Liverpool vs Benfica

Liverpool hold a commanding 3-1 lead in their Champions League quarter-final tie with Benfica ahead of the second leg at Anfield. Follow all the updates ...

As he was in the first leg, Darwin Nunez is likely to be the key man for the visitors, with the forward netting an impressive hat-trick at the weekend. Liverpool have been going through the gears in the last couple of minutes, and they're rewarded with a corner from the left. Gilberto has certainly had a lot to deal with so far, while Luis Diaz hasn't seen much of the ball on the right. It ends up with Everton in the right half space, just outside the area. 31st min: The Liverpool pressure continues to mount, with a series of corners. It looks set for the Colombian to tap in, but Grimaldo slides in just in time, to take the ball off the attacker's foot. The assistant's flag is up, and VAR shows the decision to be correct. 46th min: A Keita shot from outside the arrow fizzes just wide of the post, he hit across the ball slightly as a Jota cross was cleared to him. 25th min: Darwin Nunez has the ball in the back of the net, running into space behind Liverpool's defence before chipping Alisson in no man's land. Nelson Verissimo's side are way off the pace in the league and were knocked out of both domestic cups by Porto and Sporting CP, meaning they have little left to play for other than going as far in Europe as they can. Jurgen Klopp's side were in control for the first half in Lisbon during the first leg of the quarter-final, with goals from Ibrahima Konate and Sadio Mane no less than they deserved. Liverpool have been comfortable enough in the first five minutes of this half.

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It’s a feast for the eyes ... and for the ears. A first corner of the evening for Liverpool out on the left. Milner tries to keep things going with a wedge down the channel. 10 min: A little bit of space for Tsimikas down the left. Jota considers a curler towards the top right, just inside the box, but opts to slip Tsimikas in on the overlap instead. He lashes a shot past Alisson and into the left-hand side of the net. 42 min: Liverpool try to settle everyone down with a little bit of sterile possession in the midfield. 47 min: Diaz wins a Liverpool a corner down the right. Goncalves wins a 50-50 with Milner and prods a ball down the inside left. The ball breaks to Henderson, who rolls into the direction of Gomez, steaming in from the right. 51 min: Diaz and Firmino latch onto a loose ball on the edge of the Benfica box. Easy for Alisson, the flag goes up for offside anyway, and that’s the end of a highly entertaining first half.

Liverpool hold a commanding 3-1 lead in their Champions League quarter-final tie with Benfica ahead of the second leg at Anfield. Follow all the updates ...

As he was in the first leg, Darwin Nunez is likely to be the key man for the visitors, with the forward netting an impressive hat-trick at the weekend. Liverpool have been going through the gears in the last couple of minutes, and they're rewarded with a corner from the left. Gilberto has certainly had a lot to deal with so far, while Luis Diaz hasn't seen much of the ball on the right. It ends up with Everton in the right half space, just outside the area. 31st min: The Liverpool pressure continues to mount, with a series of corners. The assistant's flag is up, and VAR shows the decision to be correct. It looks set for the Colombian to tap in, but Grimaldo slides in just in time, to take the ball off the attacker's foot. 25th min: Darwin Nunez has the ball in the back of the net, running into space behind Liverpool's defence before chipping Alisson in no man's land. 46th min: A Keita shot from outside the arrow fizzes just wide of the post, he hit across the ball slightly as a Jota cross was cleared to him. There's a VAR check for offside, but the goal stands! Nelson Verissimo's side are way off the pace in the league and were knocked out of both domestic cups by Porto and Sporting CP, meaning they have little left to play for other than going as far in Europe as they can. Jurgen Klopp's side were in control for the first half in Lisbon during the first leg of the quarter-final, with goals from Ibrahima Konate and Sadio Mane no less than they deserved.

The Reds have already won the Carabao Cup this term and will battle it out with Manchester City for the Premier League title - they trail by just one point - ...

Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Ibrahima Konate seemingly sent Liverpool into the semi-finals of the Champions League when he opened the scoring at Anfield with another fine headed effort but there is life in Benfica yet. 51 mins: Henderson’s pass into the box takes a deflection and drops nicely for Diaz. He chips it over to Firmino who stuggles to bring it down as he darts in behind. Jan Vertonghen tries to clear it but scuffs the ball over to Diogo Jota. Jota snatches at a shot and catches it all wrong but somehow gifts the ball over to Roberto Firmino on the opposite side of the box who is left with a tap in. They’ve restored their three goal cushion and Jurgen Klopp decides to turn to the bench. 60 mins: Liverpool have a foot, an arm and a leg in the semi-finals now.

Liverpool welcome Benfica to Anfield with a commanding 3-1 lead from the first leg of this Champions League quarter-final. Is the Reds' place in the semis a ...

You can add BT Sport to your package for only £15 a month (plus a £20 joining fee). Enjoy the English Premier League, Champions League and more through the BT Sport app on smart TVs, mobiles, tablets, games consoles, Chromecast or through the BT Sport website. Even if you have subscribed to the relevant Liverpool vs Benfica live stream rights holders, you won't be able to access them when outside your own country. For the Champions League, you may wish to choose 'USA' for Paramount+. Simply use a VPN to access a live stream without being blocked. You can use it to watch on your mobile, tablet, laptop, TV, games console and more. Benfica have been forced into one change from the team that played in Lisbon last week, with Diogo Gonçalves coming in for the injured Rafa on the wing. Make sure you know how to watch a Benfica vs Liverpool live stream from anywhere in the world. History says that's a tall order – only two sides have ever won by more than a single goal at Anfield in the Champions League knockout stages, although one of them was Benfica – but a three-goal deficit would have effectively put the tie to bed already. On both occasions when the Reds have met Benfica in the knockout stages they've gone on to win the competition. Liverpool welcome Benfica to Anfield with a commanding 3-1 lead from the first leg of this Champions League quarter-final. Darwin Núñez's 49th-minute strike in the first leg wasn't just a consolation; it means Benfica now need two goals at Anfield to have any chance of even forcing extra time.

Jürgen Klopp will have been broadly satisfied as Liverpool ultimately secured fairly comfortable progress against Benfica.This is what we spotted.

The most selected player in the Klopp era, Firmino has gradually slipped down the pecking order, but his performance here was a reminder of the astonishing depth available to the manager. He has switched between the left and right pretty freely in his career to date, an invaluable quality for any manager to call upon. Benfica were caught offside four times in the first half alone.The only man who could beat the trap in the first period was James Milner, whose accidental pass let Benfica in behind for their equaliser. One of the many changes from the Manchester City game, Luis Díaz was restored to the Liverpool line-up. Admittedly, both goals came from situations where even Firmino had no choice but to pull the trigger, but he showed typically astute movement and anticipation to get on the end of both. “We must continue to support [those who lost loved ones] and observe this anniversary in a manner which honours the memory of those we lost.

Liverpool are on course for the Champions League semi-finals as they prepare to entertain Benfica at Anfield tonight.

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