Liverpool are into the Champions League semi finals, but only after they surrendered a two-goal lead on the night drawing with Benfica 3-3 to earn a 6-4 aggregate win.
Jurgen Klopp’s side came into the game in a strong position after the 3-1 win in Lisbon and an early header from Ibrahima Konate and a Roberto Firmino brace ensured their passage into the last four, where they will face off against surprise package Villarreal in the later this month.
Liverpool knew a fast start would all-but secure their progression and they got just that, with Konate nodding in from a Kostas Tsimikas corner after just 21 minutes. Benfica weren’t to be deterred however and Darwin Nunez had a goal ruled out seconds later for an offside, before Goncalo Ramos wasn’t to be denied and levelled the scores on the night and brought them back within two goals.
And the goal seemed to briefly give the visitors a dose of confidence that they could yet turn the tie on its head. However, after an indifferent start to the second half, Roberto Firmino re-established Liverpool's healthy lead after a comedy of errors at the back and then appeared to completely ended any hopes of a stirring comeback with his second shortly after the hour mark.
Benfica looked resigned to their fate before breaching the home side's defence twice in nine minutes, first from Roman Yaremchuk and then Darwin Nunez. Liverpool managed the final ten minutes professionally however and their hopes of winning an unprecedented treble are stronger than ever. Mirror Football has the big talking points from a thrilling encounter at Anfield.
On the front foot
Jordan Henderson warned his team-mates to not take Benfica for granted, particularly in the wake of Chelsea ’s fast start in Madrid and Villarreal knocking out Bayern. "If we want to go through, we will have to be at our best,” he wrote in Wednesday night’s matchday programme. “It really is that simple."
However, after the exploits of Sunday vs Man City, combined with their comfortable position, Liverpool may have been excused for having somewhat of a slow start.
But right from the first whistle the Reds looked desperate to put the tie out of their opponents’ hands with an early goal. Konate’s opener was almost a carbon copy of his goal in Lisbon last week and was a rich reward for the positive mindset his team deployed.
Klopp sticks to his word
“Of course, it is,” the Reds boss replied when asked last month if the current Liverpool squad was the strongest in his time at the club. “We had this strong squad, they were just unavailable. Now they are available. That makes it the squad that we always wanted to have.”
Being able to rotate his squad felt like a pipe dream last season, such was the extent of their chronic injury issues. It’s a different story this time around however and making seven changes for such a massive game proves just how much Klopp can now rely on the role players within his squad.
The German suggested he made the changes to have some ‘fresh legs’ in between back-to-back domestic games with Manchester City, the ability to rest players could yet prove the major difference.
Firmino’s timely reminder
Whenever you think Roberto Firmino is being phased out of a prominent role at Liverpool, he reminds any doubters of just what he can offer his side. His selfless running, high press and link-up play is well acknowledged, but the Brazilian has a handy knack of scoring at crucial times.
Benfica were just beginning to grow in confidence when he opened his account, while his second ended the tie as a competitive contest. He now has 11 goals in all competitions and he still has a pivotal role between now and May.
There is a very good chance he will come back out of the starting XI at Wembley, but Klopp - perhaps more than anyone - knows exactly what he has in reserve.
The state of play
With 51 games down of this mammoth season, Liverpool have a maximum of just 11 between them and sporting immortality. In the Premier League, they still remain firmly in the hunt for the title, although they will be relying on Manchester City dropping points.
And with their Champions League progression in the bag, all eyes return to the FA Cup where they will face City in a Wembley semi-final on Saturday. Klopp’s side should be a touch fresher, with Pep Guardiola forced to start both bruising encounters with Atletico Madrid.
It’s then back-to-back league games with rivals Manchester United and Everton, before the first leg against Villarreal and a quick turnaround for Newcastle away on the Saturday lunchtime - a scheduling decision which has left Klopp furious.
They may yet fall short, but few if, if anybody outside of the confines of Anfield, felt that with a half century of matches on the board, it would be all still to play for.
Nunez aces his audition
If this was an audition for a move to the Premier League this summer, Darwin Nunez passed it with flying colours. In fact, he was so impressive that any potential suitors will likely need to dig a little deeper into their pockets to sign him.
Nunez appears to have everything needed to thrive in the Premier League, with his pace, direct running and strength something which should translate instantly to the English top flight. For all of those physical traits, it’s perhaps his unerring ability in front of goal which will make him most appealing.
The battle to sign him could be one of the most intriguing of the summer, but the Uruguayan looks right at home scoring goals in stadiums like Anfield.
A lingering concern
This may have been a vastly different back four, but it was a Liverpool defence struggling with the same issue that City managed to exploit in Sunday’s titanic title clash. Caught offside on a couple of occasions, Benfica regularly played on Liverpool’s high line and got in on a number of occasions, particularly in the second half.
It is a part of Klopp’s style which won’t be shelved for the foreseeable future, but Benfica at least showed there was a way to hurt the Reds. Unai Emery and Villarreal will have been taking notes.
