Benfica 1-3 Liverpool Highlights: Liverpool hold a comfortable two-goal advantage going into the 2nd Leg as Mane, Konate and Luis Diaz score against Benfica

Benfica 1-3 Liverpool Highlights: Benfica lose to Liverpool 1-3 in the Champions League Quarterfinal 1st Leg – The Reds ran out comfortable winners but were made to work by an improved second-half Benfica performance. Liverpool took control of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Benfica as they claimed a hard-fought 3-1 win in Portugal. Jurgen Klopp’s side looked to be cruising into the last four after first-half goals from Ibrahima Konate and Sadio Mane gave them a deserved half-time lead. However, Benfica were back in it when Darwin Nunez netted shortly after the restart, and they continued to threaten an equaliser before Luis Diaz wrapped things up for the Reds. Follow UCL 2021/22 Live updates on InsideSport.IN

Benfica 1-3 Liverpool Highlights: Liverpool hold a comfortable two-goal advantage going into the 2nd Leg as Mane, Konate and Luis Diaz score against Benfica

Benfica vs Liverpool Scorers: Núñez 49′; Konaté 17′, Mané 34′, Diaz 87′ – Liverpool’s first-half performance in Portugal was enough to earn the upper hand against Benfica after a 3-1 win. The Reds controlled things against the hosts right from the first whistle and showed they were keen to turn the tie in their favour by putting multiple efforts on target in the opening minutes.

JOB. DONE.

We’re coming home with a two-goal cushion!#SLBLIV | #UCL pic.twitter.com/LgHN8e10D4

— Liverpool FC USA (@LFCUSA) April 5, 2022

Benfica 1-3 Liverpool Highlights: Liverpool hold a comfortable two-goal advantage

A fast-paced early break from Rafa seemed to hint at how Benfica might trouble their opponents and Nunez soon followed suit to provide a low cross that deserved better support. But Liverpool, too, were creating chances and eventually took one when Konate rose highest in space to head home an Andy Robertson corner.

Benfica 1-3 Liverpool Highlights: Liverpool hold a comfortable two-goal advantage going into the 2nd Leg as Mane, Konate and Luis Diaz score against Benfica

That marked the start of utter domination from the visitors, who double their tally just past the half-hour mark when Diaz nodded down a beauty of a Trent Alexander-Arnold pass to hand Sadio Mane a tap-in.

Alexander-Arnold almost created another goal just before the break, an incredible pass on the turn putting in Mohamed Salah for a one-on-one that he should have done better with. Just four minutes after the restart the visitors looked wide open even before Konate’s miscued back-post clearance allowed Nunez all the time in the world to side-foot home and ignite the atmosphere once more.

Benfica 1-3 Liverpool Highlights: Sadio Mane, Konate and Luis Diaz score three goals against Benfica

Nelson Verissimo’s men were subsequently transformed and went close again through a Nunez header before Everton shot straight at Alisson when he perhaps should have found a corner. That flurry of opportunities prompted Klopp to look to his bench, Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota emerging all at once to try and settle things down.

Benfica 1-3 Liverpool Highlights: Liverpool hold a comfortable two-goal advantage going into the 2nd Leg as Mane, Konate and Luis Diaz score against Benfica

The trio partially succeeded in their aim, although they weren’t capable of entirely negating Benfica’s threat on the break, or silencing cacophony that greeted their every burst forward.

However, unaided by any mistakes similar to that which allowed Nunez to score, the hosts failed to find a second goal. And they were hit by a late sucker punch when a heavy deflection on a Naby Keita through-ball allow Diaz to round Odisseas Vlachodimos and pass the ball home.

Inputs (FotMob, AFP)

Benfica 1-3 Liverpool Highlights: Liverpool hold a comfortable two-goal advantage going into the 2nd Leg as Mane, Konate and Luis Diaz score against Benfica