Liverpool vs Benfica LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight as Red into semi-finals
Relive the action from Anfield as Liverpool reach the Champions League semi-finals
Liverpool progressed to the semi-finals of the Champions League after a goal fest in their quarter-final second leg against Benfica at Anfield.
Ibrahima Konate scored his second goal of the tie to put Liverpool three goals up on aggregate just after the 20 minute mark before Goncalo Ramos fired in an equaliser to send the teams into half-time at 1-1 (4-2agg).
Liverpool stepped it up after the restart and seemingly finished off the game hust after the hour mark following a brace from Roberto Firmino to put them four goals clear on aggregate. That comfort began to show as they slackened off defensively allowing Benfica to take advantage of their high line with runs in behind.
Substitute Roman Yaremchuk snuck in through the middle as Joel Matip was too slow to get out and his calm finish kept Benfica hopes alive. They still needed three goals to regain parity and a remarkable comeback was seemingly on when Darwin Nunez netted with 10 minutes or so to play.
Liverpool managed the tense final minutes well and kept Benfica at bay. Both teams had goals disallowed in the closing stages but ultimately the task was too great for the visitors as Liverpool closed out the game.
Relive all the action from Anfield as Liverpool beat Benfica in the Champions League quarter-finals:
Liverpool 0 - 0 Benfica (3-1 agg)
6 mins: It’s been a decent for Benfica. They’ve had a fair amount of possession and are committing men up the pitch trying to use the wide areas to get around Liverpool’s back four.
Liverpool are being patient, trying to keep control of possession and pick their moments.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Benfica (3-1 agg)
3 mins: Diogo Goncalves makes an early run down the left wing and races Joe Gomez to a dropping ball that comes over thr top of the Liverpool defence. Gomez gets there just ahead of the striker before the offside flag goes up.
Benfica seem to have targeted Liverpool’s left side. Darwin Nunez sweeps forward and flicks a cross into the middle. Everton is hovering around the centre spot but Kostas Tsimikas squeezes in front of him and clears the danger for Liverpool.
Kick off: Liverpool 0 - 0 Benfica (3-1 agg)
There’s a minute’s silence before kick off as Anfield pays tribute to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Both teams then take the knee to maintain their stance for racial equality and Benfica kick off the match.
Liverpool vs Benfica
Here come the teams. As usual the atmosphere is brilliant inside Anfield. The stadium really does come alive for European nights. Jordan Henderson leads out the Reds and the Champions League theme rings out around the ground.
Kick off is next...
Liverpool vs Benfica
Can Liverpool keep a clean sheet tonight and make it into the Champions League semi-finals? Kick off at Anfield is less than 10 minutes away.
When are the Champions League semi-finals?
The Champions League semi-finals are nearly upon us with a thrilling round of quarter-final clashes set to leave just four teams in the hat for Europe’s most coveted trophy.
There is still very much English interest in the competition with Manchester City and Liverpool on track to keeping alive the possibility of an all-Premier League affair in Paris next month.
But there are still huge hurdles in the way of them reaching the final, with the likes of 13-time winners Real Madrid and fellow Spanish side Villarreal potentially lurking.
Liverpool are searching for a seventh European Cup, while Manchester City are still hunting for their first.
Here is all you need to know about the Champions League semi-finals:
When are the Champions League semi-finals?
The Champions League will be whittled down to the final four as the road to Paris grows closer
Liverpool vs Benfica
13 of Mane’s last 19 goals in the Champions League have been scored during the knockout phase.
Liverpool vs Benfica
Liverpool are looking to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the third time under Jurgen Klopp. If they defeated Benfica tonight, they’ll face Villarreal in the next round.
Liverpool vs Benfica
Benfica have only won one of their last nine away games in the Champions League - three draws, five defeats - although that victory did come in the last round as they eliminated Ajax (1-0 last month).
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