Liverpool’s only defeat of 2022 so far has come in the Champions League, but they didn’t need to win in a return game against Inter Milan.
It was a fantastic race for Jurgen Klopp because they had a real chance of a historic quadruple.
Corn Benfica is not child’s play – as they showed in their beat against Ajax, which saw them qualify for the quarter-finals.
Nonetheless, Liverpool has a near-fit squad and will be incredibly confident they can return from Portugal with an advantage ahead of next week’s second leg.
Here’s everything you need to know about tonight’s game.
When is it?
The game will occur at Estadio da Luz on Tuesday, April 5.
Kick-off is planned for 8 p.m. GMT.
How can I watch it?
BT Sport 3 and BT Sport Ultimate will broadcast the action live, with the game also available to stream on the broadcaster’s website and app.
What’s up with the team?
Striker Rodrigo Pinho and defender Lucas Verissimo will both miss the game for Benfica – while Adel Taarabt is a doubt after missing the Braga clash. But former Premier League players Nicolas Otamendi and Jan Vertonghen are expected to start.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to return to Klopp’s side after missing out on a victory over Watford on Saturday. Curtis Jones and Joe Matip should be available, but Naby Keita remains doubtful. The rest of the Liverpool squad is fit and ready for the game.
Planned compositions
Benfica: Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Otamendi, Vertonghen, Grimaldo; Silva, Mario, Weigl, Everton; Nunez, Yaremchuk.
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexandre-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Jota, mane, Jota.
odds
Benfica – 15/2
Draw – 15/4
Liverpool – 4/11
Prediction
Liverpool has enjoyed a sensational record in Portugal over the past few seasons. This one can be more complex work than some expect, but you still expect visitors to do the job. 2-1 Liverpool.
Benfica vs. Liverpool prediction: How will the Champions League match go tonight?
After the two underdogs had played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the first leg, Nunez headed home the only goal of the second leg with 13 minutes remaining to upset the odds somewhat, and the free-scoring Uruguayan could undoubtedly command a hefty figure from interested parties this summer.
Nunez was on target again against Sporting Braga in Friday’s Primeira Liga battle – this time off the bench – but his penalty proved inconsequential as Benfica went down 3-2 on the night, with Vitinha netting the all-important winner for the hosts.
Seeing a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions end is hardly ideal preparation for a meeting with Liverpool. Benfica has never made it past the quarter-finals of the Champions League in its current format – most recently bowing out to Bayern Munich at this stage in 2015-16.
Still, two strikes against Sporting Braga at least kept up Benfica’s strong run of scoring in every game since the turn of the year, and they have won six of their last eight Champions League games on their turf, so Liverpool must have their wits about them lest they end up like Barcelona.
If any team were going to break Liverpool’s remarkable resilience on the Anfield turf, it would be Scudetto holders Inter Milan, who did so in some style as Lautaro Martinez rifled in a spectacular long-range effort to make things interesting in the second leg.
However, Alexis Sanchez’s red card not long after killed any Nerazzurri hopes of a dramatic fightback, as Liverpool’s San Siro endeavors saw them through to the quarter-finals, and the quadruple dream is still alive for the raucous Kop.
The Reds were far from their free-flowing best in Saturday’s Premier League clash with Watford. Nevertheless, they got over the line through Diogo Jota’s header and Fabinho’s penalty. This result saw them rise to the summit for two-and-a-half hours before Manchester City restored order.
Defeat to Inter in the second leg is the only game that Liverpool have not won in their last 17 across all competitions – each of their last seven away matches has ended in victory – and Klopp’s side went through all of February and March without conceding a goal away from home.
Liverpool was sent packing at this stage in the 2020-21 Champions League by Real Madrid, though, and they also lost 3-0 on aggregate to Benfica in the last 16 of the 2005-06 edition before advancing 5-3 on aggregate in the quarters of the 2009-10 Europa League.
