Liverpool gained major ground in the two-legged Champions League quarter-final contest with the Reds claiming a 3-1 win in the first leg contest against Benfica on Tuesday night.
MATCH PROCEEDINGS
The visitors sprang into action early on in the opening minutes of the game with Mohamed Salah drawing a block from Benfica defender Nicolas Otamendi as the former attempted to slot a near-post finish.
With Naby Keita’s effort bringing Benfica goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos into action, Liverpool did not have to wait long to find the breakthrough which arrived in the 17th minute.
Ibrahim Konate escaped his marker to head home from an Andy Robertson corner delivery as Jurgen Klopp’s made it 1-0 from a sublime set-piece routine.
Luis Diaz came close to making it a double for Liverpool but the Columbian winger was denied by Vlachodimos only for Diaz to turn provider just minutes later.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was key to the play that set Diaz off on the left flank with the latter teeing up Sadio Mane for an easy strike to find the back of the net.
The second period’s opening stages had the home side Benfica pull one back through dangerman Nunez who got the better of Alisson after Konate’s misplaced clearance.
Klopp rang in changes from the bench with the likes of Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Jordan Henderson coming on as the Liverpool boss attempted to cement the game in his side’s favour.
The Merseysiders left it quite late to rubber-stamp the first leg win with Naby Keita releasing a well-placed pass to Diaz who went around Vlachodimos and tucked the ball into the open net.
