Liverpool remain on course for an historic quadruple after a thrilling draw with Benfica secured a two-legged Champions League semi-final against Villarreal.
Having established a 3-1 lead in Lisbon, Liverpool extended their advantage with Ibrahima Konate’s powerful 21st-minute header from a Kostas Tsimikas corner.
Benfica equalized through Goncalo Ramos’ excellent turn and finish, before Roberto Firmino’s two second-half goals – a tap-in followed by a volley – in front of the Kop looked to have put the Reds in control.
But after Roman Yaremchuk broke through to beat Alisson and make it 3-2 on the night, Darwin Nunez scored a late equalizer.
Nunez was then denied by Alisson as Benfica finished strongly but Liverpool held out to advance 6-4 on aggregate.
They now host Villarreal – the club they beat in the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2016 – on 27 April before traveling to Spain for the second leg on 4 May.
More to follow.
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benfica
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squad number99player nameVlachodimos
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squad numbertwoplayer nameGilbert
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squad number30player nameOtamendi
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squad number5player nameVertonghen
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squad number3player nameGrimaldo
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squad number49player nametaarabt
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squad number28player nameWeigl
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squad number7player nameEverton
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squad number88player nameGoncalo Ramos
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squad number17player nameDiogo Goncalves
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squad number9player nameNunez
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squad numberfifteenplayer nameYaremchuk
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squad numbertwentyplayer nameJoao Mario
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squad number31player nameGil Days
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squad number3. 4player nameAndre Almeida
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squad number55player namePaul Bernard
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- oneAllison
- 12Gomez
- 32Matip
- 5Konate
- twenty-oneTsimikas
- 8Keita
- 14HendersonSubstituted forfabinhoat 58′minutes
- 7MilnerSubstituted forThiago Alcantaraat 58′minutes
- 23DiazSubstituted forManeat 66′minutes
- 9firminoSubstituted forOriginat 90+1′minutes
- twentyJotSubstituted forSalahat 57′minutes
substitutes
- 3fabinho
- 4van Dijk
- 6Thiago Alcantara
- 10Mane
- elevenSalah
- fifteenOxlade-Chamberlain
- 17jones
- 26Robertson
- 27Origin
- 62Kelleher
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 67Elliott
benfica
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 99Vlachodimos
- twoJuniorSubstituted forBastiao Diasat 90+1′minutes
- 30Otamendi
- 5Vertonghen
- 3Grimaldo
- 49taarabtSubstituted forJoao Marioat 66′minutes
- 28Weigl
- 7Sousa SoaresSubstituted forMagalhaes de Almeidaat 90+1′minutes
- 88Matias RamosSubstituted forBernardo Gonçalvesat 78′minutes
- 17cupid goncalvesSubstituted forYaremchukat Four. Five’minutes
- 9Nunez
substitutes
- elevenMeite
- 14Seferović
- fifteenYaremchuk
- twentyJoao Mario
- 22Lazarus
- 23Radonjic
- 31Bastiao Dias
- 3. 4Magalhaes de Almeida
- 55Bernardo Gonçalves
- 77Alex Leite
- 89Costa Alvaro
- 91Rodrigues da Silva
- Referee:
- Serdar Gözübuyuk
LiveText
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Match ends, Liverpool 3, Benfica 3.
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Second half ends, Liverpool 3, Benfica 3.
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Offside, Benfica. Alejandro Grimaldo tries a through ball, but Darwin Núñez is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Konstantinos Tsimikas with a cross.
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Divock Origi (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica).
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Substitution, Benfica. Andre Almeida replaces Everton.
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Substitution, Liverpool. Divock Origi replaces Roberto Firmino.
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Substitution, Benfica. Gil Dias replaces Gilberto.
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Offside, Liverpool. Mohamed Salah tries a through ball, but Sadio Mané is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Thiago (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Liverpool. Awarded by Jan Vertonghen.
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Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sadio Mané.
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Attempt saved. Darwin Núñez (Benfica) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Paulo Bernardo with a cross.
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VAR Decision: Goal Liverpool 3-3 Benfica (João Mário).
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Goal! Liverpool 3, Benfica 3. Darwin Núñez (Benfica) right footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by João Mário.
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Attempt blocked. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) right footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.
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Substitution, Benfica. Paulo Bernardo replaces Gonçalo Ramos.
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Konstantinos Tsimikas (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Joao Mario (Benfica).
Reference-www.bbc.co.uk