Liverpool reached the UEFA Titleholders League quarter- tests by first beating Group B ahead of Atletico Madrid before scraping once Inter Milan in the Round of 16. On the other hand, Benfica surprised everyone by chittering Barcelona to the alternate spot in Group E before beating Ajax in the opening knockout round.
Liverpool vs Benfica Champions League1/8 Final
The Reds have one bottom in the semis after a 3-1 first- leg palm in Lisbon six days agone, sealed by pretensions from Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mane and January signing Luis Diaz.
For Benfica, the Eagles have blown hot and cold recently, winning only five of their last fox games across all competitions. But Nelson Verissimo’s charges returned to winning ways this once weekend with a 3-1 palm over Belenenses SAD, with the in- demand Darwin Nunez scoring a match- winning chapeau- trick.
Team News
Takumi Minamino, Harvey Elliott, Divock Origi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were each left out of the team for Sunday amid Klopp’s wealth of options, and Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota would miss the first leg of thesemi-final if they’re reserved then.
With both players also featuring from the off-and scoring-at the Etihad, Klopp may handpick to bring Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz back into the XI alongside Mohamed Salah, who needs one further thing to catch Steven Gerrard as Liverpool’s record goalscorer at Anfield in the Titleholders League with 15.
Benfica are also working with the maturity of their big- blockbuster barring cruciate ligament victim Lucas Verissimo, who remains out of contention for the long- term alongside striker Rodrigo Pinho, and Rafa Silva.
The Benfica master will also have Jan Vertonghen back at his disposal following a domestic ban, and theex-Tottenham Hotspur man should take his due spot in defence alongside Nicolas Otamendi.
After handing rests to several of his established players at the weekend, Verissimo should recall the likes of Gilberto, Alex Grimaldo, Julian Weigl and Goncalo Ramos to the first XI at Anfield.
Expected Lineup
Liverpool expected starting lineup: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Keita, Fabinho, Jones; Salah, Firmino, Diaz
Benfica expected starting lineup: Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Vertonghen, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Goncalves, Weigl, Taarabt, Everton; Ramos, Nunez
