It simply needed to be Luis Diaz.
The Colombia winger was the final participant Benfica supporters contained in the atmospheric Estadio da Luz wished to see race onto a through-ball and produce an emphatic end to finish a 3-1 win for Liverpool within the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday.
After all, Diaz was enjoying for Porto _ Benfica’s large rival in Portugal _ till he was signed by Liverpool in January. No surprise he was whistled by residence followers _ and even focused with objects thrown from the stands _ as he wheeled away in celebration following his essential third purpose within the 87th minute.
It was a brilliantly taken purpose, too, as Diaz ran onto Naby Keita’s deflected move that cut up Benfica’s protection, rounded the goalkeeper and slotted his end into the unguarded internet from a good angle.
Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, centre, celebrates subsequent to Jordan Henderson, left and Roberto Firmino after scoring his facet’s third purpose through the Champions League quarterfinals, first leg, match between Benfica and Liverpool on the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
“He got a nice reception, didn’t he?” Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson stated, smiling. “It was a good finish for him and a really important goal for us. It gives us a two-goal cushion, which makes a difference.”
Diaz, who was jeered at any time when he touched the ball, performed a giant half in Liverpool’s second purpose when he nodded down a pinpoint lengthy move by Trent Alexander-Arnold to permit Sadio Mane to faucet residence from shut vary within the thirty fourth. That constructed on Liverpool’s opener scored by Ibrahima Konate _ the middle again’s first for the membership _ off an outswinging nook from Robertson within the seventeenth minute.
Benfica may simply have been additional behind by halftime, however took the sport extra to the six-time European champions within the second half and Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez capitalized on a mistake by Konate to tug a purpose again within the forty ninth.
There have been just a few extra rocky moments for Liverpool _ in one in all them, goalkeeper Alisson Becker was virtually dispossessed on the sting of his space by Rafa Silva _ earlier than Diaz’s strike ensured Jurgen Klopp’s staff would clinch a fifth straight win in all competitions.
The Reds handed the most recent check of their bid for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies, with the semifinals now in sight. They have already received the English League Cup, are within the semifinals of the FA Cup, and are one level behind chief Manchester City within the Premier League.
Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate, centre, celebrates after scoring the opening purpose through the Champions League quarterfinals, first leg, match between Benfica and Liverpool on the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Tuesday, April 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Klopp even took the choice of bringing off star attackers Mane and Mohamed Salah within the 61st minute, maybe with the league showdown towards City on Sunday in thoughts.
City will even go into that sport on the again of a win in Tuesday’s different quarterfinal, 1-0 over Atletico Madrid.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
