Liverpool will be hoping to make their two-goal advantage count when they welcome Benfica FC to Anfield in the Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday evening.
The Reds took charge of their fate in the Champions League after securing a 3-1 victory over the Portuguese side in the first leg through goals from Sadio Mane, Ibrahima Konate and Luis Diaz in Lisbon.
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Ibrahima Konate headed home the opening goal for Liverpool from a corner before Sadio Mane slotted the ball home to put the visitors ahead at the Estadio da Luz before Darwin Nunez capitalised on an error from Konate to reduce the deficit but former FC Porto man Luiz Diaz put the game to bed in the dying moments of the game to put Liverpool insight of the semi-finals.
On a domestic front, Liverpool were forced to share the spoils with Manchester City in a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday when Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane cancelled out goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus.
Meanwhile, Benfica returned to winning ways by clinching a 3-1 victory over Belenenses SAD in the Portuguese League on Saturday thanks to a hat-trick from Darwin Nunez.
The Reds will be clear favourites coming into this match after claiming a 3-1 victory in the last fixture between them, but in the last five meetings between them, Benfica has claimed three wins to Liverpool’s two.
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Jurgen Klopp is expected to have everyone fit and available for the second leg following the recent return of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Naby Keita, who were both present during their draw against Manchester City.
Diogo Jota has been in some form for the Reds this season, having surpassed the 20 goal mark in his last two games in all competitions after scoring the equalising goal in Liverpool’s draw against rivals Man City.
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Benfica Champions League form:
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Liverpool Champions League form:
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