Naby Keita and Luis Diaz stood out, but Mohamed Salah was sub-par again as Liverpool beat Benfica 3-1 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
Liverpool dominated most of the first half, with chances coming few and far between for Benfica. But despite having the upper hand in the opening 45 minutes, Liverpool lacked the cutting edge to put the game to bed, considering the opportunities were there for the taking.
Nonetheless, Liverpool went into half-time with a handy two-goal lead, with Ibrahima Konate opening the scoring in the 17th minute by heading in a corner from Andrew Robertson. Robertson’s full-back partner Trent Alexander-Arnold got in on the act for the second goal, as his looping cross found Luis Diaz, who nodded the cross towards Sadio Mane for a tap-in.
Mohamed Salah looked out of sorts again and should have buried two openings in the first half. After the break, Benfica came guns blazing and deservedly pulled a goal back just four minutes into the second half through Darwin Nunez, who gleefully accepted the ball at his feet after a botched clearance from Konate.
Benfica’s goal left Liverpool helter-skelter for much of the second half, but the hosts could not capitalise on that, eventually allowing their visitors to find a stable footing. That helped Liverpool put the game to bed in the 87th minute, when Diaz rounded off Odysseas Vlachodimos after receiving the ball from Naby Keita, making no error in finding the back of the net.
The result means Liverpool should have one foot in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals ahead of next week’s return leg at Anfield. The Hard Tackle now runs the rule over Jurgen Klopp’s men following a convincing 3-1 win over Benfica.
Alisson Becker: 6/10
Alisson could not have done anything to keep out Darwin Nunez’s effort, which denied him a clean sheet. But the Brazilian international made a top-notch save to keep out Everton, preserving Liverpool’s one-goal lead at the time.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: 7.5/10
That Trent Alexander-Arnold pre-assist ?#UCL pic.twitter.com/6KLdUG6weS
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 5, 2022
Alexander-Arnold returned to the starting lineup after regaining match fitness, and the English international was sensational on the right flank. Alexander-Arnold was at his creative best against Benfica and should have had two assists to show for his efforts on Tuesday. Nonetheless, his pass to Luis Diaz in the build-up to Sadio Mane’s goal will have earned him many fans.
Ibrahima Konate: 6/10
Konate endured a game of two halves on Tuesday, as he was rock-solid in the opening period and scored the first Liverpool goal with a well-directed header. But the youngster made a meal of clearing Rafa Silva’s cross, allowing Nunez the chance to net a simple close-range strike.
Virgil van Dijk: 7/10
Virgil van Dijk was at his imposing best for most of Tuesday’s game, as he asserted Liverpool’s dominance from the back. The Dutch international, donning the armband for Liverpool in Jordan Henderson’s absence for the first hour, won all but one of his nine contested duels and made a few crucial clearances. He also retained a 96 per cent passing rate to ensure smooth build-ups from the back.
Andrew Robertson: 6.5/10
Robertson was much improved after a sub-par showing against Watford this past weekend. The Scot was a constant outlet down the left flank and grabbed the assist for the opener as Konate headed in his pinpoint delivery from a corner. But Robertson allowed Rafa Silva too much space to cross the ball for the Benfica goal, which he cannot afford against Manchester City.
Naby Keita: 8/10
Naby Keïta's game by numbers vs. Benfica:
92% pass accuracy
78 passes
10 duels won
8 ball recoveries
7 touches in opp. box
5 tackles made
4 shots
3 take-ons completed
2 chances created
2 Big Chances created
2 through balls
1 interception
1 assistChristmas came early. ? pic.twitter.com/Nfvsyeu9Ol
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 5, 2022
It speaks volumes about how high Klopp rates Keita that he was in the starting lineup as soon as he regained fitness. The Guinean midfielder repaid Klopp’s faith by producing a delightful display from the middle of the park, looking to carve the openings whenever he had the ball. The pass to Diaz for the third Liverpool goal was brilliant, to say the least.
Fabinho: 6.5/10
Fabinho was typically industrious for much of the game, as he barely put a foot wrong when on the ball while making some vital interventions. But the Brazilian international looked a little flabbergasted when Benfica piled on the pressure early in the second half. Fabinho soon assumed control and paved the way for Liverpool to clinch a crucial two-goal advantage.
Thiago Alcantara: 7/10
Thiago Alcantara was delightful in the first half, as he asserted Liverpool’s control on the proceedings with sumptuous passing. But the Spanish international started to look tired in the second half, prompting Klopp to replace him with Jordan Henderson, keeping one eye on the big game in the Premier League this weekend.
Mohamed Salah: 4/10
Salah was the Player to Watch in our preview for a second successive game. But for the second game in a row, the Liverpool talisman was out of sorts, even though he got close to scoring this time. The Egyptian international needs some inspiration to get back to his best, as he would have buried his two missed chances in his sleep in the season’s first half.
Sadio Mane: 7/10
Sadio Mané has now scored more Champions League goals for Liverpool (22) than Steven Gerrard. ?
Mohamed Salah is the only player in the club’s history with more (of course). #UCL pic.twitter.com/885lSItONA
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) April 5, 2022
Sane endured a game of hits and misses, as he looked lively in the final third but left a lot to be desired with his hold-up play. That said, Mane made no error in converting a close-range effort in the first half to hand Liverpool a major advantage. Klopp took him off at the hour mark with the game against Manchester City in mind.
Luis Diaz: 8/10
Diaz produced yet another performance that makes his acquisition look like a masterstroke. The Colombian international tormented Gilberto on his side and always looked like he could make things happen. Diaz selflessly set Mane up for the second Liverpool goal, nodding the ball towards the Senegalese forward to tap it in.
But the best was saved for last, as Diaz rounded Odysseas Vlachodimos to put the game to bed, this time getting the better of the Benfica goalkeeper after being denied with a dinked effort in the first half. Diaz continues to go from strength to strength and is proving to be a brilliant addition.
Jurgen Klopp on Luís Diaz: “He’s a top player. He’s a top, top world level player. It’s a joy for me to work with Luís every day, and I’m more than happy that we decided to sign him in January”. ??? #LFC
That moment when LFC decided to jump into it in 24 hours… what a signing. pic.twitter.com/15Qp72WMSB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 5, 2022
SUBSTITUTES
Jordan Henderson: 7/10
Henderson replaced a tiring Thiago at the hour mark and stepped up Liverpool’s output from the middle of the park, creating three key passes in his cameo. On another day, the Liverpool captain could have grabbed an assist.
Roberto Firmino: 6.5/10
Firmino was lively in the final third upon replacing Mane and circulated the possession smartly. He did not get a chance to score but linked up well with Luis Diaz.
Diogo Jota: 6/10
Jota was a bundle of energy after replacing Salah and had a good chance to find the back of the net but spurned a superb opening late in the game.
Joe Gomez: N/A
A late introduction, Gomez helped see the game out.
James Milner: N/A
A late introduction in place of Keita, Milner helped see the game out.
