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Key Events

87'
L. Díaz
Goal
1 - 3
63'
A. Taarabt
Yellow Card
49'
D. Núñez
Rafa Silva
1 - 2
34'
S. Mané
L. Díaz
0 - 2
17'
I. Konaté
A. Robertson
0 - 1
3
1
5
1
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Match Stats

Possession
34% 65%
5
5
Shots Off Target
Shots On Target 3 8
Total Passes 384 733
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Commentary

We hope you've enjoyed our coverage of this Champions League thriller, as Liverpool put one foot in the final four. It's goodbye from us, and we hope to see you again next time!
Liverpool may not have been at their scintillating best in Lisbon, and Benfica may feel aggrieved at having not been awarded a penalty for Van Dijk's challenge at 2-1, but Klopp's men have given themselves a fantastic chance of confirming a semi-final spot in eight days' time. Meanwhile, the Reds will enter Sunday's huge Premier League clash with Manchester City in fine spirits after another European win.
Full-time in Lisbon, and Liverpool will enter the second leg of this quarter-final tie with a commanding 3-1 lead! It wasn't plain sailing for Liverpool in the second half, as Nunez's goal threatened to kick-start a Benfica comeback, but Diaz's late goal has put Klopp's men in a great position, and they will be heavily fancied to finish the job at Anfield next week.
90' + 8' FULL-TIME: BENFICA 1-3 LIVERPOOL.
90' + 7' Huge chance for Liverpool to make it 4-1! Jota is released clean through by Henderson's lofted ball, but the forward shoots straight at the keeper on his left foot.
90' + 6' Milner concedes a foul on halfway, and Robertson is forced to clear after Benfica launch a promising attack down the right.
90' + 5' Liverpool clear the corner and break at lightning speed, but Gilberto does well to steal possession from Jota, and Benfica will try to launch one last attack…
90' + 4' Fabinho's back on his feet, and Benfica will restart the play with a left-wing corner…
90' + 3' We're certainly going to require more than three minutes of injury time in Lisbon, with Fabinho still receiving treatment in the Liverpool penalty area.
90' + 2' On second viewing, Keita's defence-splitting pass for the third goal took a big deflection off Otamendi, and Benfica can feel unfortunate to be two goals down after a strong second-half showing.
90' + 1' The deep delivery leads to a nasty clash of heads between Otamendi and Fabinho, and both players will require treatment from the sides' medical teams.
90' A minimum of three added minutes have been signalled here, as Benfica line up a deep free-kick in the Liverpool half.
J. Milner
N. Keïta
Liverpool
89' Meanwhile, the experienced Milner replaces Keita, who contributed enormously to the third goal with his superb ball to Diaz.
J. Gomez
T. Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool
89' Gomez is on for Alexander-Arnold for Liverpool, as Klopp looks to see out the dying moments of this game.
João Mário
Gonçalo Ramos
Benfica
87' Former West Ham man Mario replaces Ramos as Benfica's number 10 as the hosts look for a route back to parity.
L. Díaz
Goal
Liverpool
87' GOAAAAALLLL! IT'S GAME OVER AS LIVERPOOL GET A THIRD! Former Porto man Diaz has surely put this game beyond his old Portuguese rivals, racing onto a brilliant ball from Keita before rounding the keeper and rolling the ball home from a tight angle. A huge goal for the Reds!
86' Nothing comes of the kick, but Klopp's team can keep Benfica penned back with a throw-in on the right as we enter the closing stages.
85' Now Alexander-Arnold's shot cannons over the bar after striking Weigl, and Liverpool have another corner...
84' Alexander-Arnold's set-piece is cleared as far as Firmino, who wins a throw-in on the left wing.
83' Jota's left-footed shot from outside the penalty area is blocked, and deflects wide for a Liverpool corner...
83' Allison nearly gives it away! Liverpool are forced to go all the way back to their goalkeeper, where a fierce press from Ramos almost results in him taking the ball off the Brazilian, who is eventually able to retain possession outside his area.
R. Yaremchuk
Éverton
Benfica
82' Ukrainian attacker Yaremchuk is the next man to enter the fray for the hosts, replacing Everton, who missed their best chance to level the score.
81' Otamendi concedes possession in a poor position, but Henderson's eventual cross is volleyed well wide by Diaz, who may have taken the ball off Firmino's toe.
80' Liverpool now win a free-kick in a decent position on the left wing. Robertson will deliver the cross… But it's defended well by Nunez, who heads clear.
79' A lovely Liverpool move releases Henderson down the right wing, but the midfielder's volleyed cross is far too deep and Benfica earn a throw on the opposite flank.
77' Silva's cross is too deep for Nunez now, as Benfica look to ramp up the pressure on the visitors.
