Benfica vs Liverpool news: Reds can take narrow first-leg advantage with win in Portugal

Dave Tindall
4 April 2022

Jurgen Klopp celebrates after Liverpool vs Watford

Jurgen Klopp’s men have won seven out of eight in the Champions League this season and should be able to edge Tuesday’s opening quarter-final tie.

Liverpool kept on track for a dream quadruple by briefly going top of the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Watford at Anfield on Saturday lunchtime.

Next weekend comes the crunch showdown with leaders Manchester City but before then the focus returns to Europe and a Champions League quarter-final, first-leg tie with Portuguese outfit Benfica.

The draw has been kind to the Reds given who else they could have been paired with at this stage but Jurgen Klopp won't be taking anything for granted against a Benfica outfit that eliminated fancied Ajax in the last 16.

When: Tuesday, April 5, 20:00 BST

Where: Estadio da Luz

How to watch: BT Sport 3

Follow this game via our score centre

Who is the ref for Benfica vs Liverpool

Spaniard Jesus Gil Manzano has been appointed for Tuesday evening's game, his fifth Champions League outing of the campaign.

He has awarded 12 yellows and no reds in his previous four UCL matches.

However, his last La Liga match saw him dish out five yellows and two reds as Athletic Bilbao drew 1-1 with Getafe.

Recent form

Liverpool returned from the international break with a 2-0 home win over Watford on Saturday, Diogo Jota and Fabinho getting the goals.

That represented a 10th straight Premier League win while they've won six of their last seven in all competitions, the last five of those without conceding a goal.

One recent trend is that the Reds haven't been scoring goals as freely. In fact, they haven't netted more than two in a game in their last eight outings.

Benfica are third in the Portuguese top flight - 12 points behind Porto, who Liverpool thrashed 5-1 at the Estadio do Dragao in September.

The hosts go into the game on the back of a 3-2 loss to Braga although that was Benfica's first defeat in 10 matches.

They came through the group with just eight points after two wins, two draws and two defeats.

That included contrasting home performances against two giants: a 4-0 defeat to Bayern in October after a 3-0 victory over Barcelona in September.

It's fair to say they caught Barca at a good time as it came during a run when the Catalans suffered five defeats in 10 matches.

Liverpool players in form

It's now 10 clean sheets in the last 13 matches for the Liverpool defence as Virgil van Dijk continues to marshal the Reds rearguard in impressive style.

Jota has netted four in his last five matches for club and country after getting the opener against Watford although he'll face stiff competition up front for a starting berth.

The fact he's up against home Portuguese opposition could persuade Klopp to give him the nod.

For Benfica, plenty of eyes will be on exciting youngster Darwin Nunez, whose goal sent the Portuguese side through against Ajax after the two had drawn the first leg 2-2 in Lisbon.

He was also on target in the loss to Braga, that strike taking his tally for Benfica this season to 25.

Last three meetings

Liverpool 4-1 Benfica (April 8, 2010)

These two last met in the Europa League in 2010 when Liverpool won their quarter-final 5-3 on aggregate.

Trailing 2-1 from the leg, the Merseysiders turned the tie around thanks to a brace from Fernando Torres and further strikes from Dirk Kuyt and Lucas.

Oscar Cardozo gave Benfica hope with a 70th-minute strike but Torres' second killed the tie off and sent Liverpool into a semi-final showdown with Atletico Madrid.

Benfica 2-1 Liverpool (April 1, 2010)

Liverpool ultimately came through their quarter-final match-up but they made life difficult for themselves in the first leg.

Daniel Agger put the Reds into an early lead but the game got away from them after Ryan Babel was shown a red card for pushing Luisao in the face.

Cardozo levelled from the spot just before the hour and added a second penalty 11 minutes from time to give Benfica a dramatic win.

Liverpool 0-2 Benfica (March 8, 2006)

Hoping for a famous night at Anfield to turn around a 1-0 first-leg deficit, the Reds were dumped out via a 2-0 defeat.

Liverpool were Champions League holders after their incredible comeback in Istanbul the previous May but there was no repeat of that magic here as they were sunk by goals either side of the break to crash out in the last 16.

Simao Sabrosa fired the visitors in front on 36 to leave the Reds needing three goals to turn the tie around but Benfica kept them out and iced the cake via Fabrizio Miccoli's overhead kick late on.

Past meetings

Benfica wins: 4

Draws: 1

Liverpool wins: 6

Benfica scored: 11

Liverpool scored: 19

Manager's thoughts

Jurgen Klopp: "I know people will say we are the favourites, but we are too long in the business now to make these kinds of mistakes.

"I respect a lot what they are doing there, it's a massive club. Obviously we have a few guys with a Porto history in my coaching staff [assistant boss Pep Ljinders was at Benfica's rivals for eight years from 2006-2014], so maybe there's a little bit of a feeling of a derby."

Predicted Benfica vs Liverpool teams

Trent Alexander-Arnold was fit enough to make the bench against Watford on Saturday and Klopp will likely recall him here.

Sadio Mane and Fabinho came on as substitutes against the Hornets after being away on international duty and both could be in the XI this time.

Luis Diaz will also be pushing for a starting berth as he returns to Portugal for the first time since joining Liverpool in the transfer window from FC Porto.

That could mean Mo Salah having a rare break. Liverpool's top marksman looked leggy against Watford and Klopp may opt to save him for the crunch showdown with Manchester City.

Both Mane and Jota would miss the second leg if picking up another booking.

Seven Benfica players are on a yellow which could affect how Nelson Verissimo picks his starting XI.

Possible Liverpool line-up: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Van Dijk, Matip, Henderson, Thiago, Fabinho, Jota, Mane, Diaz.

Possible Benfica starting line-up: Vlachodimos, Gilberto, Otamendi, Vertonghen, Grimaldo, Weigl, Taarabt, Everton, Goncalo Ramos, Rafa Silva, Darwin Nunez.

Benfica vs Liverpool prediction

Benfica have won six of their last eight Champions League games at home although the 4-0 reverse against Bayern hints at limitations against the very best.

Liverpool are winning without really pulling up any trees at the moment but they've won all four Champions League away games so far this season and can grind out a narrow win here.

Their frontline should have too much for Benfica's veteran rearguard of Jan Vertonghen and Nicolas Otamendi, and maybe a 1-0 or 2-1 scoreline is the most likely outcome.