Liverpool FC vs. Benfica Predicted starting XI; prediction, team news, injury update and kickoff

Liverpool FC vs. Benfica Predicted starting XI; prediction, team news, injury update and kickoff

Liverpool welcome Benfica to Anfield for the second leg of their quarter-final tie on Wednesday night.

Liverpool claimed a dominant 3-1 win in the first leg at the Estadio da Luz and are aiming to set up a clash with Villarreal in the final four.

Match preview

Benfica won just two of their last 12 games away from home in the competition including qualifiers, although they have managed to keep five clean sheets in six Champions League games on the road this term.

Liverpool FC (photo by Getty images)

Liverpool’s 3-1 victory in the first leg means that the two sides are still waiting for their first competitive draw against one another.

Liverpool Champions League form:

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Liverpool form (all competitions):

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Benfica Champions League form:

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Benfica form (all competitions):

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Team News;

Fabinho sustained an injury in the first leg not serious enough to rule him out of contention against Man City.

Takumi Minamino, Harvey Elliott, Divock Origi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were all left out of the squad for Sunday amid Klopp’s wealth of options.

Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz might start ahead of Sadio Mane and Diogo jota after they were booked alongside Mohamed Salah, who needs one more goal to overtake Steven Gerrard as Liverpool’s record goalscorer at Anfield in the Champions League with 15.

Benfica boss will also have Jan Vertonghen back, following a domestic ban, and the ex-Tottenham Hotspur man should take his rightful spot in defence alongside Nicolas Otamendi.

After handing rests to several of his established players at the weekend, Verissimo should recall the likes of Gilberto, Alex Grimaldo, Julian Weigl and Goncalo Ramos to the first XI at Anfield.

Liverpool predicted starting XI:

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Keita, Fabinho, Jones; Salah, Firmino, Diaz

Benfica Predicted starting XI:

Vlachodimos; Gilberto, Vertonghen, Otamendi, Grimaldo; Goncalves, Weigl, Taarabt, Everton; Ramos, Nunez

prediction; Liverpool 2-1 Benfica

(Liverpool win on aggregate 5-2 Benfica)

In other news, Michael Owen gives prediction for Liverpool vs Benfica and Atletico Madrid vs Man City results