The impossible dream is still alive, as Liverpool produced another assured European display to continue their remarkable quadruple quest.
Goals from Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mane, and an important late finish from the excellent Luis Diaz saw them put one foot into the Champions League semi-final. Yet it could - and should - have been both feet, and a guaranteed place in the last four. They took a sorry-looking Benfica side apart and produced enough big chances to have put this tie completely beyond doubt, but missed so many of them, with Mohammed Salah one of the chief culprits on stinker of an off night for the Egyptian.
Even so, their fifth consecutive away win in Europe, which equals an all-time club record, gives them an outstanding chance of making their 20th Euro semi slot and their 12th in this competition, which would equal Manchester United ’s British record. So it was no wonder Jurgen Klopp was left beaming at the end, as Diaz - who played for Benfica’s huge rivals Porto and was booed throughout the night - strode through in the final seconds to finish in style, and give the score line something of the sheen it deserved.