76' Everton does brilliantly to escape the Liverpool press and find Gilberto, before Silva sees his right-wing cross cleared by Alexander-Arnold.
75' Firmino and Jota are taking turns to drop deep for Klopp's men, as Liverpool look to keep possession in the hosts' half. The Reds look to have one eye on the clock as they close in on a big first-leg win.
73' Gilberto is sent sprawling by Diaz on halfway, and Benfica can retain possession from the resulting free-kick.
72' The home side are still willing to sit back in their shape when Liverpool have possession, but they will have to come out and press the Reds at some point if they're to complete a stunning comeback.
70' We’re into the final 20 minutes in Lisbon, with the visitors looking to manage this contest after Benfica enjoyed an excellent spell. Is there another twist to come?
S. Meïté
A. Taarabt
Benfica
70' Meite is the first Benfica substitute to enter the action, replacing former Queens Park Rangers man Taarabt in the hosts' midfield.
68' Liverpool have won all six of the Champions League games in which they have opened the scoring this season. Can Benfica end that run by snatching an unlikely draw?
67' Van Dijk didn't look to have made too much contact with the striker there, and Nunez might have been better served by trying to get a shot away from a great position.
66' Nunez wants a penalty for Benfica! The lively Uruguayan beats the Reds offside trap and races down the left-hand side, before going down as he cuts inside Van Dijk. VAR have had a look, but nothing will been given.
64' Benfica, it must be said, have been absolutely excellent since the break, and look a different team to that which Liverpool blew away in the opening period. Liverpool are looking to retain possession at the back now, trying to take the sting out of this contest.
A. Taarabt
Yellow Card
Benfica
63' Taarabt is the first Benfica man to enter the book, tripping Keita as the Liverpool midfielder looks to accelerate through midfield.
62' Diaz is the only Liverpool forward to survive Klopp's changes, as Nunez's menacing ball is nervously cleared by Robertson.
Roberto Firmino
S. Mané
Liverpool
61' Meanwhile, Firmino replaces Mane in Liverpool's third substitution, as the visitors refresh their attacking lineup.
Diogo Jota
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool
61' Jota is also on, replacing Salah, who hasn't been too heavily involved for Klopp's men.
J. Henderson
Thiago Alcântara
Liverpool
61' It’s the skipper Henderson who enters the action first for Liverpool, replacing Thiago as Klopp tries to regain control of the midfield.
60' Good opening for Benfica! Everton latches onto a lovely pass with Liverpool's defence nowhere to be seen, but his firm strike is saved well by Allison and the visitors can scramble the ball clear.
59' Liverpool look to have three substitutions ready, with Klopp clearly unhappy with their lacklustre start to the half.
Thiago Alcântara
Yellow Card
Liverpool
58' The first yellow card of the game goes to Thiago, who cynically hacks Silva down before the winger can escape down the right wing.
56' Henderson and Jota look likely to enter the fray for Klopp's side soon, as Salah is crowded out before he can get a shot away inside the Benfica box.
55' Half-chance for the hosts! Silva hangs up a lovely ball towards Nunez, whose diving header goes well over the bar. The striker was under less pressure than he thought and perhaps should have done better with the finish.
53' Salah races past Grimaldo as Liverpool look to respond, but the left-back does brilliantly to challenge the winger and win a goal kick for his side.
53' Nunez has now scored five goals in the Champions League this season, the joint-most by a Benfica player in a single campaign in the competition, along with Nuno Gomes in 1998-99.
52' Benfica look to have been spurred on by that goal, as Nunez latches onto a loose ball from Keita to fire a long-range shot over. Liverpool need to regain their composure here...
50' Liverpool immediately go up the other end and win a corner through Fabinho, but it comes to nothing.
Rafa Silva
Assist
Benfica
49' Silva claims the assist after his low cross picked out Nunez at the back post, but Konate completely missed his clearance to gift Benfica a route back into this clash!
D. Núñez
Goal
Benfica
49' GOAAAALLL! WE HAVE A GAME IN LISBON! Konate, who has been brilliant all game, is at fault as the Eagles claw a goal back! The Liverpool defender completely misses Silva's low cross, and Nunez is there to finish neatly past Allison! 2-1!
48' Everton faces up Konate on the left, but the Reds manage to get bodies back and force Benfica to go backwards, as the hosts look for an improved second-half showing.
47' Benfica play their way out of Liverpool's high press, but Silva is caught offside as he comes back to retrieve Gilberto's pass.
46' Mane's close-range finish represented his 22nd Champions League goal for Liverpool, putting him ahead of Steven Gerrard (21) as the Reds' second-highest scorer in the competition. Only strike-partner Salah, with 33, now has more goals for the club in this competition.
