Champions League

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JOB done for Pep Guardiola as Manchester City secured top spot in their group.
But it was a night that summed up their frustrating season so far as once again they failed to turn their total domination into goals.

Gabriel Jesus had a late goal ruled out by VAR as Man City drew 0-0 at PortoCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Bernardo Silva was offside in the build-up as City secured top spot in their groupCredit: Getty Images – Getty

City should have won at a canter but found home keeper Augustin Marchesin in outstanding form.
Guardiola said at the weekend that despite their 5-0 win over Burnley, he needs his forwards Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus to be scoring goals.
Well both ended the night empty handed once again – thanks to a combination of the Porto number one and the VAR.
Still, the positive for Pep is that he can give his players a rest next week when they face Marseilles.a t the Etihad.

And how important could that be with the Manchester derby at Old Trafford looming just three days later?
While City’s qualification for the knock-out stages was already secure, Porto just needed a point to join them in the last 16.
And that was clear right from the start with Sergio Conceicao’s side happy to sit deep and let the visitors try to break them down.
Porto had caused City problems when they met at the Etihad back in October but they showed little ambition here.

Raheem Sterling had a good game in Portugal on Tuesday nightCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Ferran Torres came close to scoring for City after starting up frontCredit: AP:Associated Press

Yet their gameplan was almost smoked when defender Malang Sarr slid in and appeared to take the legs of Sterling in the box.
Dutch ref Bjorn Kuipers did not see an offence and – perhaps surprisingly – the VAR did not feel it warranted a spot-kick either.
A sweeping counter attack from City saw Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden link up to create a chance for Ferran Torres but Augustin Marchesin got down well to deny him.
The Porto keeper did not have many shots to save – but was having a busy night all the same. In the first half he had more touches of the ball than any of his team-mates.
City were looking to secure the point they needed to ensure top spot in the group – but were perhaps lacking their usual cutting edge.

City were tight at the back but lacking going forwardCredit: Reuters

Ederson was called into action on a couple of occasions Credit: AFP OR LICENSORS
Bernardo pulled out a rabona to sling over a cross from the right but it did not quite drop for Sterling  on the edge of the box.
A ball over the top from Fernandinho – who was starting his first game in two months after injury – put Sterling clear but the ball would not drop and Sarr was able to get a boot in.
The England ace had not scored in five games before this and looked determined to put that right.
He jinked in from the left hand side and sent over a low cross-shot which was dummied by Fernandinho but hoofed off the line by Zaidu Sanusi.
The home side were still not showing much ambition – but were defending for their lives and were willing to use any method of stopping the visitors.
The best chance of the night came just before the hour as Foden’s great ball set Sterling clear but Marchesin was out quickly to deny him.

Bernardo Silva impressed upon his return to PortugalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Pep Guardiola will have been hoping for the win despite sealing top Credit: AP:Associated Press
The rebound fell nicely for Ferran Torres but he dallied too long and allowed Chancel Mbemba to get back and clear..
Porto had another huge let off as Sterling’s deflected cross looked certain to be touched in at the back post by a stretching Ruben Dias but he could only divert the ball backwards.
Torres improvised brilliantly with an overhead kick but once again Marchesin was in the right place to keep it out.
The keeper got down low to save another effort from Bernardo – who would have loved a goal on his return to Portugal.
He made yet another stop to deny Garcia’s close range effort and then reacted superbly tipped a Jesus header from Bernardo’s cross onto the bar.
This time the rebound fell to the Brazilian who tapped home – only for the VAR to rule this one out for an offside earlier in the move.

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LIVERPOOL rubber-stamped their place in the last 16 of the Champions league thanks to an incredible blunder from Ajax keeper Andre Onana.
The Cameroon international allowed a cross from Nico Williams to float over his head – apparently deciding it was sailing out of lay – but he had not seen Curtis Jones sneaking in behind him.

