Liverpool 3 Benfica 3 LIVE REACTION: Reds through to Champions League semi-final despite late fight-back from visitors
LIVERPOOL reached the Champions League semi-finals after drawing their last eight second leg 3-3 at Anfield.
The Reds beat Benfica 3-1 out in Portugal last week and put the final nail in the coffin tonight, despite a late fight-back from the Portuguese side.
- RESULT: Liverpool 3-3 Benfica (6-4 on agg)
- Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, Matip, Konate, Tsimikas, Milner, Henderson, Keita, Diaz, Jota, Firmino
- Benfica XI: Vlachodimos, Otamendi, Gilberto, Vertonghen, Grimaldo, Goncalves, Taarabt, Weigl, Everton, Ramos, Nunez
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
Liverpool 1-0 Benfica
27. Liverpool are growing in confidence since the goal.
It only looks a matter of time now before they will score more.
Tough time for Benfica before halftime as they cannot afford to concede another goal.
Liverpool 1-0 Benfica - Diaz chance!
25. Diaz drops his shoulder on the edge of the box and sends the sliding Benfica defender to the shops.
He gets his shot away with Vlachodimos making the save behind.
Great work by Liverpool's new signing there.
Liverpool 1-0 Benfica - Nunez goal disallowed
23. Liverpool were almost pegged back immediately.
The ball came to the Uruguayan striker and as Alisson came out to meet him he neatly chipped it past the keeper.
The linesman immediately raises his flag.
Liverpool 1-0 Benfica
21. Deja vu anyone?
Konate scores almost a carbon copy of his goal in the first leg.
It is safe to say that Benfica cannot cope with young defender in the air at Liverpool corners.
Goal - Ibrahim Konate (Liverpool)
Liverpool 0-0 Benfica
19. Tsimikas is fouled not once but twice on his way to the floor.
Free-kick in a wide position with the Greek full-back looking to bend it in.
Benfica seem more than capable to clear anything in the air so far.
Liverpool 0-0 Benfica
17. The good news is that Vlachodimos is fit to continue.
That will be a sore one tomorrow.
It has taken some of the momentum out of Liverpool's play as a result of the stoppage.
Liverpool 0-0 Benfica
15. Vlachodimos receives some treatment after he is caught by the knee of Jota as the two slide in for the ball.
No malice from the Liverpool forward just a coming together.
Checks go on to ensure the Benfica keeper is not suffering from any sort of concussion.
Liverpool 0-0 Benfica - Everton chance!
13. What a headline that would have been.
The Brazilian picks up the ball wide on the right-hand side of the Liverpool penalty area.
He gets a shot away with Alisson at full-stretch.
The ball seemingly always curling away from the goal.
Liverpool 0-0 Benfica
11. Darwin Nunez shows Liverpool they will not have things all their own way tonight.
He has the beating of Matip and gets to the byline looking to square it back to a teammate.
Liverpool manage to crowd him out on this occasion.
Liverpool 0-0 Benfica
9. Liverpool are starting to see more possession in the Benfica half.
Tsimikas is starting to try and get balls into the box, searching for Jota.
Benfica manage to clear the ball but give possession straight back.
Liverpool 0-0 Benfica
7. It is not the high energy start we would expect from this Liverpool team in the early stages.
No pressure on the visitor's goal so far.
An early Benfica goal will change the whole complexion of this game.
Liverpool 0-0 Benfica
5. Vlachodimos with some confidence as the ball is played back to him.
As Liverpool press the keeper cheekily chips it over the oncoming player.
Vertonghen isn't so pleased as he has a difficult ball to control and clear.
Liverpool 0-0 Benfica
3. The visitors are seeing a lot of the ball early on.
Everton is given offside as the ball is swung into the box.
The Eagles look keen to get the ball into the Liverpool penalty area.
Liverpool 0-0 Benfica
1. The home fans belt out 'The Fields of Anfield Road'.
Benfica are looking to knock the ball around and get a feel for it.
Nelson Verissimo looks deep in thought on the touchline.
Kick-off: Liverpool vs Benfica
Benfica get the game started.
It is no surprise to anyone that Anfield is bouncing.
A cauldron of noise that must intimidate the visitors.
Keen on more success for team
In the past few years, Liverpool have been at the peak of their powers under Jurgen Klopp.
The only question is whether The Reds have won enough trophies to underpin their domination.
With Bayern surprised by Villarreal yesterday, the manager knows tonight's game presents a great chance of another final.
Only sing when you're winning
Liverpool and Benfica have some previous in this competition.
There has never been a draw when these two teams meet.
The Reds have won seven of those eleven matches, with Benfica winning the other four.
Need to improve on the road
Benfica have only won one of their last nine away games in the Champions League although that solitary win was in the last round away to Ajax.
They have managed to keep five clean sheets in six games on the road in the competition this season.
The only time they have conceded on the road this season was when they shipped five goals away to Bayern Munich.
Klopp wary after Inter defeat
Jurgen Klopp pointed out what his side needed to ensure was their first focus after the last round where they edged passed the Italians.
It's 3-1 at half time, it's as tricky as 2-0. A good basis, but if they score one - like we felt against Inter - the game changes. We felt it when they scored last week. We really need to make them feel this is a place they don't want to go.
Jurgen KloppDarwin's evolution continues
The Benfica player goes into tonight's game with a host of European clubs watching him with thoughts of signing the striker.
Coming into the game in rich form after scoring all three of The Eagles' goals on the weekend in a 3-1 win over Belenenses.
He has now scored 31 times in Primeria Liga this season.
History to repeat itself
Reds' fans will be hoping for good omens from tonight's game.
Their 1978 and 1984 triumphs in the competition came after they eliminated Benfica in the previous round with a pair of wins.
Victory tonight for Klopp's men would have fans dreaming of history repeating itself once again.
Brazilian keen to respect Portuguese
Liverpool's South-American keeper spoke about tonight's opponents Benfica:
They are a big challenge. A really good side, they showed that in the first game. It's a difficult score. They score once and it's game on again. The third goal was good for us and a good advantage but our feet are on the ground.
Alisson BeckerBenfica subs:
11. Meité, 14. Seferovic, 15. Yaremchuk, 20. João Mário, 22. Lazaro, 23. Radonjic, 31. Bastião Dias, 34. Magalhães de Almeida, 55. Goncalves Bernardo, 77. Aleixo Leite, 89. Costa Álvaro, 91. Rodrigues da Silva
Benfica starting XI:
As expected Nélson Veríssimo brings back in all the first-team players he decided to rest for their game at the weekend.
Jan Vertonghen returns from a domestic suspension also.
99. Vlachodimos, 2. Junior, 30. Otamendi, 5. Vertonghen, 3. Grimaldo, 49. Taarabt, 28. Weigl, 17. D. Goncalves, 88. G. Ramos, 7. Everton, 9. Nunez.
Credit: @slbenfica_en
