Benfica vs. Liverpool result: Late Luis Diaz strike wraps up comfortable Champions League quarterfinal away win

Carrie Dunn

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Benfica vs. Liverpool result: Late Luis Diaz strike wraps up comfortable Champions League quarterfinal away win image

Liverpool have one foot in the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League as they extended their run to 17 wins in their last 18 matches, including nine victories out of nine away from home.

And it was former Porto man Luis Diaz who compounded the damage, slotting home late on to restore the Reds' two-goal advantage to take back to Anfield.

Ibrahim Konate opened the scoring with Sadio Mane adding a second before half-time. Benfica's Darwin Nunez got one back early in the second period, with Konate turning villain, allowing the ball to bounce past his legs and land at the feet of the opposition striker.

That Nunez goal, however, made for a much more even spell of play, with excellent chances at both ends before Diaz's late strike wrapped up the match.

Liverpool's quest for a historic quadruple continues. The only down side was a late injury to Fabinho, who received lengthy treatment on the pitch following a clash of heads.

MORE: Liverpool's quadruple chase in 2021-22

Benfica vs. Liverpool final score

  1H 2H Final
Benfica 0 1 1
Liverpool 2 1 3

Goals:
Benfica - Nunez - 49 mins

Liverpool - Konate (Robertson) - 17 mins; Mane (Diaz) - 34 mins; Diaz (Keita) - 87 mins

Benfica vs. Liverpool live updates, highlights

Final: Benfica 1 Liverpool 3

FULL-TIME: Benfica 1 Liverpool 3 That's five successive away wins in the Champions League for Liverpool as their hot streak continues. They have a sound cushion to take back to Anfield next week when they'll look to confirm their place in the semifinals.

90th min: Nasty clash of heads here with Fabinho coming off worst - there'll be some injury time added on.

87th min: GOAL! Benfica 1 Liverpool 3 Liverpool's two-goal lead is restored and it's the player the Benfica fans least wanted to see on the scoresheet - Luis Diaz, going wide and slotting it home.

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81st min: And then it's a good chance for Liverpool! Diaz can't quite make the right connection with a ball fizzed in towards the far post, sending it high and wide under pressure from Otamendi.

78th min: Benfica look the more likely to get the next goal at the moment, although Liverpool have still dominated possession - around two-thirds of it so far.

67th min: Nunez thinks van Dijk has fouled him with an arm across his chest, and a penalty should be imminent, but the referee disagrees. The Benfica player continues to argue his case even though the VAR official has clearly spotted nothing.

60th min: Great save from Alisson as Nunez powers in a shot from close range. Benfica are in the ascendancy - and Jurgen Klopp is about to make three changes. Salah, Thiago, Mane off, Jota, Firmino, Henderson on.

56th min: Salah is trying to create space for himself in the box but he's being crowded out and can't keep the ball with him. The Benfica fans have turned up the volume since their goal.

49th min: GOAL! Benfica 1 Liverpool 2 Oh, horrible error from Konate, who completely misses his footing in the centre of the box, allowing Nunez behind him to lash home a cross from the right.

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46th min: Benfica get us started for the second half.

HALF-TIME: Liverpool are well in control, two goals to the good in Lisbon and dominating the game.

45th min: Trent Alexander-Arnold is simply scything through the Benfica backline now, sending a great ball through to Salah, but the goalkeeper makes the block.

34th min: GOAL! Benfica 0 Liverpool 2 Taarabt loses the ball in midfield, Trent sends in a long cross to Luis Diaz at the far post, who heads it down for Mane to tap right-footed into the net.

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29th min: Fabinho trips Ramos and though the referee gives a free kick - on the left, about 20 yards outside the box - he doesn't brandish a yellow card, which seems very lenient.

23th min: Benfica are finding Liverpool quite difficult to deal with at the moment, and mustering only the occasional break. Everton needs to do better with his finishing than this, though, shanked into the side-netting.

17th min: GOAL! Benfica 0 Liverpool 1 Konate is absolutely unmarked from a Robertson corner, rises at the far post and heads beautifully down into the corner. Good way to get your first goal for a club.

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9th min: Smart backheel from Sadio Mane puts Salah through, and his toe-poked effort is saved by the goalkeeper.

6th min: Trent Alexander-Arnold doesn't know that Everton is bearing down on him in the box, but fortunately for him, his clearance cannons off the Benfica man for a goal kick.

2nd min: Luis Diaz is upended on the left flank by Gilberto but gets up and brushes himself off. He's a former Porto player so not exactly a fan favourite here - he's getting some dedicated whistles all to himself.

1st min: Liverpool kick us off amidst a huge amount of whistling from the home fans.

5 mins to K/O: The teams are lined up in the tunnel, and there are red and white flags waving all around the stadium - so everyone will feel at home.

60 mins to K/O: Team news is in for Liverpool, with Trent Alexander-Arnold confirmed back in the starting lineup.

For Benfica, Adel Taarabt returns after a muscle problem.

90 mins to K/O:  The omens are positive for Liverpool though Benfica should prove more of a test than many expect.

Benfica vs. Liverpool lineups

Moroccan international Adel Taarabt is back after missing the last two games with a muscle problem, but veteran forward Haris Seferovic is on the bench. 

Benfica projected starting lineup (4-4-1-1, left to right): Odysseas (GK) — Grimaldo, Vertonghen, Otamendi, Gilberto — Everton, Weigl, Taarabt, Rafa — Ramos — Nunez.

Benfica subs (12): Helton Leite, Valentino, Morato, André Almeida, Meïte, João Mário, Paulo Bernardo, Diogo Gonçalves, Gil Dias, Nemanja, Seferovic, Yaremchuk.

Klopp will be without midfielder Curtis Jones after he was forced off against Watford with an ankle injury and centre back Joel Matip also misses out.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is also recalled to the visitors' back line, and Fabinho and Sadio Mane also return.

Liverpool starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): Alisson (GK) — Robertson, van Dijk, Konate, Alexander-Arnold — Thiago, Fabinho, Henderson — Mane, Jota, Salah

Liverpool subs (12): Kelleher, Milner, Firmino, Gomez, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Minamino, Jota, Tsimikas, Matip, Elliott.

MORE: Liverpool's Diaz and Jota aim to show there's life after Salah

How to watch Benfica vs. Liverpool

  UK USA Canada Australia
Date April 5 April 5 April 5 April 6
Time 20:00 15:00 ET 15:00 ET 05:00 AET
TV channel BT Sport 3 Galavision — —
Streaming NOW TV/BT Sport fuboTV, Paramount+ DAZN Stan Sport

UK: The match will be on BT Sport 3 in the UK, and the match can be streamed via the BT Sport app or on NOW TV.

USA: In the US, Spanish-language coverage of the Champions League is available on fuboTV, which also offers a free trial to new subscribers. The English-language stream is available to Paramount+ subscribers.

Canada: In Canada, every Champions League game streams live on DAZN. 

Australia: Stan Sport has exclusive rights to stream the UEFA Champions League in Australia.

Carrie Dunn