Liverpool vs Benfica Champions League quarter-final preview: Where to watch, kick-off time, predicted line-ups

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

When is it? How can you watch it? What are the possible line-ups? All you need to know about the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg between Liverpool and Benfica.

Mohamed Salah trains with Liverpool on the eve of their quarter-final decider against Benfica Getty Images

Liverpool and Benfica meet in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg on Wednesday 13 April.

Liverpool vs Benfica at a glance

When: Wednesday 13 April (21:00 CET kick-off)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
What: UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg (first leg: 3-1)
How to follow: Build-up and live coverage will appear here
Semi-final opponents: Villarreal

Where to watch Liverpool vs Benfica on TV

Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.

What happened in the first leg?

Highlights: Benfica 1-3 Liverpool

Liverpool were, at times, at their ruthless, devastating best. Ibrahima Konaté's header – his first goal for the club – set them on their way, with Sadio Mané tapping in to make it 2-0 after Luis Díaz had met Trent Alexander-Arnold's raking pass with a cushioned header. Though Darwin Núñez pounced to halve the Reds' lead, Díaz applied a cool finish late on to put the Premier League side firmly in charge of the tie.

Away goals rule abolished

There has been a rule change for 2021/22: ties level after the second leg will go to extra time and a penalty shoot-out if required, irrespective of the number of away goals a team has scored.

Starting line-ups

Liverpool: Alisson Becker; Gomez, Matip, Konaté, Tsimikas; Keïta, Milner, Henderson; Luis Díaz, Firmino, Diogo Jota

Benfica: Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Otamendi, Vertonghen, Grimaldo; Weigl, Taarabt; Everton, Gonçalo Ramos, Diogo Gonçalves; Darwin Núñez

Liverpool vs Benfica: 2006 highlights

Form guide

Liverpool
Since round of 16 (all competitions, most recent first): DWWWW
Where they stand: 2nd in Premier League, FA Cup semi-finals, League Cup winners

Benfica
Since round of 16 (all competitions, most recent first): WLLWW
Where they stand: 3rd in Portuguese Primeira Liga

Expert predictions

Matthew Howarth, Liverpool reporter: Jürgen Klopp is likely to make one or two changes after Sunday's energy-sapping draw at Premier League title rivals Manchester City, but the Liverpool boss will know there is little margin for error despite the Reds' healthy first-leg advantage. Benfica proved they are capable of troubling Klopp's side in Lisbon last week, and an early goal for the visitors on Wednesday would make for a nervous evening at Anfield.

Carlos Machado, Benfica reporter: Benfica have a mountain to climb. Luis Díaz's late goal in Lisbon was a huge blow to their already slim hopes of progressing. Like coach Nélson Veríssimo said after the first leg: "Benfica will have to play a perfect game in Anfield". I would say that repeating the 2-0 win of 2006 at the same venue, would be something close to a miracle.

What the coaches say

Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool coach: "It's 3-1 at half-time, it's as tricky as 2-0. A good basis, but if they score one, like we felt against Inter, the game changes. We felt it when they scored last week. We really need to make them feel this is a place they don't want to go."

Nélson Veríssimo, Benfica coach: "We go into this game with ambition and belief in the work we are doing. We know we have a two-goal deficit, but things can change if you score, and if we score first we can change the course of the game [...] We are facing one of the best teams in the world. We will have to be effective and consistent when attacking, and take into account Liverpool's strategy."

Where is the 2022 Champions League final?

The Stade de France in Saint-Denis will host the final on Saturday 28 May at 21:00 CET.

The winners gain a place in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage, if they have not qualified via their domestic competition.