Liverpool play out thrilling 3-3 draw vs Benfica, qualify for semis

Liverpool made it through to their third semi-final in five seasons, though Benfica fought until the very end.

Liverpool will face Spain’s Villarreal in the Champions League semi-finals after Roberto Firmino scored twice in a 3-3 second-leg draw with Benfica on Wednesday, ensuring a 6-4 aggregate victory over the Portuguese side.

On that night, Jurgen Klopp decided to make seven changes to the playing XI. The Reds led 3-1 from the first leg before the visitors scored twice late in the game to add a few nerves to what had appeared to be a smooth passage.
In the early stages of the match, Darwin Nunez of Benfica had an effort disallowed for offside before Liverpool seized the lead in the 21st minute thanks to defender Ibrahima Konate’s powerful header from Tsimikas’s corner. The lead only lasted 11 minutes as Goncalo Ramos equalised for Benfica with a composed finish towards the edge of the net in the 32nd minute, beating Alisson Becker after a tackle from James Milner led to the ball sliding onto him on the edge of the box.

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Liverpool hoped to secure a place in the semi-finals for the third time in five seasons after Brazilian Roberto Firmino struck twice in the 54th and 65th minute in the sec0nd-half. Benfica on the other hand stayed focused and pulled two goals back, with strikes from Roman Yaremchuk in the 73rd minute and Darwin Nunez in the 81st minute, both of whom were initially called out for offside but were later permitted following VAR reviews.

In stoppage time, Liverpool had an effort disallowed for offside. Darwin Nunez also had another effort disallowed.