Liverpool will take a two-goal lead into the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Anfield after earning an important victory over Benfica in Lisbon.
Luis Diaz scored late in the second half to put Jurgen Klopp’s side in control of the contest after it looked like they had failed to capitalize on a dominant first half.
Ibrahima Konate rose highest to head the visitors into the lead from a corner in the 17th minute before Sadio Mane added a clinical second to dampen the mood at a lively Estadio da Luz.
But the home fans ramped up the noise again shortly after the interval when Konate’s mistake allowed sought-after striker Darwin Nunez to pull one back for the Portuguese outfit.
The Premier League side will have a healthy advantage when they welcome Benfica in the second leg next Wednesday, however, after Diaz added a late third with a composed finish after rounding the keeper.
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 number28player nameWeigl
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squad number49player nametaarabt
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squad number27player nameRafe
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squad number88player nameGoncalo Ramos
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squad number7player nameEverton
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squad number9player nameNunez
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squad numberelevenplayer nameMeite
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squad numberfifteenplayer nameYaremchuk
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squad numbertwentyplayer nameJoao Mario
Line-ups
benfica
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 99Vlachodimos
- twoJunior
- 30Otamendi
- 5Vertonghen
- 3Grimaldo
- 28Weigl
- 49taarabtBooked at 63minsSubstituted forMeiteat 70′minutes
- 27Ferreira Silva
- 88Matias RamosSubstituted forJoao Marioat 86′minutes
- 7Sousa SoaresSubstituted forYaremchukat 82′minutes
- 9Nunez
substitutes
- elevenMeite
- 14Seferović
- fifteenYaremchuk
- 17cupid goncalves
- twentyJoao Mario
- 22Lazarus
- 23Radonjic
- 31Bastiao Dias
- 3. 4Magalhaes de Almeida
- 55Bernardo Gonçalves
- 77Alex Leite
- 91Rodrigues da Silva
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Allison
- 66Alexander-ArnoldSubstituted forGomezat 89′minutes
- 5Konate
- 4van Dijk
- 26Robertson
- 8KeitaSubstituted forMilnerat 89′minutes
- 3fabinho
- 6Thiago AlcantaraBooked at 58minsSubstituted forHendersonat 61′minutes
- elevenSalahSubstituted forJotat 61′minutes
- 10ManeSubstituted forfirminoat 61′minutes
- 23Diaz
substitutes
- 7Milner
- 9firmino
- 12Gomez
- 14Henderson
- fifteenOxlade-Chamberlain
- 17jones
- 18Minamino
- twentyJot
- twenty-oneTsimikas
- 32Matip
- 62Kelleher
- 67Elliott
- Referee:
- Jesus Gil Manzano
LiveText
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Match ends, Benfica 1, Liverpool 3.
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Second half ends, Benfica 1, Liverpool 3.
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Corner, Liverpool. Grant by Nicolás Otamendi.
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Attempt saved. Diogo Jota (Liverpool) left footed shot from the center of the box is saved in the center of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Henderson with a through ball.
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Foul by Roberto Firmino (Liverpool).
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Alejandro Grimaldo (Benfica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by James Milner (Liverpool).
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Soualiho Meité (Benfica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Luis Diaz (Liverpool).
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Soualiho Meité (Benfica) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Benfica. Granted by Fabinho.
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Foul by James Milner (Liverpool).
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João Mário (Benfica) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Substitution, Liverpool. James Milner replaces Naby Keïta.
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Substitution, Liverpool. Joseph Gomez replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold.
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Goal! Benfica 1, Liverpool 3. Luis Diaz (Liverpool) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the center of the goal. Assisted by Naby Keïta with a through ball.
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Substitution, Benfica. João Mário replaces Gonçalo Ramos.
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Corner, Liverpool. Awarded by Julian Weigl.
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Attempt blocked. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Henderson.
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Corner, Liverpool. Awarded by Jan Vertonghen.
Reference-www.bbc.co.uk