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Liverpool vs Benfica: Line-ups
Liverpool
Benfica
Benfica Not Expected to Succeed
#1
Attempting to overturn a two-goal deficit in front of the Kop is an extremely tall order for Benfica and Nelson Verissimo, who will certainly aim to make a good impression in the final weeks of the season before reportedly stepping aside for the incoming Roger Schmidt.
#2
The odds may be stacked against Benfica heading into Tuesday’s game, but they can hold the distinct honour of being only one of two sides who have beaten Liverpool by at least two goals in a European knockout game at Anfield – winning 2-0 in the last-16 in 2005-06.
#3
However, a period of patchy away form in the Champions League has seen Benfica win just two of their last 12 games away from home in the competition including qualifiers, although they have managed to keep five clean sheets in six Champions League games on the road this term – the outlier coming when they shipped five to Bayern Munich.
#4
Nunez’s strike has at least given the Portuguese outfit a slight glimmer of hope for the trip to Merseyside, and the in-demand Uruguayan was the star of the show at the weekend – scoring all three of his side’s goals in a 3-1 Primeira Liga success over Belenenses to take his tally for the season in all competitions to 31 strikes.
#5
Liverpool’s 3-1 victory in the first leg means that the two sides are still waiting for their first competitive draw against one another, with the Reds winning seven of the 11 meetings while Benfica have notched four, and the Merseyside outfit ran riot in a 4-1 victory during the most recent battle at Anfield in the 2009-10 Europa League.
DPP Verdict
While Benfica always possess a goal threat with Nunez going forward and simply need to go all-out attack to stand a chance of making the semi-finals, a Liverpool side with no injuries and plenty of attacking options of their own should prove too strong once again. A couple of expected goals for Klopp’s side will allow them to reserve some of their energy for their upcoming FA Cup semi-final and Premier League commitments, and we do not expect Benfica to spring any surprises at Anfield.
