Porto, undefeated in the Primeira Liga this season conceding only ten goals, were blown away by a rampant Liverpool team in which Sadio Mane netted his first hat-trick in a Liverpool shirt.

Porto started brightly with Otavio going close in the ninth minute, when he was picked out by Moussa Marega, but his shot was deflected over the bar by Dejan Lovren.

A quarter-of-an-hour later the floodgates opened as Porto keeper José Sá failed to keep out a Sadio Mane shot which slipped under his body.

Minutes later a Milner shot cannoned off the post and the Egyptian super striker Salah was on hand to magically juggle the ball over keeper Sá before making it 2-0.

Eight minutes after the break Mane added his second and it soon became four as Firmino slotted home after latching on to Milner’s low cross.

The stadium was half empty by the time Mane completed the rout, and his hat-trick, five minutes from time.

The 5-0 victory should make the second-leg a formality at Anfield on the 6th March. Liverpool fans will be hoping that this could be their year to lift the trophy. The Reds had only won twice before on Portugal soil – against Benfica in 1978 and 1984 – and on each occasion went on to win the trophy.