Porto 0-5 Liverpool: What the papers said

Sadio Mane netted a hat-trick, Mohamed Salah made it 30 goals for the season and Roberto Firmino was also on the mark.

Read the best reaction to a great result for Jürgen Klopp's side in our press round-up below.

Melissa Reddy, Goal.com

If Salah wasn’t enough of a conundrum for Sergio Conceicao’s side to solve, there was also the menace and mastery of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino to contend with. The former fired in a hat-trick, with the Brazilian finishing Porto off in a 5-0 triumph - the largest margin of victory ever for an English team away from home in the knockout rounds of the tournament.

For all that has been said about the Senegal star not being at his apex, he has contributed 12 goals this season - one short of his haul in the previous campaign. He has more assists (eight) than he managed in 2016-17 (five). Mane remains devastating, instrumental and a differential even on occasions when he doesn't match his supreme standards.

In a city famed for architecture, the Merseysiders ruthlessly unveiled their plans to provide a knockout punch in Europe. Their tally of 28 goals in the Champions League so far this season has not been bettered by any other team and it’s easy to see the benchmark being further elevated given the aggressive brilliance of their in-sync trio. Liverpool's cannonry have now struck 19 times between them, making them the most prolific forward line in the competition. They do not just roll over the opposition, they roll up their sleeves too.

James Pearce, Liverpool Echo

Liverpool didn't just announce their presence back on the big stage after a nine-year absence from the Champions League knockout rounds. Jurgen Klopp's side issued a booming statement which will reverberate across the continent. The road which leads to Kiev in May promises to be some journey. Of course tougher tests lie ahead but Klopp's relentless attacking machine, which has plundered 99 goals already this season, will take some stopping.

Porto, top of the Portuguese Premier League and unbeaten domestically, were the victims of a ruthless demolition job as they endured the heaviest home defeat in their European history. The Reds' front three ran riot. It was men against boys. Sadio Mane led the way with the first hat-trick of his Liverpool career, while Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino also got in on the act.

They just keep on rewriting the record books. Salah became the second fastest Liverpool player in history to reach the 30-goal mark – only George Allan in 1896 got there quicker. Mane ensured that Michael Owen is no longer the only man to have bagged an away treble for the Reds in Europe. For all the talk of the Senegal international not being at the same level as last term he now boasts 12 goals for the season – just one less than in 2016-17. He has played his way back into form.

Andy Hunter, The Guardian

How Liverpool’s forward line would cope without the creative industry of Philippe Coutinho remained a legitimate question on their return to the Champions League stage. By taking it in turns to inflict the heaviest home defeat on Porto in their rich European history was the emphatic answer. The highest scoring team in Europe’s premier competition will be one to avoid in the quarter-finals that beckon.

Sadio Mané struck a hat-trick, Roberto Firmino polished an immaculate display with a goal and Mohamed Salah claimed his 30th of the season as Jürgen Klopp’s side demolished the Portuguese league leaders. Salah became the second-fastest player in Liverpool’s history to reach the 30-goal milestone, only George Allan got there quicker than his 36 games, as the visitors also became the second highest goalscorers away from home in any Champions League campaign. Porto were simply steam-rollered.

Mark Critchley, Independent

It was as if they had never been away. This might have been Liverpool's first appearance in the last-16 of the Champions League for nine years but Jürgen Klopp's side showed no signs of ring-rustiness, eviscerating a limited Porto outfit to all but secure passage into the last eight. Five unanswered away goals – three from the boot of Sadio Mané plus one each for Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, who scored his 30th of the season –  have effectively snuffed out any hint of competition in what, after December's draw, was thought to be an evenly-matched tie.

Firmino eventually got himself in on the act 69 minutes in, converting Milner’s daisy-cutting cross from the left with a well-taken finish. It meant that Klopp’s side became the top scorers of this short Champions League campaign so far, with 27 goals to their name. There was still time for a 28th. In the final five minutes, Mané ensured he would take the match ball home, beating Sa with a thunderous strike from distance after a quick exchange of possession with substitute Danny Ings. It was another spectacular goal, and the climax Liverpool’s emphatic return to the latter stages of this competition deserved.

Glenn Price, ESPN

It's almost a certainty that Liverpool will reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2009, and with the devastating nature of their front three, there is every possibility that their European adventure doesn't end there this season either. Five away goals at the Estadio do Dragao have Liverpool fans dreaming anything is possible with Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane at hand.

It was a night where Salah scored his 30th goal of the season in all competitions, but he was overshadowed by Mane's hat trick that took his tally to 12. But don't forget the tireless efforts of Firmino, too, who scored Liverpool's fourth. In total, Liverpool have scored 28 times in Europe's premier cup competition in 2017-18 -- more than any other team -- and they aren't showing any signs of slowing down.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.