Liverpool qualified for the semi-finals despite a shaky defensive performance against the Portuguese side.
Benfica held Liverpool to a 3-3 draw in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday. The Portuguese giants displayed an impressive performance but crashed out of the competition after a 6-4 defeat on aggregate.
The Reds get it done at Anfield!
Liverpool slowed the game down as they tried to control Benfica’s efforts to clinch an early opener. They got more than what they wanted when Ibrahima Konate scored a header to make it 1-0 in the 21st minute.
The Reds were on their way to ending the first half being ahead when a mistake from James Milner resulted in Benfica’s equalizer. The Reds restored their lead through Diego Firmino five minutes before the hour-mark, with the Brazilian making it 3-1 only ten minutes later.
Once again, Liverpool’s poor defensive form resulted in Benfica finding a chance behind their backline. Roman Yaremchuk scored his side’s second goal, making the game 6-3 on aggregate.
The Portuguese side went all-in with their attacks in the second half and managed to equalize the game once again through Darwin Nunez. However, it was already too late to change the aggregate result.
What’s next for Liverpool?
Liverpool will face Villarreal in the semi-finals. Having already eliminated Bayern Munich and Juventus in the knock-out stage, the Yellow Submarines will look to continue their Champions League dream run against Jurgen Klopp’s side.
For now, the Reds must worry about another semi-final in the FA Cup, where they will face Man City at Wembley. The two sides drew 2-2 in the Premier League earlier this week.
Player Ratings
Liverpool: Alisson (5), Gomez (7), Konate (6), Matip (5), Tsimikas (8), Keita (7), Milner (5), Henderson (6), Jota (7), Firmino (9), Diaz (7).
Bench: Thiago (7), Mane (6), Salah (6), Fabinho (5), Origi (6).
Benfica: Vlachodimos (6), Gilberto (6), Otamendi (7), Vertonghen (5), Grimaldo (7), Taarabt (5), Weigl (7), Goncalves (6), G. Ramos (7), Everton (6), Nunez (8).
Bench: Bernardo (7), Dias (7), Almeida (6), Mario (7), Yaremchuk (6).
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