LIVERPOOL reached the Champions League semi-finals after drawing their last eight second leg 3-3 at Anfield.
The Reds beat Benfica 3-1 out in Portugal last week and put the final nail in the coffin tonight, despite a late fight-back from the Portuguese side.
- RESULT: Liverpool 3-3 Benfica (6-4 on agg)
- Liverpool XI: Alisson, Gomez, Matip, Konate, Tsimikas, Milner, Henderson, Keita, Diaz, Jota, Firmino
- Benfica XI: Vlachodimos, Otamendi, Gilberto, Vertonghen, Grimaldo, Goncalves, Taarabt, Weigl, Everton, Ramos, Nunez
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Quadruple still on for Reds
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are still on for an unprecedented quadruple.
They take on Man City in the semi-final of the FA Cup on Saturday.
Champions League can be put on the back burner while they focus their attentions elsewhere.
Chance to write history……again
Liverpool will take on Unai Emery’s Villarreal in the Champions League semi-finals this season.
The winners will face Man City or Real Madrid in the final.
Last time Liverpool made the final they faced English opponents, we may be relishing another all English showdown this year.
Romantic evening in Paris
Liverpool fans can start dreaming of the final at Stade de France now they are only one step away.
The Reds have previously won the tournament in Paris.
In 1981 they met Real Madrid and beat the Spaniards 1-0.
Could history repeat itself?
Top of the Klopps
Jurgen Klopp takes his Liverpool team to their third Champions League semi-final as manager.
With Villarreal waiting, the German has a big chance of taking his talented Liverpool side to yet another final.
Able to rest players for the second leg tonight, it is very much job done by his side at Anfield.
FT: Liverpool 3-3 Benfica
The referee blows the final whistle.
Benfica have given Klopp’s team a shock this evening.
They are through to the semi-finals however!!
Liverpool 3-3 Benfica – Nunez goal disallowed
90+5. Darwin Nunez completes his hat trick.
Sadly for him two of them are disallowed for offside.
Much to the relief of the home fans.
Liverpool 3-3 Benfica – Salah chance!
90+3. It looked as though Liverpool may get the goal to win this leg.
The ball comes to Salah, he drops the shoulder to get onto his left.
As soon as he has created the space, he tries to curl it into the top corner but the ball is just too high.
Liverpool 3-3 Benfica
90+1. Origi comes on for Firmino.
Benfica making some changes as well, not giving up the ghost.
Liverpool running the clock down now.
Liverpool 3-3 Benfica
90. Sadio Mane scores for Liverpool but the flag goes up immediately.
The replay shows he is off by a country mile.
We are going to have four additional minutes here.
Liverpool 3-3 Benfica
89. The noise from the home fans has dwindled.
Those Benfica goals have silenced them.
Surely too little too late for the visitors.
Liverpool 3-3 Benfica
87. Benfica are still trying to press and get another goal.
When the attack breaks down Liverpool have numbers on the counter-attack.
The Reds seem happy to pass this around and manage the game to the final whistle.
Liverpool 3-3 Benfica
85. Well we have seen some goals here tonight.
With five minutes and any added time, this is possible still.
Another Benfica goal makes for a nervy finish for Liverpool.
Liverpool 3-3 Benfica – Nunez chance!
83. It was a great finish by Nunez for the goal.
This has lifted his confidence.
He has another shot on the half volley than Alisson has to get down to his right to save at full stretch.
Goal – Darwin Nunez (Benfica)
Liverpool 3-2 Benfica
81. Thiago has been his usual self since coming on.
No look passes, pulling the strings to get Liverpool going.
Nunez has scored but the flag is up for offside.
Liverpool 3-2 Benfica
79. Chance for Firmino for the hat trick.
The ball is played into Salah who flicks it into the path of Firmino.
As he looks to strike at goal the defender manages to get a block in.
Liverpool 3-2 Benfica
77. Benfica have given a good account of themselves today.
Liverpool opened them up way too easily for both second half goals but not many teams score two goals at Anfield.
Their fans are still enjoying their trip to England as they sing like they are going through to face Villarreal.
Liverpool 3-2 Benfica
75. Liverpool may be concerned with the goals they have conceded.
Then again with both full backs rested along with Virgil Van Dijk you could argue this is not their first team defence.
Corner to be taken by Tsimikas.
Liverpool 3-2 Benfica
73. The replay shows Joe Gomez played Yaremchuk onside there.
Cue the Benfica fans.
They still need another three goals.
Goal – Yaremchuk (Benfica)
Liverpool 3-1 Benfica
71. Nunez is still chasing the ball with some gusto after that clash with the boards earlier.
Yaremchuk beats the Liverpool line seemingly, rounds Alisson and puts the ball in the net.
VAR checking this one.
Liverpool 3-1 Benfica
69. The visitors seem to have lost their tempo now.
The Liverpool goals have knocked the stuffing out of them.
No way back for Benfica now surely with twenty minutes remaining.
Liverpool 3-1 Benfica
67. Liverpool are running rampant now.
Tsimikas gets a deep cross in towards Salah.
He knocks it down to Keita who shoots just wide.
Liverpool 3-1 Benfica
65. Diaz is given a standing ovation as he is replaced by Mane.
Joao Mario comes on for Adel Taarabt.
The Moroccan has been non-existent today.
Goal – Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
