Liverpool won the first leg of the quarter-finals 3-1. And the “Reds” were clearly in the lead in the second leg as well. But then Benfica started a remarkable comeback.
Jürgen Klopp can breathe a sigh of relief: His Liverpool FC has reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. His “Reds” trembled in the final stages of the domestic second leg against Benfica.
The game at Anfield ended 3-3 after Liverpool had led 3-1 at times. By winning the first leg (3-1), the Klopp team has reached the next round and meets Villarreal there.
Ibrahima Konate (21′) and Roberto Firmino (55′, 65′) scored the hosts’ goals at Anfield. Goncalo Ramos (32′), Roman Yaremchuk (73′) and Darwin Nunez (82′) scored for Lisbon.
Ibrahima Konaté celebrates his goal to make it 1-0. (Source: imago images)
That’s how the game went
Klopp reacted to the insane hunt through the competitions and initially did without the regulars Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Thiago. The FA Cup semifinals against Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium are scheduled for Saturday. Three days after the rousing top game in the league at City (2: 2), the favorite initially had a hard time. The first warning shot was given by the guests, with national player Julian Weigl in the starting XI, through Everton (13th).
After that, the hosts got into the game better and increased the pressure. Konaté headed in from a corner. The ex-Leipziger had already been successful in the first leg. Lisbon was by no means hiding and equalized before the break through Ramos.
In the second half, Liverpool controlled the match with a lot of ball possession. Lisbon was mostly low and lurking for moments of change. But there were hardly any. Former Hoffenheim Firmino made everything clear with his double pack towards the semifinals, but Benfica didn’t give up and fought back again.