Curtis Jones fired Liverpool into the Champions League knockout stageCredit: PA:Press Association

The Reds secured top spot in the group with a game to spareCredit: Getty – Pool

Oh dear, Onana! 😰Two academy graduates combine to give Liverpool the lead, as Neco Williams assists Curtis Jones 🤝Ajax’s keeper won’t want to see this one again though… pic.twitter.com/j8jebhaeYN
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) December 1, 2020

The 19 year old Liverpool midfielder capped a fine performance by squeezing home a volley from a tight angle for his first Champions League goal.
But the sight of Onana holding his head in his hands in disbelief showed the Ajax stopper was due an assist for that match-winner.
It got even better for Jurgen Klopp’s injury-ravaged side, as Atalanta’s failure to beat Group D whipping boys Midtjylland meant Liverpool are certain to finish top of their pool.
The pre-match talk had centred around Liverpool’s choice of goalkeeper, with Caoimhin Kelleher given a shock Champions League debut

First choice Allison was ruled out by a slight hamstring strain, and Klopp said he had decided to play Kelleher ahead of usual stand-in Adrian because the Irish keeper is “a good shot stopper”.
He had plenty of opportunities to prove that as Ajax bossed proceedings until their own keeper’s incredible gaffe.
They twice went close to taking the lead just before Jones struck, although the visitors had certainly been given enough warnings that the young midfielder was a player they had to keep an eye on.
Ajax admitted before the game they were nervous about facing Liverpool’s goal-hungry front three. But the early threat also came from Jones.

Jones received an early Christmas present for the only goal after a howler from Ajax keeper Andre OnanaCredit: AP:Associated Press

That was enough to seal the points and top spot in the group for the RedsCredit: EPA

He tried his luck after just two minutes as Liverpool stormed forward on a trademark counter-attack, but his shot flew straight at Onana.
The Ajax keeper was beaten all ends four minutes later as Jones let fly again, only to see his effort crash against the far post.
Ajax had certainly not come to Anfield looking to defend, as you might expect from a side who had scored 38 goals in their eight games since losing the reverse fixture against Liverpool 1-0.
That run included a 13-0 away win over Dutch League rivals Venlo four days the Liverpool game – and fans here have been talking about the glut of freak results since the coronavirus lockdown ended!
Brazilian striker Anthony should have done better with a shooting chance that sailed high into the empty stands, while former Everton misfit Davy Klaasen was clearly enjoying his return to Merseyside.
He sprayed a couple of superb crossfield passes to stretch the home defence, and almost sprang the offside trap on a couple of occasions.
Liverpool were playing a dangerous game there.
The Dutch side’s growing confidence was reflected as full back Noussair Mazraoui rampaged forward and unleashed a fierce drive which brought a fine diving save from Kelleher.

Caoimhin Kelleher kept a clean sheet on his European debut for LiverpoolCredit: AP:Associated Press
That brought a smile to Klopp’s face but it disappeared as Andy Robertson – the only member of Liverpool’s first choice back four not ruled out by injury – twice went down clutching his left foot.
The Scotland captain was able to carry on after having his ankle heavily strapped, but it was still a worrying sight for the Liverpool boss.
Liverpool had not offered much of a threat after that lively start, with Ajax enjoying almost two thirds of the first half possession. But the Reds stepped up a gear just before the break. 
Diogo Jota was thwarted by a brilliantly-timed challenge from Edson Alvarez, while Perr Schurrs took a more physical approach when Sadio Mane burst past him.
The big central defender was lucky to escape with only a yellow card.
But Ajax continued to look easy on the eye, and they should have taken the lead five minutes into the second half.
Another well-worked move saw David Neres pick out Klaasen, but he sent his close range header flashing wide of the target.

The stopper justified his inclusion with a stunning point-blank save from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar late onCredit: PA:Press Association
They went close again with Mazraoui forcing another good low save from Kelleher, and Neres could not believe it when he sent the rebound crashing against the post.
That escape seemed to spark Liverpool into action – with a bit of help from the comedy keeper.
To be fair to Onana, he did redeem himself slightly, throwing himself bravely at the feet of Mo Salah and then diving full length to palm away a screamer from substitute Roberto Firmino.
Salah had a couple more chances to wrap it up for the home team as Ajax threw even more men forward, but he shot wastefully wide and then took far too long to pull the trigger.
And Kelleher justified his inclusion with a stunning point save from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s point blank header two minutes from time.
And suddenly, that smile was back on Klopp’s face.

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