Liverpool dominates Porto behind Sadio Mane hat-trick

Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Liverpool winger Sadio Mané scored three goals in a 5-0 win against Porto.

The Reds took the first leg of their two game Champions League matchup Wednesday at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto, Portugal.

Mané's first goal came in the 25th minute. Midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum hit a ball inside the box over to Mané after running into Porto pressure. Mané blasted a shot the far post, which managed to slip under Porto keeper José Sá and bounce into the net.

Mohamed Salah would get the Reds' next score in the 29th minute. The Liverpool forward was in the right place at the right time, but still needed a good bit of skill for his strike. Midfielder James Milner ripped a long-range shot into the far post to start the play, but the ball bounced off of the goal. It landed right at Salah's feet. The Reds star managed to juggle the ball away from a defender and the keeper before finishing it into the net with his left foot.

Mané's second score came after the half and it was a bit easier than Salah's scintillating strike. The Liverpool forward collected a saved Roberto Firmino shot and ripped it in past a grounded Sá for a 3-0 lead in the 53rd minute.

Milner found Firmino on the fourth goal with a cross from the left side of the pitch in the 69th minute.

Mané completed his hat-trick in the 85th minute. That strike was an absolute cannon. Mané received a pass about 40 yards from the goal. He took one touch above the half circle and sank a shot into the right side of the goal, beating a diving Sá for a fifth goal for the Reds.

"He gave the right answer," Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told LFCTV after the match, regarding Mané. "That's good. I said to him after the last game 'finally you're back' immediately after when we talked on the pitch."

"Tonight he showed it again what a fantastic player he is. He was always important, he was always fantastic for us, even in his not-that-good moments. That's a real quality if you are not 100 per cent and still scoring, maybe not that often but involved in goals, then that's really important. They will come if you keep on working really hard like he did, then there can be a moment like this. The first one was a little bit lucky I think, but then the other two were being in the right place, the second one and using your fantastic skills for the last one. Good, really good, and I am happy about it."

The Reds face West Ham and Newcastle before playing Porto again at 2:45 p.m on March 6 at Anfield in Liverpool, England.