Benfica vs Liverpool Match Analysis and Prediction

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Liverpool make a trip to the Estadio da Luz for the first leg of their quarter-final with Benfica on Tuesday, having been handed what many would feel is the most favourable Champions League draw.

The Reds knocked eliminated Inter Milan out of the competition 2-1 on aggregate to make it to this stage, while Benfica secured a 3-2 victory over Ajax over two legs.

Benfica youngstar Darwin Nunez was the hero of the hour for his side against Ajax to propel them into the last eight of the Champions League in Amsterdam.

After the two sides played out a 2-2 draw in the first leg, Nunez scored the only goal of the second leg with 13 minutes remaining to upset the odds.

Nunez was on target once again against Sporting Braga in Friday’s Primeira Liga contest, but his penalty proved not enough as Benfica went down 3-2, with Vitinha scoring the important winner for the hosts.

Seeing a nine-game unbeaten streak across all competition come to an end is not the ideal preparation for a meeting with Liverpool, and Nelson Verissimo’s side have never made it past the quarter-finals of the Champions League in its current format, most recently losing to Bayern Munich at this stage in 2015-16.

Inter Milan was the team to break Liverpool’s impressive resilience on the Anfield turf, who did so in some style as Lautaro Martinez sent in a spectacular long-range effort to make things interesting in the second leg.

Defeat to Inter in the second leg is the only game that Liverpool have not won in their last 17 across all competitions, each of their last seven away matches have ended in victory, and the Reds went through all of their February and March without conceding a goal away from home, which is a positive in this fixture.

Benfica vs Liverpool head to head

The two teams have previously met on only four occasions in the Champions and Europa Leagues, where Benfica are leading with three victories while Liverpool have won once. Benfica have scored six goals and conceded five in the process. In their last meeting, Liverpool picked up a 4-1 home victory.

Benfica 1-0 Liverpool 21/02/06

Liverpool 0-2 Benfica 08/03/06

Benfica 2-1 Liverpool 01/04/10

Liverpool 4-1 Benfica 08/04/10

Benfica latest home form

Benfica have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their five most recent matches. Their last home victory came on February 2 when they lost 2-1 to Gil Vicente in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded five.

Benfica 2-1 Santa Clara 12/02/22

Benfica 2-2 Ajax 23/02/22

Benfica 3-0 Vitoria Guimaraes 27/02/22

Benfica 1-1 Vizela 11/03/22

Benfica 2-1 Estoril 20/03/22

Benfica latest away form

Benfica lost their last away game 3-2 to Sporting Braga in the league. However, they have recently been on a good run of form on the road, as they have been unbeaten in their previous five matches. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded seven.

Tondela 1-3 Benfica 07/02/22

Boavista 2-2 Benfica 18/02/22

Portimonense 1-2 Benfica 05/03/22

Ajax 0-1 Benfica 15/03/22

Sporting Braga 3-2 Benfica 01/04/22

Liverpool latest home form

Liverpool lost 1-0 to Inter Milan in the Champions League on March 8. However, they have been on an impressive run of form at home this season. They defeated Norwich City 2-1 in the FA Cup on March 2. In their last five matches, they have scored 11 goals and conceded two.

Liverpool 6-0 Leeds United 23/02/22

Liverpool 2-1 Norwich City 02/03/22

Liverpool 1-0 West Ham United 05/03/22

Liverpool 0-1 Inter Milan 08/03/22

Liverpool 2-0 Watford 02/04/22

Liverpool latest away form

Liverpool have been on a good run of form on the road, and they have been unbeaten in their nine most recent matches. They managed to defeat Nottingham Forest 1-0 in the FA Cup on March 20. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals, keeping clean sheets in all.

Inter Milan 0-2 Liverpool 16/02/22

Chelsea 0-0(P) Liverpool 27/02/22

Brighton & Hove Albion 0-2 Liverpool 12/03/22

Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool 16/03/22

Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool 20/03/22

Benfica news

Haris Seferovic was back as a substitute in the game against Braga, while Rodrigo Pinho is still absent, as well as Lucas Verissimo who is recovering from a ruptured cruciate ligament.

Adel Taarabt also missed the Braga loss due to an adducter issue and remains doubtful for Tuesday’s contest.

Liverpool news

Trent Alexander-Arnold was on the bench against Watford and could be ready for his comeback at the Estadio da Luz.

Joel Matip and Curtis Jones are also expected to be passed fit despite picking up minor head and ankle knocks respectively, but Naby Keita is doubtful with a knee issue.

Prediction and Odds

Having been recently inspired by youngstar Nunez, Benfica will enter the contest fired up as they play in front of their own supporters.

However, Klopp’s men warmed up against Watford and are sure to come with enough confidence to secure a first-leg advantage on the road against their opponents.

Odds: 1 2.50 X 2.05 2 1.98