Liverpool v Benfica betting tips: Reds look to get job done and seal semi-final spot
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Liverpool v Benfica betting tips and odds
Liverpool kept their quadruple dream alive with an impressive 3-1 win against Benfica in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final and now hope to get the job done at Anfield.
The Reds are now 7/4 co-favourites with Manchester City to win the tournament for the second time in four years and seventh overall.
The Merseysiders are 1/4 to win Wednesday’s game as we take a look at some of the main talking points and odds in our Liverpool v Benfica betting tips.
Liverpool v Benfica form
Jurgen Klopp will be happy to have such a big cushion going into the game after Sunday’s thrilling non-stop 2-2 draw with Premier League title rivals Manchester City, the team they face again in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final.
The result at the Etihad ended the Reds’ 10-game winning run in the Premier League, but ensured they stayed a point behind the table-topping champions with seven games remaining.
Liverpool remain unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season (W12 D3), but lost the second leg against Inter in the round of 16 although a 2-0 win in Milan meant they went through 2-1 on aggregate.
Just keep focusing on the next one 💪🔴
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 12, 2022
The six-time European champions have already faced Portuguese opposition this season, thrashing unbeaten leaders Porto 5-1 away from home in the group and a weakened team won the return 2-0 at Anfield.
Klopp may make a few changes on Wednesday as they face a team 15 points behind Porto in the Portuguese top flight as we go 11/8 on the hosts to win and under 3.5 goals in our Liverpool v Benfica betting tips.
However, Nelson Verissimo’s side did manage to score against Liverpool, who are 29/20 to win and concede.
Benfica should not be underestimated, though, having come through a group comprising Bayern Munich and Barcelona, and they eliminated Ajax with a 1-0 win in Holland with their only effort on target, a 77th-minute header from Darwin Nunez who scored a hat-trick at the weekend.
The Portuguese are 24/5 to get a draw and 9/1 to win the second leg as Inter did here, but they were second best against Ajax and a home win to nil at 5/4 looks the more likely outcome.
Liverpool v Benfica head to head
The Reds had almost twice the amount of possession against Benfica and 17 shots, eight of which were on target, so they clearly look a cut above the Portuguese.
Ibrahima Konate got the ball rolling with a powerful header and Sadio Mane made it two by converting Luis Diaz’s cushioned header from close range.
Attentions turn to the second-leg of our #UCL quarter-final! 👊🔴 pic.twitter.com/rfuh4KGvMd
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 11, 2022
A mistake from Konte allowed Nunez to reduce the arrears at the start of the second half only for Diaz to re-establish a two-goal lead three minutes from time when he latched on to a great through-ball from Naby Keita.
Benfica are one of only two teams to have won by two goals or more at Anfield in European competition when they won 2-0 in the round of 16 in the 2005-6 season, but the task looks beyond them this time.
Liverpool v Benfica team news
Klopp has a fully-fit squad at his disposal, but may decide to start with Roberto Firmino and Diaz, who both came on in the second half at the Etihad.
Alisson Becker 😮@LFC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/Q4Mfv3R8Cw
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 11, 2022
Former Premier League stars Jan Vertonghen and Nicolas Otamendi are likely to line up in the heart of defence for Benfica, who may also have ex-QPR Adel Taarabt in midfield despite his loose pass leading to Liverpool’s second goal.
Verissimo rested several players at the weekend, but the likes of Gilberto, Rafa Silva, Julian Weigl and Alex Grimaldo should be recalled in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Goalscorer odds
Mo Salah needs one more goal to overtake Steven Gerrard’s record of 15 Champions League goals at Anfield and it is no surprise to see the Egyptian 5/2 to break the deadlock and 8/13 to score.
Diogo Jota is in better goalscoring form and is 10/3 to draw first blood or 19/20 to get on the scoresheet, while Mane is 4/1 and 13/10 in the two options in our Liverpool v Benfica betting tips.
Diaz is 13/8 to get in on the act again and Konate is 28/1 to score the first goal again or 8/1 to find the net, although it’s worth checking the line-ups an hour before kick-off to see if he starts.
For Benfica, prolific striker Nunez is 15/2 to give the visitors a shock lead or 23/10 to score any time having bagged a treble in a 3-1 win against Belenenses on Saturday.
Match Info
Where: Anfield
When: 20:00, Wednesday 13th April
How to watch: BT Sport
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
