and both sides are taking in the Anfield raucus atmosphere.

Porto, who needed one point to be sure of qualifying for the last 16, showed five changes from the side which caused so many problems for Liverpool in the group's opening match back in September.

Andriy Voronin, Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel, none of whom were in the starting line-up on Saturday at Newcastle, were recalled to the side, as was Javier Mascherano in midfield.

Under-pressure Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez went for an attacking line-up for his side's vital Champions League Group A clash with pool leaders Porto.

Liverpool desperately need a win here tonight. They're up against Porto who can qualify with a win at Anfield. The Reds' campaign thus far has stuttered along and now they need two wins from their remaining to fixtures to go through.

Porto starting to build in confidence and win a corner thanks to substitute Meireles. The set piece fails to beat the first man, though. Poor.

Gerrard skies an effort from 20 yards. He had time and space and will be disappointed that he didn't make the keeper work.

Porto opt to change things around with Raul Meireles coming on for Kaz.

It looks like Kewell is joining Torres up front. How must Crouch be feeling?

Here comes the change with Voronin making way for Kewell.

Gerrard fails to beat the first man and Porto clear again.

Liverpool win a corner but Babel wastes it by hitting it too deep. Gerrard retrieves it, though, and wins another.

Liverpool need a spark and there could well be changes with Harry Kewell prepped and ready on the sidelines.

The game is starting to become stretched now and gaps are opening up in the centre of the park. If Quaresma could hold on to the ball for more than 10 seconds Porto might have had a few more opportunities.

A few groans and moans around Anfield as Benayoun and Babel get caught out around the opposition box.

Scratchy start to the half with neither side able to stamp their class or authority on the game. Needs a spark from someone.

Torres squares for Benayoun who had all the time in the world to deliver a shot but he cuts across it and slashes it well wide. Decent chance, poor miss.

Signs that Liverpool and Gerrard are starting to get impatient. The Reds skipper is looking for the glory pass but it's not coming off for him so far.

Poor passing again is littering the half. Both sides struggling to find their rythmn this half.

Stepanov gets there ahead of Hyypia to clear and Porto survive another corner.

Liverpool continue to press and win a corner.

Liverpool, and particularly Benayoun, have sprung out of the traps this half. A neatly worked free-kick almost presents Voronin with a free header. Porto do well to clear.

Here we go then. Liverpool need to win to keep qualification in the next stage. Porto restart.

HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-1 PORTO

Torres almost sneaks in on a poor back pass. There's contact between Alves and the striker, but not enough for the referee to give a penalty.

There's such a difference in Porto's appetite since the goal. They're spraying the ball around with ease and flair now and it's Liverpool who have to sit back and admire.

Gerrard hits a piledriver from all of 35 yards. It moves away at the last moment and drifts wide of the post. Stunning effort.

The visitors had hardly posed a threat until their goal and Liverpool have opened the door and let them right back in. Panic stations in the Liverpool defence.

Reina clears well from the corner but Porto are dominant now.

Liverpool have been run ragged since the goal and Cech fires in an effort that takes a deflection and wins them a corner.

Horrendous miss from the goalscorer Lopez. He beat the offside trap but couldn't produce a finish to match his fine run and his effort drops inches wide of the upright.

Porto survive as Torres dallies and gives Alves time to get back and make a crucial clearance.

An unlikely equaliser from a superb header from LISANDRO LOPEZ. He stretched and was falling away but still managed to direct his header beyond the helpless Reina.

GOAL: PORTO 1-1 LIVERPOOL

Porto are really struggling to pick up red shirts. Torres is peeling off left and right and the latest break sees Stepanov make an important block on Benayoun who had got well forward.

They deal with the corner better than the previous one as Helton comes out to confidently gather the danger.

Important challenge from Cech halts Babel on the edge of the box. Finnan picks up the pieces and wins a corner for Liverpool.

Further good news for Liverpool as Besiktas take the lead against Marseille.

So far, so good for the Torres, Voronin partnership. Both have looked dangerous going forward, particularly the Spaniard who has broke through on three occassions.

It's all Liverpool now as Porto look to dig in and gather themselves after falling behind. Still plenty of space for Liverpool's midfield and forwards to exploit.

Nice spell this for Liverpool. They're passing it about between them and keeping the ball well. The confidence is up now.

The Liverpool fans are buzzing now. The game had threatened to go back into his shell but Torres' strike has brought it back to life.

Porto were starting to look lax and unsettled before the goal and their frailties in the back line were exposed from the corner for the goal.

FERNANDO TORRES picks his spot with a simple header from close in after a Gerrard corner. The marking was woeful and the Spaniard took full advantage.

GOAL: LIVERPOOL 1-0 PORTO

The tempo has settled after that early burst of enthusiasm. Torres is chancing his arm against the Porto back line and looks a threat to the visitors.

Quaresma whips in a free-kick from the right but it's too high and too long for Kaz who was lurking at the back stick.

The passing hasn't been up to scratch so far. The surface us quite greasy and more than a few passes are going astray.

Couple of sloppy mistakes from both sides make for a scrappy five minutes. Mascherano leaves Quaresma in a heap but nothing doing from the referee.

Another chance for Liverpool - this time it falls to the head of Voronin who can't get enough purchase on the effort and Helton gathers the looped header.

Up the other end and Quaresma sees his low tame effort drag wide of the post when Porto had numbers forward.

Torres breaks through from deep and goes on a solo run through the defence. He's forced slightly wide and his shot can only find Helton's gloves.

Porto look as though they're here for goals too. There's no sitting back and getting settled - they're on the front foot too.

Positive start for Liverpool. They look spritely and confident going forward but no clear chances yet.

Half a shout for a penalty as Benayoun's scuffed shot appears to strike Alves on the arm. The referee waves play on, though.

Marseille are out in Istanbul playing Besiktas in the other game in this group. It's 0-0 there and Liverpool could do with getting a favour from the Turks.

Many of those fans will be wondering what Peter Crouch has to do to get into this Liverpool side. Voronin is preferred once again despite Crouch's fine form.

Ahead of this critical tie, 2,000 fans marched from a nearby pub in support of Benitez, while banners and flags backing the Spaniard filled the Kop. Feelings are running high on both sides of the Atlantic.

Porto have got plenty of attacking threats in their line-up and know that a win for them would take them through.

Liverpool have never beaten a Portuguese side in the Champions League but that will need to change tonight. They won't go out if they don't win, but face an almighty struggle of making it through if they don't.

Liverpool get us under way.

Kick off is minutes away and both sides are taking in the Anfield raucus atmosphere.

Porto, who needed one point to be sure of qualifying for the last 16, showed five changes from the side which caused so many problems for Liverpool in the group's opening match back in September.

Andriy Voronin, Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel, none of whom were in the starting line-up on Saturday at Newcastle, were recalled to the side, as was Javier Mascherano in midfield.

Under-pressure Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez went for an attacking line-up for his side's vital Champions League Group A clash with pool leaders Porto.

Liverpool desperately need a win here tonight. They're up against Porto who can qualify with a win at Anfield. The Reds' campaign thus far has stuttered along and now they need two wins from their remaining to fixtures to go through.