Liverpool traveled to Portugal for their quarter-final opening clash at the Estadio da Luz, their first meeting with Benfica since the 2009-10 Europa League season. Aiming to secure a lead for the return leg at Anfield, the Reds remained focused on offensive pressure. A late goal by Luis Diaz proved pivotal, placing Liverpool in a strong position to advance to the semi-finals. By staying composed under Benfica's pressure and finishing their chances, Liverpool walked away with a 3-1 victory.
This win marked a milestone for Liverpool, as they recorded an unprecedented eighth straight away victory. The match started brightly for the Reds, with quick goals from Ibrahima Konaté and Sadio Mané giving them a comfortable 2-0 lead at the break. However, the momentum shifted early in the second half as Liverpool's concentration dipped, giving Benfica a golden opportunity to fight back.
Darwin Núñez breathed new life into the contest for the Portuguese side with a spectacular finish. However, the drama wasn't over. With only three minutes left on the clock, Luis Diaz pounced on a through ball from Naby Keita, scoring a goal that restored Liverpool's two-goal lead ahead of the second leg at Anfield.
Liverpool dominated the early stages, controlling the tempo and possession throughout the first half. This pressure translated into goals within the first 35 minutes. The deadlock was broken in the 17th minute when Ibrahima Konaté rose above the defense to power home a header from an accurate Andy Robertson corner.
Shortly after, Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered a stunning 50-yard pass that sliced through the Benfica defense to find Diaz. Showing great vision, Diaz headed the ball across the face of the goal for Sadio Mané, who slotted it home with ease, sending the Reds into the locker room with a 2-0 lead.
The atmosphere shifted in the second half as Liverpool became uncharacteristically sloppy. A critical error by Konaté gave Benfica their opening; instead of clearing the danger, he miscontrolled the ball, allowing Darwin Núñez to seize the opportunity and finish clinically, bringing the hosts back into the match.
For a period, Benfica looked like the dominant team as Liverpool struggled to regain their rhythm. However, Luis Diaz stepped up to score a vital third goal, sealing the 3-1 result. With a comfortable two-goal cushion for the return leg, Liverpool can now shift their attention to their upcoming Sunday clash against Manchester City.