If he Liverpool eliminate the benfica will play his third Champions League semi-final since arriving Jurgen Klopp. A boost to a club that is looking for poker titles this season and which is only separated from being among the four best on the continent by a duel with the benfica in which they start with a 1-3 lead.
Procedure for many, poisoned grief for others. The last precedent at Anfield in the Champions League was the 0-1 victory of Inter Milan, a match softened by an expulsion of the Italians. This alerts a Liverpool who breathes a sigh of relief to see in his pocket the 1-3 advantage with which they will play at Anfield.
Klopp’s team came out alive from one of the most complicated games of the season at the Etihad Stadium, a duel that keeps them in the fight for the Premier Leaguebut in which they were neutralized by a Manchester City who laid bare their strengths and showed that they are not invincible.
With that tie a streak of ten consecutive wins of the ‘networks‘ and the benfica this Wednesday can be another springboard before taking on the City this Saturday in the semifinals of the FA Cup.
Klopp otea his third semifinals as coach of the Liverpool with a wide advantage in the marker and the security that it confers Anfielda temple in which they have only lost once this season, in the round of 16 against Inter de Milanand in which they have only conceded three goals -the ones that Lisbon needs to sign the comeback- once this season, when they put a substitute team in the League Cup.
The German coach is likely to rely on the same players who managed to draw in Manchester, with a few minor tweaks, such as the introduction of Naby kaita in the middle by Jordan Henderson or of Luis Diaz up by Diogo Jot. Klopp The Colombian can be saved as a shock in the second half, but his latest performances cry out for ownership, especially in a duel in which he will have a special desire to face one of his great rivals in his time in the Port.
Benfica, in search of the impossible
For his part, the benfica travel to Liverpool looking for a new surprise in the Champions League, after managing to eliminate the Ajax in Amsterdam in the round of 16. But in the rooms the feat seems much more complicated, since this time they need to overcome a 1-3 and not a draw as happened against the Dutch teamand they will also face one of the favorites to take the “Orejona”.
History is not on the side of the “eagles”. The Lisbon club have only won 11 of the 39 European games they have played against English teams throughout its history. If the clashes against Liverpool are counted, the accounts are not favorable either: 4 wins in 11 games.
But Benfica, who are already unable to win the League – they are third, 15 points behind the leader Porto – have not given up their dream of reaching the semifinals of the ‘Champions’ for the first time since the current format is played and will travel to England with their gala team almost complete. The exception is Rafa Silva, who left at the last minute due to physical problems.
For the last league match, a 3-1 victory against bottom Belenenses, Nelson veríssimo decided to rest several players who had been starters in the first leg against Liverpool for a matter of “physical management”.
It is the case of Darwin Nunez, the main threat to the tranquility of Liverpool. The Uruguayan scored the goal of the benfica in the first leg and warned this weekend with a ‘hat-trick’ Bethlehem. In addition to Rafethe only incarnate casualties are Rodrigo Pinho Y Luke veríssimowith long-term injuries that have kept them out since last year.
Likely lineups
Liverpool: Allison; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson; Thiago, Fabinho, Henderson; Mané, Díaz or Jota and Salah.
benfica: Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Vertonghen, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Weigl, Taarabt; Diogo Goncalves, Ramos, Everton; Darwin Nunez.
Referee: Serdar Gözübüyük (HOL).
Stadium: Anfield (Liverpool).
Time: 21:00 CET (19:00 GMT).