Benfica manager Nelson Verissimo has said that that the tie against Liverpool is not over after The Reds won 3-1 in Lisbon, echoing Jurgen Klopp’s comments.
Verissimo was answering question after the game via zerozero.pt. When asked if Liverpool’s lead was unassailable, the coach said he agreed with Klopp.
“Do I share the same idea as Klopp? Yes, the tie is not closed,” said the 44-year-old.
Klopp had previously answered a similar question emphatically in his own press conference. When it was put to him whether to tie was over, the Liverpool manager simply replied “no”, via Liverpool FC on YouTube (2mins 50secs).
Diaz’s perfect timing
For a part of the first-half last night it looked as though Liverpool would put the tie to bed last night. After Sadio Mane put The Reds 2-0 up, they looked like they might score with every single attack.
Benfica managed to ride it out until half-time and came back looking like a completely different team.
After Darwin Nunez capitalised on Ibrahima Konate’s lapse in judgement, it genuinely looked as though they could claw it back and head to Anfield next week on level terms.
As it was, Luis Diaz’s late goal looked to take the wind out of their sails. The timing of the goal couldn’t have been better for Liverpool and it gives them a comfortable advantage to take into the home leg next week.
Anfield awaits
As we know all too well though, this is the Champions League and anything can happen under the lights at Anfield.
Benfica have previously been to Liverpool and won. They beat The Reds 2-0 away from home the last time the two sides met in this competition, a wonder-goal from Simao Sabrosa doing the damage on that occasion.
That Liverpool side were Champions of Europe. But it was no match for Klopp’s team of 2022. Benfica also carried a 1-0 win from the game in Portugal into that game.
Things will be different this time around. Although the tie isn’t settled just yet, Liverpool have put themselves in a brilliant position to reach the Champions League semi-final for the third time in five years.
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