Liverpool vs Benfica: UCL Quarter-final, First leg preview, Team news and Dream11 Predictions

Liverpool vs Benfica is the next first leg match in this year's UEFA Champions League. Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool travel to Lisbon to face Benfica at the Estadio da Luz on Tuesday.

Liverpool vs Benfica: Match Preview:

The Reds fell at this same stage last season, the opponents being Zidane's Real Madrid who thumped them 3-1 in the first leg. A strong result is therefore Klopp's priority in the first leg against the Portuguese club.

Liverpool had a tough draw this season, but won all six games in a group involving Atletico Madrid, Porto and AC Milan. The round of 16 was again tricky with Inter Milan being the opponent and luckily the first leg 2-0-win San Siro deemed enough to send them to quarterfinals. However, they did suffer a late scare in the revere leg at the Anfield.

None the less, no other team can match Liverpool's points per game away from across all top divisions in Europe in the 2021/22 season.

Benfica had some accolades of their own this term, having finished second and eliminated Barcelona from the group stage. This was done by a 3-0 win at home against the Spanish club in the early stages of the competition.

Two heavy defeats against Bayern in the group phase must be highlighted since the Portuguese club conceded a total of 9 goals over the two legs.

Team News:

Liverpool:

Despite Klopp initially claiming that Trent Alexander-Arnold would take "weeks" to recover from his hamstring issue, the right-back was on the bench against Watford and could be ready for his comeback at the Estadio da Luz.

Curtis Jones and Joel Matip are also expected to be passed fit despite picking up minor ankle and head knocks respectively, while Naby Keita is ready to make his comeback from a knee injury as Klopp selects from a fully-fit squad this week.

#⃣6⃣6⃣ pic.twitter.com/G14liEmd4K

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 4, 2022

Mohamed Salah endured a tough time of things against Hassane Kamara on Saturday, and with Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz providing fresher options from the bench, Klopp has a massive decision to make in the final third this week.

Benfica:

Benfica's injury situation has remained fairly stable in recent weeks, and Verissimo was able to welcome Haris Seferovic back as a substitute in the loss to Braga on Friday night.

Fellow striker Rodrigo Pinho is still absent, though, as is Lucas Verissimo, whose season is seemingly over as he recovers from a ruptured cruciate ligament. Adel Taarabt also missed the Braga loss due to an adductor issue but has since taken part in training and will seemingly be fine for this one.

Nicolas Otamendi – one of seven Benfica players who would miss the second leg if they are booked here – and Jan Vertonghen prepare for their returns to the familiar Anfield turf, and Nunez will undoubtedly return to the first XI, most likely in place of Goncalo Ramos.

Liverpool vs Benfica: Head to Head:

In 10 head-to-head encounters between the two sides, Liverpool hold the advantage. They have won six games and lost four.

Recent performances in all competitions:

Liverpool:

1-0 loss against Inter Milan

2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion

2-0 win over Arsenal

1-0 win over Nottingham Forest

2-0 win Watford

Benfica:

2-1 win over Portimonese

1-1 draw against Vizela

1-0 win over Ajax

2-1 win over Estoril Praia

3-2 win over SC Braga.

Liverpool vs Benfica: Predicted Line-ups:

Benfica Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Odysseas Vlachodimos, Diogo Goncalves, Nicolas Otamendi, Jan Vertonghen, Alex Grimaldo, Julian Weigl, Soualiho Meite, Rafa Silva, Joao Mario, Nemanja Radonjic, Darwin Nunez

Liverpool Predicted XI (4-3-3): Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson, Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Sadio Mane

LIV vs BEN: Dream11 Predictions: