By Laurie Whitwell for MailOnline
Published: 22:15 BST, 17 April 2019 | Updated: 23:17 BST, 17 April 2019
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Jurgen Klopp tried not to contradict himself when explaining his line-up here but the challenges to come formed a part of his thinking almost as much as what lay immediately in front of Liverpool.
Clearly, Klopp did not want any slip-ups against a Porto side with a perfect home record in this season's Champions League but Divock Origi's presence in place of Roberto Firmino spoke of the need also to be perfect in the four Premier League games remaining.
'We expect a very intense game, so we need to be ready for that,' said Klopp ahead of kick-off. 'Of course Bobby is ready for that but because he never gives himself a rest, from time to time we have to do it.'
Divock Origi runs with the ball during Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final win at Porto
Then Klopp checked himself. 'But it's not a rest actually,' he added. 'It's bringing in Div and having that option: speed and all that stuff. That's what we thought.'
In the end, Origi only lasted 45 minutes, replaced by Firmino at the interval with Liverpool 1-0 up. When Firmino made the score 3-1 with 13 minutes left Klopp could reflect on a satisfying encounter.
He will have wanted Origi to show he can step up if required, given what lies in wait next, but when the three in possession of those shirts up front are in such devastating form it is hard to make a case for change.
The Reds claimed a 4-1 victory in Portugal but Origi could not get on the scoresheet
Mohamed Salah coolly slots past Iker Casillas to give Liverpool a 2-0 lead on the night
Origi's last start in Europe had come almost exactly three years ago, when Borussia Dortmund visited Merseyside in a knife-edge game that
