UEFA Champions League: Benfica vs Liverpool live
Preview
Liverpool head to the Estadio da Luz for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Benfica tonight at 19:00 GMT, after receiving what some supporters may consider the most beneficial Champions League draw.
Darwin Nunez, the exuberant Benfica teenager, was the hero of the hour for his team against Ajax to carry them into the final eight of the Champions League in Amsterdam, with his list of European fans apparently expanding by the week. The loss of a nine-game undefeated streak in all competitions isn’t ideal preparation for a match against Liverpool, and Benfica have never advanced past the quarter-finals of the Champions League in its current format, losing to Bayern Munich in the 2015-16 season.
Still, two goals against Sporting Braga maintained Benfica’s streak of scoring in every game since the turn of the year going, and they’ve won six of their previous eight Champions League games on home soil.
- Wayne Rooney backs Mauricio Pochettino as Manchester United head coach
- Wayne Rooney – It is best for Paul Pogba to leave United after 6 years
The Reds were far from their best in Saturday’s Premier League match against Watford, but Diogo Jota’s header and Fabinho’s penalty got them over the line – a result that saw them soar to the top for two-and-a-half hours before Manchester City restored order. Liverpool’s defeat to Inter in the second leg is the only game they have lost in their past 17 in all competitions – they have won each of their last seven away matches, and Klopp’s side spent the whole month of February and March without allowing a goal away from home.
However, Real Madrid eliminated Liverpool at this level of the 2020/21 Champions League, and they lost 3-0 on aggregate to Benfica in the last 16 of the 2005/06 edition before progressing 5-3 on aggregate to the quarterfinals of the 2009/10 Europa League.
Head-to-head
Benfica and Liverpool have played four matches so far. Benfica won three of their four direct encounters whereas Liverpool have won one match.
Prediction
A Nunez-inspired Benfica should be well prepared for this massive European match in front of their home crowd, but their senior back line of Vertonghen and Otamendi might be easy prey for Liverpool’s furious forwards. Klopp confessed that his team did not produce enough against Watford as the players began to gel after the international break, and while this may be a closer match than the Reds would like, they should still be able to take advantage of Benfica’s recent defensive failings to secure a first-leg advantage.
