Portuguese side Benfica host Premier League contenders Liverpool in a Champions League Quarter Final First Leg tie at the Estadio da Luz. Who will take an advantage into the second leg? Read our free predictions and betting picks for the game here.
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Bookmaker Ratings prediction one: Liverpool to win to nil – 2.25
Bookmaker Ratings prediction two: Correct Score – Benfica 0-1 Liverpool – 8.0
? Training session at #BenficaCampus! ?⚪#WeAreBenfica #SLBLIV #UCL pic.twitter.com/8q1zsRfkHz
— SL Benfica (@slbenfica_en)
Liverpool to win to nil
Under the current format of the Champions League, Benfica have never won a quarter-final match. They also took a 3-2 defeat going into this one against Braga in Primeira Liga.
Liverpool is on top form going into this one winning four in a row in all competitions without conceding, including three 2-0 league victories in a row.
Benfica 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool have not conceded a goal in four matches in all competitions. Liverpool should be capable of defeating Benfica, and possibly by more than the one goal.
However, with a potential Premier League title decider coming up against Manchester City on Sunday, if Liverpool take a goal lead, you could see them start to give vital players a rest, slow the game down and make full use of the five substitutes allowed in Champions League Football.
Preliminary review and match prediction for Benfica vs Liverpool
Benfica come into this match on the back of a loss on Friday night to Braga, bringing a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions to an end.
After going 2-0 down the final three goals in the match were all scored between 74 and 79 minutes as Benfica pulled the game back to 2-2 before Braga’s Vitor Oliveira scored the 79th minute winner.
Hopefully for Benfica fans, the Portuguese side can forget about that humbling loss and fully focus on matters at hand here. Benfica played on Friday night so will benefit from a day’s extra rest time, whether this will make any difference remains to be seen.
Benfica’s sharpshooter, Darwin Nunez, top scorer in Portugal’s top-flight with 21 goals will face a huge test coming up against Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.
Getting ready for the #UCL last eight ? pic.twitter.com/ATxjWS7jMS
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
Liverpool defeated Watford 2-0 on Saturday and came out of the match relatively unscathed. Goals from Diogo Jota on 22 minutes and an 89th minute penalty from Fabinho secured the points.
The Reds were able to rest the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Luis Diaz, James Milner and Sadio Mane (the latter two came on as late substitutes) with a view to this upcoming match as well as Sunday’s vital league clash with Man City.
It remains to be seen whether Jurgen Klopp rotates his side with Sunday in mind.
Get Rich Quick
Under 2.5 goals in the match is priced at 2.25 with the over line priced at 1.6 clearly showing you what the bookies are leaning towards. However, Liverpool’s last six matches in all competitions have recorded under 2.5 goals.
The Reds have faced a schedule of a game every three or four days since the beginning of February (excluding the international break). That torrid schedule continues and with Man City next we firmly believe if Liverpool go ahead, they will try to slow the game down and also rest as many key players as possible, making full use of the five allotted subs.
Benfica vs Liverpool Team News
Lucas Verissimo and Rodrigo Pinho are absent for Benfica, former QPR and Tottenham man Adel Taarabt will need assessing. Nunez started from the bench on Friday, he is expected to start this one.
Joel Matip should be ok to start after suffering a bump to the head against Watford, Curtis Jones and Naby Keita will need to be assessed. Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane may all return to the starting line-up.
Possible Starting Lineups
Benfica: Vlachodimos, Gilberto, Otamendi, Vertonghen, Grimaldo, Rafa, Taarabt, Weigl, Everton, Ramos, Nunez
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Salah, Mane, Diaz
Highlighted Player – Luis Diaz
Diaz has made a bright start to his Liverpool career after joining in the January transfer window. He has scored two in six games for the Reds. He played the first half of the season at Benfica’s rivals FC Porto where he scored 14 goals in 18 league matches.
He will have extensive knowledge of Benfica due to his two and a half seasons in Portuguese Football and will fancy himself to break Benfica’s hearts. He is priced at 6.5 to score first.
Most popular FAQ for Benfica vs Liverpool
Who won the last meeting between these clubs?
Liverpool defeated Benfica 4-1 in the Europa League over a decade ago when these sides last faced each other on 8 April 2010.
Where will this fixture be played?
This fixture will be played at the Estadio da Luz.
Which bookmaker has the best odds for this game?
We recommend checking out the odds at William Hill for Benfica vs Liverpool.
Single: LostChampions League20:00/5 aprBenfica vs LiverpoolBet: Liverpool to win to nilto:50% players believe that this bet will win!Single: LostChampions League20:00/5 aprBenfica vs LiverpoolBet: Benfica 0-1 Liverpoolto:50% players believe that this bet will win!