SL Benfica is hosting Liverpool at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League. Benfica has performed well against Ajax in the previous round, but they have been very inconsistent this season, and it might cost them here. Liverpool is in good form, they are winning games, but they need Salah to get back into his usual goalscoring form.
In the Primeira Liga, Benfica is now in 3rd place, and they will stay there because they are very far away from the top 2, which is a shame because they are a good team. Benfica has scored 70 goals so far this season, which is the second-most in the league so far. Their defense on the other hand is the weakest of all the top 3 teams, and they have conceded 28 goals in 28 games. In the Champions League, Benfica has beaten Ajax in the second leg 0-1, and because the first leg has ended in a 2-2 draw, Benfica has advanced to the next stage. Nunez is the leading goalscorer for Benfica with 4 goals in the Champions League, while Mario has added 2 assists. Overall, Benfica is a solid team, definitely capable of being close to the top in the Primeira Liga, but I think they have reached their maximum in the Champions League.
Liverpool is now on a 4-game winning streak after they lost to Inter in the previous round of the Champions League, but they have still qualified for the quarterfinals. Salah might be Liverpool’s leading goalscorer with 8 goals, but he hasn’t been at his best lately. During this 4-game winning streak, Liverpool has kept 4 clean sheets, while they have scored 7 goals in those 4 games. As far as the EPL goes, Liverpool is still in second place, but they have only 1 point less than Manchester City does at the top of the table. There are no injuries in Liverpool as of right now, which mean Klopp will have his full roster available, and that will certainly give them a lot of depth and quality on the bench. Liverpool is pretty good on both ends, but lately, they have been better defensively than offensively, and that is what great teams do. When their offense is not working as it should, their defense steps up, and that’s how they win games.
It’s been a while since these two teams have played, so I won’t even bother looking at past matchups. Both teams are in solid form, but defensively, Liverpool is better. I think Benfica might create a few chances, but Liverpool will dominate here, and I think they will get the win on the road.