Liverpool booked their spot in the semi-finals of the Champions League as they produced one of the high-scoring football results of the weekend in the Champions League. Ibrahima Konate put the hosts ahead in the 21st minute before Goncalo Ramos equalized in the 32nd minute. Firmino put the hosts ahead in the 55th minute before doubling their advantage in the 65th minute. Roman Yaremchuk pulled one back for the visitors in the 73rd minute before Darwin Nunez equalized in the 81st minute.
Player ratings
Liverpool: Alisson (8), Gomez (7), Matip (7), Konate (7), Tsimikas (8), Keita (7), Milner (6), Henderson (6), Jota (7), Firmino (8), Diaz (7)
Subs: Salah (7), Mane (6), Thiago (6)
Benfica:Vlachodimos (6), Gilberto (7), Otamendi (6), Vertonghen (6), Grimaldo (7), Everton (7), Weigl (7), Taarabt (7), Diogo Goncalves (6), Goncalo Ramos (7), Nunez (8)
Subs:Joao Mario (7), Yaremchuk (7)
Man of the match: Darwin Núñez
Managers Reaction
“The day when we qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions League and I’m not happy, come here and knock me out – it would make no sense,” Klopp told BT Sport. “We made seven changes for good reason and played a really good first half where I liked a lot of things. But 3-1 up, the last line has never played together and it’s about details. It’s difficult to keep 100 percent concentrated, the opposition will celebrate that they got a draw, a result here, but we didn’t have the perfect mindset at that moment.”
“Of course, it wasn’t exactly what we wanted to do, but it’s not important. Playing the best game of the season tonight or our whole time together, wouldn’t have made it any more likely to get into the final. We played the game we played, we’re through and that’s all I wanted. I’m happy.”I was never in doubt about our line-up. We knew it would be hard, the backline has never played together.”
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