46' No half-time changes as Benfica get us underway for the second period. Is there any way back for the Portuguese outfit against Klopp's rampant Reds?
Having racked up 11 shots to the hosts' four, Liverpool are good value for their half-time lead. In particular, Diaz and Mane, who linked up expertly for the visitors' second goal, have caused Benfica all sorts of problems, and Konate has put in a faultless defensive display after opening the scoring.
We're only a quarter of the way through this Champions League quarter-final tie, but Liverpool already look to have one foot in the last four, with goals from Konate and Mane giving them a deserved advantage in Lisbon. Benfica have had their moments on the break, but Klopp's side have produced some scintillating football and will be looking to extend this lead after the break.
45' + 1' HALF-TIME: Benfica 0-2 Liverpool.
45' Nunez then races onto a throughball and volleys well over Allison's goal at the opposite end, during a breathless few seconds to end the first half.
45' Great chance missed for a third! Alexander-Arnold hits an incredible long ball over the Benfica backline, but Salah shoots straight at Vlachodimos at the near post!
43' Robertson picks out Salah with a terrific switch of play, but the Egyptian is unable to bring the ball under his spell and runs it out for a goal kick.
41' Everton leads a lively break for the hosts, but he looks to get caught in two minds as he approaches the penalty area, where the excellent Konate calmly dispossesses the Brazilian.
40' Robertson and Fabinho combine to stop Gilberto's promising advance down the Benfica right, as we enter the final five minutes of the opening period.
39' Weigl is caught by Mane and looks to be in some discomfort, as Benfica win a free-kick just inside the Liverpool half.
38' Close from Diaz! The former Porto man shoots narrowly wide of the bottom-left corner after cutting inside onto his right foot.
37' Nunez scampers down the right wing, but sees another early cross cleared by Alexander-Arnold with no Benfica bodies attacking the ball.
36' Liverpool are well in control of the tie now, and Benfica have been left to rue Otamendi's mistimed header, which came just a minute before the Reds' second goal.
L. Díaz
Assist
Liverpool
34' Diaz did brilliantly to claim the assist, stretching to nod the ball across goal to Mane, but credit must go to Alexander-Arnold, who hit a trademark long ball to set the Liverpool attackers through on goal.
S. Mané
Goal
Liverpool
34' GOOOAAAALLL! An absolutely stunning second goal for Liverpool, and its Mane who claims the final touch! Taarabt lost the ball in midfield, and Alexander-Arnold's raking pass was headed across goal by Diaz, where Mane was waiting to tap home! 2-0 to the Reds!
33' Good opening from the corner, as Otamendi meets the kick in a great position, but he mistimes his header and sees it fly well wide.
32' Corner for the hosts, their first of the game, as Van Dijk smashes the ball behind...
31' The home crowd are furious as Nunez capitalises on Konate's mistake to race past the defender, before appearing to be nudged over near the touchline. The referee says nothing doing, and Benfica will try to build from the back.
29' Allison makes an excellent catch, racing off his line to claim a deep free-kick before sending Diaz scampering down the left with a quick release, but Vertonghen can clear the left-wing cross.
28' Konate's header is the difference in a fiercely competitive affair so far, and he is now the first French player to score for Liverpool in the Champions League since David N’Gog struck against Debreceni in November 2009.
27' Liverpool are threatening to score every time they go forward, as a flowing break ends with Robertson slightly overhitting his delivery to the back post, where Salah was unable to meet the ball with a header.
25' Keita makes a great challenge to stop Nunez's break, but the ball ricochets out to Grimaldo, whose poor cross is claimed authoritatively by Allison.
24' Vlachodimos stands firm to deny Diaz at the other end now, saving well as the Colombian tried to dink a finish past the Greek international after going clear.
23' Decent opening for Benfica! Everton should have done so much better with the finish, hitting the side netting with a poor strike after he met Nunez's header to race clear on the left-hand side. Benfica might not get too many better openings than that…
21' Liverpool are growing in confidence as Konate steps out of defence to pick out Salah, but the hosts stand firm to repel the latter's right-wing delivery.
20' Benfica are keeping possession in their own half, looking to slow the pace of this contest after giving up two free headers in the space of two minutes. The hosts were very fortunate not to be punished by Keita.
19' Now Keita gets a free header in the same position! Benfica's defence is all over the place as Mane escapes Gilberto and clips a lovely ball into Keita's path, but his header is weak and rolls well wide. That was a real chance to double the advantage!
A. Robertson
Assist
Liverpool
17' Robertson's delivery was perfectly weighted for the onrushing Konate, but Benfica will be so frustrated with how they defended the corner, leaving the defender completely unmarked eight yards out.
