Despite quiet performances from Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah that resulted in both getting hooked on the hour, Liverpool relied on the pass mastery of fullbacks Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson to defeat Benfica 3-1 in Lisbon on Tuesday while former Porto winger Luis Díaz returned to haunt his old rival with a goal and an assist.
The moment of the match was Liverpool's second in the 34th minute, which provided the Reds a deserved 2-0 halftime advantage.
Receiving possession from Ibrahima Konaté just inside Benfica's half, Alexander-Arnold took one touch to turn, spotted the run of Díaz on the opposite flank and drilled a 50-yard cross-field raker that drifted onto the Colombian's head like an airbus easing onto the tarmac. Díaz cushioned a header across goal to provide Mané with the easiest of finishes.
It was the crushing climax of a flat first half from Benfica, especially since Díaz had been assigned the role of villain inside the Estádio da Luz with his every touch being roundly jeered.
Sadio Mane scores his 15th goal of the season, easy as you like. pic.twitter.com/7f7MKfSWRc
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 5, 2022
Liverpool's vaunted delivery from its outside backs also accounted for the opening goal in the 17th minute, when a beautiful out-swinging corner from Robertson kept Odysseas Vlachodimos on his line and Konaté soared into planting a downward header inside the post.
What a time for Ibrahima Konaté to score his first #UCL goal!
Liverpool make the perfect start. pic.twitter.com/N4PJQrLqIp— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 5, 2022
For Benfica, the only positives were that Mané and Salah had been largely kept quiet in the run of play, while in-form striker Darwin Núñez looked dangerous in his ongoing duel with Konaté.
But could Benfica actually work those positives to their advantage? Yes.
Four minutes after the break, Konaté let a cross through his legs and the 22-year-old Núñez got his fifth goal of the UCL campaign.
DARWIN NUNEZ.
Ibrahima Konaté will want that one back. pic.twitter.com/IBqunw96GG— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 5, 2022
With the home crowd now roaring its side on and the team responding with some sustained periods of pressure, Jürgen Klopp was forced into action and promptly withdrew Salah and Mané, as well as the increasingly careless Thiago.
The control wouldn't return for Liverpool. Benfica's Everton Soares looked like racing clear and then Núñez threatened the same with Liverpool just managing to clear. Silva then closed down Alisson in the 83rd minute and the Brazilian keeper got insanely lucky to regain possession after evading the attacker but momentarily losing control of the ball. Things were looking great for the Eagles.
pic.twitter.com/yJw3ddSMEx Alisson is a better dribbler than CR7
— A5med (@VVDawi) April 5, 2022
It turned out to be a cruel Liverpool exercise in bending without breaking because with three minutes left, Díaz further aggravated Benfica supporters by adding his name to the scoresheet after Keïta won possession and played him through.
Luis Diaz comes back to haunt Benfica, he has never lost to them.
Naby Keita with the run and assist, Liverpool are active! pic.twitter.com/RfAxk4BF8G— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 5, 2022
"It was a tough game, on top first half, created good chances and could have gone in a couple more up," Robertson said after the match. "We wanted to keep it tight and unfortunately didn't do that. They got a goal, lifted the crowd, we got a bit sloppy. The third goal was big but we've still got a bit more to do."
Liverpool takes the two-goal advantage back to Anfield for the second leg on Wednesday, April 13. Benfica needs a minor miracle.
