Benfica 1-3 Liverpool (Nunez 49′ | Konate 17′, Mane 34′, Diaz 87′)
Liverpool survived a second half fightback from Benfica to put one foot in the Champions League semi-finals.
Jurgen Klopp’s team appeared to be cruising to a comfortable victory after goals from Ibrahima Konate – his first for the club – and Sadio Mane had given them a 2-0 lead after a dominant first half display.
But an embarrassing mistake by Konate four minutes into the second half gifted Benfica’s sought-after Uruguyan striker Darwin Nunez the chance to pull one back and spark the Portuguese club into life.
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Now, after their eighth victory in nine Champions League games this season, they will be firm favourites to finish the job in next week’s second leg at Anfield and cinch a likely semi-final against Bayern Munich.
The win keeps their quadruple hopes very much alive and will ensure their morale and confidence is sky-high for their Premier League showdown with Manchester City on Sunday.
Klopp’s men slammed five past Porto in the group stage so their first half domination of Benfica – who are 12 points adrift of Porto in the Portuguese League – came as no real surprise.
Player ratings
Benfica (4-4-1-1)
- Vlachodimos – 8
- Gilberto – 6
- Otamendi – 6
- Vertonghen – 6
- Grimaldo – 6
- R. Silva – 6
- Taarabt – 6
- Weigl – 6
- Everton – 7
- Ramos – 6
- Nunez – 7
Subs:
- Meite – 5
- Mario – 5
- Yaremchuk – 5
Liverpool (4-3-3)
- Alisson – 6
- Alexander-Arnold – 7
- Konate – 7
- Van Dijk – 6
- Robertson – 7
- Keita – 7
- Fabinho – 6
- Thiago – 6
- Salah – 5
- Mane – 6
- Diaz – 7
Subs:
- Firmino – 5
- Jota – 6
- Henderson – 6
- Gomez – N/A
- Milner – N/A
They looked far sharper than they did against Watford at the weekend, were on the front foot from the kick-off and looked like scoring virtually every time they went forward. If anything they might have felt a little disappointed to be only 2-0 up at the break.
Mo Salah had already squandered two chances and Benfica keeper Odysseas Vlachimdois had made a double save from Naby Keita and Trent Alexander-Arnold when Konate put them ahead with a powerful downward header from Andy Robertson’s out swinging corner.
The unmarked Keita should have increased the lead two minutes later but totally miscued his header from Mane’s cross. Then Luis Diaz was denied by Odysseas Vlachimodis after being put through by Keita.
Benfica had hardly threatened but former Manchester City defender Nicolas Otamendi should have grabbed an undeserved equaliser when he glanced a close-range header wide from a corner.
Liverpool handed out instant punishment when Benfica gave the ball away again to go 2-0 up in the 34th minute with a superb goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold picked out Diaz with one of his trademark long-range passes and the Colombian headed the ball down for Mane to score an easy tap-in and put Liverpool in total control at the break.
But what was a comfortable night for Liverpool changed when Konate’s joy at his first-half goal was ruined when he got his feet all mixed up when trying to clear a cross, the ball went through his legs to leave Nunez – of all people – an easy chance to score his 28th goal of the season and no doubt increase interest from Premier League clubs.
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Suddenly Benfica looked a different side and only a great save by Alisson stopped Brazilian forward Everton from coring a shock equaliser.
Klopp had seen enough and made a triple change on the hour – Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota coming on for Thiago, Salah and Mane – in a bid to regain control of the game.
They survived another scare when Nunez went to ground after Virgil Van Dijk had grabbed hold of him but referee Jesus Gil Manzano waved aside Benfica appeals for a penalty.
Gradually Liverpool weathered the storm, regained supremacy and Diaz gave them breathing space for the second leg in the 87th minute when he took Keita’s through pass around Vlachimodis to steer the ball into the empty net.
It was a sweet moment for the former Porto player whose every touch had been jeered.
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