I. Konaté
Goal
Liverpool
17' GOALLL! Liverpool take the lead in Lisbon! Robertson's left-wing corner is met with a bullet header from Konate, who was left completely unmarked by Benfica and powered his header into the bottom-right corner.
16' Gilberto makes a firm challenge on Diaz, but Liverpool win a corner on the left-hand side…
15' Mane sees a shot blocked at close range in a crowded Benfica penalty area as the Reds look to exert some pressure on their hosts, but Benfica are eventually able to clear.
14' Benfica retreat into a solid 4-5-1 shape as Liverpool keep possession in their own half. The hosts' game-plan looks to involve hitting the Reds on the break, with the lively Nunez looking to play on the shoulder of Van Dijk and Konate.
12' Vlachodimos is forced into a decent stop from Keita's long-range effort, before Nunez leads a superb Benfica break, but goes down too easily when crowded out on the edge of the box. Great start to the game!
10' Nunez is caught offside at the other end as he looked to race onto a ball over the top. Benfica's leading marksman has started brightly, and looks set to provide Van Dijk and Konate with a real challenge.
9' ALMOST! Salah races onto Mane's beautiful backheel after a neat move, but can only poke his effort straight at Vlachodimos. Nothing came from Alexander-Arnold's resulting corner, but that represents Benfica's first warning.
8' Six of Salah's eight Champions League goals this season have been scored away from home. No player has ever scored more than six times away from home for Liverpool in a single season in European competition, can the Eygptian become the first man to accomplish that feat here?
7' Liverpool almost create their first opening at the other end, as Mane's pass is slightly too heavy for Salah to take it in his stride.
5' Nunez does brilliantly to beat Robertson on the right wing, but no Benfica attacker gambles on his early cross! Alexander-Arnold was slightly fortunate thereafter, hesitating to clear and being closed down by Everton, but Liverpool escaped with a goal kick.
4' First sight of goal as Mane heads well over the bar from Robertson's deep left-wing cross. Moments earlier, Konate showed excellent strength to ease Silva out of the way after the winger burst through midfield.
2' Liverpool are looking to win five consecutive away games in the European Cup or Champions League for only the second time in their history, having last done so between 1983 and 1984 under Joe Fagan. Can Klopp's in-form side make history in Lisbon?
1' Fabinho wins an early free-kick and Liverpool can build from the back, to a chorus of boos in Lisbon...
1' This stadium is absolutely rocking! Benfica have already put paid to the Champions League hopes of Barcelona and Ajax this season, can they strike a first-leg blow against the Merseyside outfit?
1' We're underway in the first leg of this Champions League quarter-final as Liverpool get the ball rolling!
The teams are out and the Champions League anthem is ringing around the Estadio da Luz. Kick-off is just moments away!
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last eight Champions League matches against Portuguese opponents, winning six and drawing two. All eight of those matches have been against FC Porto, however, and Liverpool have lost on each of their last three European trips to Benfica, the last of which came in the 2009-10 Europa League. Can Klopp's men break that streak here?
Jurgen Klopp, meanwhile, has made six changes to the team which started Saturday's 2-0 Premier League win over Watford. Alexander-Arnold starts after recovering from injury in a major boost for the visitors, while Mane and Diaz are restored to the Reds' fearsome attack, with Jota and Firmino dropping to the bench.
Interim Benfica coach Nelson Verissimo names the same starting XI which began their 1-0 win at Ajax at the last stage of this competition. Striker Nunez has hit four Champions League goals this season, as well as scoring 21 times in the Portuguese top fight this term. Can he deal a blow to Liverpool's European hopes in this first-leg contest?
SUBS: Caoimhin Kelleher, James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones, Takumi Minamino, Diogo Jota, Konstantinos Tsimikas, Joel Matip, Harvey Elliott.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Thiago Alcantara, Fabinho, Naby Keita; Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz.
SUBS: Helton Leite, Soualiho Meite, Haris Seferovic, Roman Yaremchuk, Diogo Goncalves, Joao Mario, Valentino Lazaro, Nemanja Radonjic, Gil Dias, Andre Almeida, Paulo Bernardo, Morato.
BENFICA (4-2-3-1): Odysseas Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Nicolas Otamendi, Jan Vertonghen, Alex Grimaldo; Julian Weigl, Adel Taarabt; Rafa Silva, Goncalo Ramos, Everton; Darwin Nunez.
Liverpool's quest for a seventh European title takes them to the Estadio da Luz, where two-time European Cup winners Benfica lie in wait. The Reds remain in contention for an unprecedented quadruple this season, but must navigate a tricky tie with Benfica, who eliminated Ajax in the last round, to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this Champions League quarter-final clash from Lisbon as Benfica host Liverpool!
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