Jurgen Klopp and his team now have their eighth victory in nine Champions League games this season. This achievement over Benfica has helped them step closer to the semi-finals.
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In the UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool beat Benfica 3-1 in Portugal on Tuesday evening. And thanks to the efforts of Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mane, and Luis Diaz who gave the Reds a head start to inch closer to the Champions League semi-finals.
Ibrahima Konate opened the goalscoring doors for the team at the 17th-minute mark. Mane then doubled the lead just minutes before half-time.
However, a tiny error from Konate helped Darwin Nunez of Benfica restore an advantage – who pulled a decisive goal, giving hope to his team. But Luis Diaz delivered a brilliant goal only to make the score 3-1 – putting Liverpool in the top spot ahead of the tie. However, there are three important talking points from the match.
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The Frenchman had a mixed night. He scored his first goal for Liverpool against Benfica in a dominant first-half display. Andy Robertson belted the ball from a corner. The center-back similarly pushed the ball at the back of the net through a header.
The 22-year-old however made a silly mistake and made Liverpool concede a goal. Just four minutes into the second half, Uruguayan striker Nunez scored a goal – relieving the home side by sending ripples of joy across.
Liverpool put on an impressive show on Tuesday evening. Former Porto player, Luis Diaz – on his return to Portugal, made a star appearance. He clinched a goal minutes before stoppage time.
Jurgen Klopp and his team now have their eighth victory in nine Champions League games this season. This achievement over Benfica has helped them step closer to the semi-finals, and are most likely the favorites to ease a win at Anfield during the second leg.
A victory over the Portuguese side also means that Liverpool’s morale is boosted high. Along with their high hopes, they will bound to leave no stone unturned for their showdown with Manchester City on Sunday – in the exhilarating race for the Premier League title.
It was clear from the start that Liverpool will be a better side on that evening. Even with not having an upper hand, Benfica did put a tough fight throughout the game. The Reds boss was impressed and lauded Benfica during his post-match press conference.
Klopp, via Liverpool FC, was quoted as saying, “I have to say, a big compliment to Benfica, they really fought for their lives, especially after we opened the door a little bit for them. It was clear when they scored that the crowd will be back and the atmosphere was really, really good.”
Liverpool now marches into the second leg with a two-goal advantage against Benfica next Wednesday night. This could be enough for Klopp’s side to seize a victory, but it is all a matter of time.
