Luis Diaz got here again to hang-out Benfica, scoring an important third aim for Liverpool once they beat Benfica 3-1 within the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon.
Diaz has sparkled for Liverpool since his transfer from fierce rivals Porto Benfica in January, and restored the Reds’ lead with two objectives within the 88th minute.
The Colombian superior confidently previous Benfica goalkeeper Odyssias Flashodemos earlier than falling into the far nook, giving Liverpool some much-needed respiration house forward of Wednesday’s second leg at Anfield.
The primary leg match was an instance of a two halves match. Liverpool dominated the primary half, as Ibrahim Konate returned together with his first aim for the membership, after Andy Robertson’s nook kick.
Then Sadio Mane scored after a powerful counterattack, which summed up a powerful first half. Trent Alexander-Arnold – beginning for the primary time since damage – obtained a go from Adel Taarabt earlier than making an excellent go excessive.
The good ball discovered Diaz’s head, who noticed Mane’s observe down the proper of the world. His head squared was a straightforward contact for the Senegal worldwide.
Whereas Benfica completed the primary half with a single shot on course and seemed to be dealing with a fast Champions League exit, the second half could not be extra blended.
A lot has been stated about Nunez heading into the match, together with his Premier League hyperlinks eye-catching, and his poaching intuition displaying 4 minutes into the primary half. A tragic try and clear Konate in the course of the penalty space noticed the Benfica striker give a golden alternative, which he fired previous Alisson.
Nunez might have earned a penalty within the 67th minute in addition to he and Rafael Silva examined Liverpool’s gorgeous defence. Virgil van Dijk examined the striker’s physique inside the world earlier than he fell, however the VAR evaluate didn’t award Benfica a penalty.
Liverpool rapidly started to regain their footing within the match and seemed to placate the excited crowd in addition to the revived Benfica facet. Their restoration paid off when Diaz netted in late to place the guests in a commanding place forward of the second leg, as his shot was met with a sigh of reduction and a smile from Jurgen Klopp.
Darwin Nunez of Benfica celebrates after scoring towards Liverpool
With Manchester Metropolis’s Champions League second leg win towards Atletico Madrid 1-0, each Liverpool and Metropolis see midweek victories below their belts heading into Sunday’s Premier League title conflict on the Etihad Stadium, reside. Sky Sports activities.
wanting ahead to Tremendous Sunday The match, Jurgen Klopp stated in his post-match press convention: “If we beat Metropolis – it is arduous sufficient – I do not suppose anybody would suppose ‘that is it – determine'” [the Premier League title race] As a result of the standard of the low cost. We play towards one of the best crew on this planet, that is the way it goes and we’ll attempt it anyway.
“Everybody is aware of the significance of the subsequent match. However after this match, there will probably be different video games. If you’re not first, you need to be second. If you’re late, you need to get shut, if you’re shut, you need to overtake. That’s the scenario and we are going to give it a attempt. Appropriately “.
Sunday April 10 4:00 PM
Departing 4:30 pm
Reddy: Expertise helps Liverpool win
Melissa Reddy, Sky Sports activities Information Lisbon Senior Correspondent:
“Liverpool managed to get previous the primary half to take cost of the quarter-finals, which triggered extra concern than anticipated particularly given their place within the break.
“They had been capable of regain management of late after being so sloppy, eradicating the sting from the sport and, in flip, the power of the group.
Benfica, as they’ve achieved within the competitors this season, produced a violent out-of-control spell that threatened to derail Liverpool, however Klopp’s males relied on their expertise and adaptability to attain a 3-1 win.
“It is a membership document 5 wins in a row within the Merseysider crew competitors.”
Klopp: Benfica fought for his or her lives
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp:
“We got here right here for a end result. I did not count on the match to be simpler. It is a massive praise to Benfica, they fought for his or her lives, particularly after we opened the door for them a bit bit.”
“It was clear once they scored that the followers would come again and the environment was actually good and good soccer groups have a tendency to make use of that, however we calmed them down right away a bit bit with the three adjustments… [the players who came off] They had been all going by robust occasions which is why it is so good to have new legs.
“The match was a bit extra open than I might have favored, however we scored a 3rd aim. Everybody can agree that we might have scored extra objectives, perhaps we must always have achieved it…Possibly one of the best participant in Benfica was the goalkeeper and it says quite a bit.”
“It is the primary half, we scored two objectives. We scored two objectives within the first half in the present day and we knew it wasn’t over, and it is actually the identical data we’ve got now. Now they’ve to come back to Anfield and we’ve got to make use of that.”
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Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp stated that beating Manchester Metropolis won’t assure his crew’s continued victory within the Premier League title
Extra considering towards Manchester Metropolis on Sunday, reside Sky Sports activitiesKlopp added: “We’re within the quarter-finals and semi-finals [of the FA Cup] And the extra you advance within the competitions, the harder it turns into, sadly that is the reality. Barely reaching the ultimate and profitable 8-0…
“We knew already since late December, that it was clear that if you wish to obtain one thing, it’s higher that we win all of our matches. It isn’t actually doubtless, however that’s the reason we take it each sport after which perhaps it’s extra doable. However it will be actually tough.”
Robertson: You threw lighters at me
Andy Robertson chatting with BT Sport:
“I threw a number of lighters at me – perhaps it helps them stop smoking? You must take the positives. We noticed lots of people getting hit, thankfully they had been all near me however did not. It did not hit me.
“It is robust when it is late within the sport and the followers are pissed off however you should not throw issues on the sphere. It may well damage folks. I used to be simply attempting to take a nook and get out of there as quick as doable.”
Man of the Match – Luis Diaz
A aim and an help in his return to an previous Portuguese rival – is he higher than that? One other nice night for the Liverpool striker.
Opta stats – Liverpool make the most of the primary leg
- Liverpool beat Benfica within the Champions League and European Cup match for the primary time since October 1984 (3-1), after shedding the earlier three matches earlier than tonight with out scoring any aim.
- Sadio Mane scored his twenty second aim within the UEFA Champions League, surpassing Steven Gerrard (21) to be Liverpool’s second-best scorer within the competitors, behind Mohamed Salah (33).
- Darwin Nunez has scored his fifth aim within the UEFA Champions League this season, and no participant has ever scored extra for Benfica in a single season within the competitors.
What then?
Tuesday’s Champions League match kicks off an enormous 11-day interval with Liverpool. They face Premier League rivals Man Metropolis on Tremendous Sunday, reside on Sky Sports activities from 4pm; Match begins 4:30 pm.
Liverpool will then host Benfica subsequent Wednesday within the second leg of the quarter-finals, earlier than dealing with Manchester Metropolis once more within the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, April 16.
