Liverpool vs Benfica LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight as Red into semi-finals
Relive the action from Anfield as Liverpool reach the Champions League semi-finals
Liverpool progressed to the semi-finals of the Champions League after a goal fest in their quarter-final second leg against Benfica at Anfield.
Ibrahima Konate scored his second goal of the tie to put Liverpool three goals up on aggregate just after the 20 minute mark before Goncalo Ramos fired in an equaliser to send the teams into half-time at 1-1 (4-2agg).
Liverpool stepped it up after the restart and seemingly finished off the game hust after the hour mark following a brace from Roberto Firmino to put them four goals clear on aggregate. That comfort began to show as they slackened off defensively allowing Benfica to take advantage of their high line with runs in behind.
Substitute Roman Yaremchuk snuck in through the middle as Joel Matip was too slow to get out and his calm finish kept Benfica hopes alive. They still needed three goals to regain parity and a remarkable comeback was seemingly on when Darwin Nunez netted with 10 minutes or so to play.
Liverpool managed the tense final minutes well and kept Benfica at bay. Both teams had goals disallowed in the closing stages but ultimately the task was too great for the visitors as Liverpool closed out the game.
Relive all the action from Anfield as Liverpool beat Benfica in the Champions League quarter-finals:
Roberto Firmino scores twice to help Liverpool reach Champions League semi-finals with Benfica triumph
From Bayern Munich to Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain to Manchester United, Europe abounds with clubs who would love to advance into the last four of the Champions League with a full-strength team. Liverpool did it with a weakened side, setting up a semi-final date with Villarreal and eliminating Benfica while diverting their attentions to Manchester City.
They will be favourites to reach a third Champions League final in five seasons. They should be the fresher team at Wembley on Saturday as they seek to beat Pep Guardiola’s men and progress to a first FA Cup final in a decade.
Ibrahima Konate scored and Roberto Firmino struck twice in an example of Liverpool’s strength in depth. Benfica departed Anfield with a creditable draw and three goals as evidence of their attacking abilities, but Jurgen Klopp rested, rotated and reached the next round in entertaining fashion.
A 3-3 scoreline completed a 6-4 aggregate triumph and his quest for the quadruple continues.
Roberto Firmino scores twice as Liverpool reach Champions League semi-finals
Liverpool 3-3 Benfica (6-4 agg): Firmino’s double and Ibrahima Konate’s goal were enough to set up a semi-final against Villarreal after an entertaining evening at Anfield
Liverpool vs Benfica player ratings as Jurgen Klopp’s side reach the Champions League semi-finals
Liverpool drew with Benfica in the second leg of their quarter-final at Anfield but advanced to the Champions League semi-finals 6-4 on aggregate.
Roberto Firmino’s double followed Ibrahima Konaté’s opener as Jurgen Klopp’s side set up a semi-final clash with Villarreal, the club they beat in the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2016.
Jurgen Klopp made seven changes to the side that started the first leg in Lisbon, with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane starting on the bench, as Liverpool head to Wembley on Saturday for the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City.
It was Benfica’s first visit to Anfield in 12 years and goals from Gonçalo Ramos, Roman Yaremchuk and Darwin Núñez helped them impress but were not enough to send the Portuguese side through.
Here are the player ratings from Anfield.
Liverpool vs Benfica player ratings as Klopp’s side reach the semis
Liverpool 3-3 Benfica (Agg 6-4): Roberto Firmino’s brace set up a semi-final tie with Villarreal
Diogo Jota speaking to BT Sport
Reaction from Liverpool forward, Diogo Jota: “We tried do our best as always.
“They scored a goal almost out of nothing but at one point we were 6-2 up and maybe we started to relax when we shouldn’t be.
“We’re through and that’s the most important thing. We are still fighting for three trophies so it is very exciting. Now we go to play Manchester City and try to go through to the [FA Cup] final.”
Reaction from Jordan Henderson
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson spoke to BT Sport after the game saying: “I think we’d want to do better but I felt we started well, we could have scored more goals in the first half. We did well but we’re disappointed with the goals we conceded.
“We knew it would be tough. We wanted to give everything and we’re through which is the most important thing.
“They’ve [Villarreal] knocked out good sides. They’re a very good team and it will be a difficult tie. We need to be ready to give it everything and hopefully we can progress to the final.
“We want to do our best in every competition. We want to give a big push to compete in all of them.”
Liverpool 3 - 3 Benfica (6-4 agg)
Liverpool are into their third Champions League semi-final under Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool 3 - 3 Benfica (6-4 agg)
Liverpool have reached the semi-final of the European Cup/Champions League for a 12th time; no English club has reached the last four more often (level with Manchester United).
Liverpool 3 - 3 Benfica (6-4 agg)
Liverpool’s progression into the semi-finals means they’ll face Villarreal in the next round after the Spanish side defeated Bayern Munich last night.
Manchester City are also through after they beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 on aggregate and will play Real Madrid in their side of the draw.
The last four consists of two Spanish teams and two English ones. Will we see a Liverpool vs Manchester City final in May?
Full-time: Liverpool 3 - 3 Benfica (6-4 agg)
90+5 mins: Nunez scores again but this one is offside! That’s the last act of the game as the final whistle goes and Liverpool are through to the semi-finals!
Liverpool 3 - 3 Benfica (6-4 agg)
90+3 mins: Close! Tsimikas flicks a cross into the box and gets the ball to Mo Salah. He shifts it onto his left foot and curls a trademark shot towards the far top corner but sends his effort narrowly over the bar.
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