Liverpool were struggling to get into the game but from their first real attack in the game they were level. Steve Finnan sent a free kick deep into the Porto penalty area on seventeen minutes, Sami Hyypia headed it back across goal and Dirk Kuyt was on hand to head home the equaliser.
The game opened up after that but neither side was able to create any clear cut chances for the rest of the half.
The second half saw a marked improvement from Liverpool as they created a couple of early chances but they were forced on the back foot after 57 minutes when Jermaine Pennant was sent off for a second yellow card following a clumsy challenge on Fucile when the ball was going out of play.
Despite the man advantage Porto only created one more chance when Pepe Reina failed to get any distance on a punch and Quaresma lobbed him but Hyypia was there to clear the ball of the line.