Jurgen Klopp’s decision to rotate his squad for the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal second leg against SL Benfica did not hamper his side’s progression to the next round. The Reds drew 3-3 against their opponents, winning the tie on aggregate.
Liverpool carried a 3-1 aggregate win with them back to Anfield following the events that unfolded last week at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. The Eagles, with nothing left to play for, came out of the blocks flying when the teams resumed their tie at Anfield.
The Primeira Liga outfit would have felt positive, if not insulted, that Klopp had decided to heavily rotate the squad ahead of the second leg, with none of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson, or Virgil van Dijk in the starting XI.
Nonetheless, despite the absences of several of their key men, Liverpool took the lead in the 21st minute through Ibrahima Konate. As he had done in the first leg, the Frenchman climbed highest from a corner to head the ball past an outstretched Odysseas Vlachodimos – the goalkeeper left with no chance due to the placement of Konate’s header.
A few minutes later, Darwin Nunez had the ball in the back of the net for what he thought was 1-1, but the celebrations in the away end of Anfield were cut short when the linesman raised his flag, indicating Nunez had been offside when he chipped goalkeeper Alisson.
Goncalo Ramos brought Benfica level in the 32nd minute, slamming a shot past Alisson from the edge of the box after James Milner had inadvertently diverted the ball in his path.
However, shortly after the break, a brace from Roberto Firmino pulled Liverpool clear ahead of their opponents; the Brazil international tapped in his first from close range following a mistake from Vlachodimos and converted his second off a cross from Kostas Tsimikas from a free-kick.
Ukraine international Roman Yaremchuk pulled a goal back for Benfica in the 73rd minute. The forward beat Liverpool’s offside trap before rounding Alisson and poking the ball in an empty net. In a remarkably similar manner, Joao Mario ran in behind the Reds’ backline nine minutes later, and, while his touch was heavy, Nunez finished off the chance with a sublime shot, cutting in from the left. Both times VAR was called into action, and the goal stood.
Alisson made a one-handed save at his near post to deny Nunez from giving Benfica the lead a minute after they had equalized. At the other end, Sadio Mane had the ball in the net for Liverpool in the 90th minute, but his goal was called back for offside.
Nonetheless, the Reds had done the job in the first leg of the tie itself – a 3-1 win in Portugal allowing them to progress to the semifinal, 6-4 on aggregate. Klopp’s side will face Villarreal in the semis.
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