Reds in the semifinals against Villarreal

The Liverpool hits the third semi-final of the Champions League in the last five editions. After the 3-1 in the first leg in Lisbon, the return of the quarterfinals against Benfica establishes the qualification of the Reds among the top four in Europe: ends 3-3 at Anfield, with a brace from firmino (55 ‘and 65’) and network of Konate (21 ‘). Useful only for the prestigious equal the goals of Ramos, Yaremchuk and Núñez. Waiting for Klopp will be the fearsome one Villarreal.

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There were very few doubts, on the eve of this quarter-final return, about Liverpool’s access to the Champions League semi-finals. Although, given the extra time that Real Madrid had been forced to last night (the result in the first leg of the blancos on the Chelsea field was the same as that obtained by the Reds in Lisbon), there could also be some surprises. And to say that Benfica begins with an excellent approach to the game at Anfield: on 13 ‘, in fact, Everton’s right inside from distance is beautiful, who just misses the door, with Alisson leaning in flight. The hosts respond shortly after, when Diogo Jota exchanges in the area with Firmino, but Vlachodimos comes out on his feet and also earns the goal kick. Goal from Klopp’s team that arrives punctually in the 21st minute: a corner kick by Tsimikas and a header by Konaté. After a failed opportunity by Firmino, thwarted by Vertonghen, the Portuguese grabbed the equalizer in the 32nd minute with Gonçalo Ramos, who pierced Alisson on Milner’s touch (which turns into an assist). Keita touches the post at the end of the first half, while Firmino is unleashed at the start of the second half (between 55 ‘and 65’) with a brace: winning tap-in on the respective assists of Diogo Jota and Tsimikas and 3-1. Yaremchuk and Darwin Núñez complete a tough comeback between 73 ‘and 82’, for a formation coached by Verissimo that comes out with a very high head from this edition of the Champions League. Now, for Liverpool, there will be Emery’s Villarreal.

THE STATISTICS
Liverpool have reached the semi-final of the European Cup / Champions League for the 12th time: no English team has done better (12 also Manchester United).
Jürgen Klopp reached the Champions League semi-finals for the fourth time, three at the helm of Liverpool (the other with Borussia Dortmund); only Alex Ferguson has reached this stage of the competition several times (seven) with English teams as coach.
Ibrahima Konaté became the fourth player to score in both Champions League quarter-final matches with Liverpool, after Peter Crouch in 2006-07 (against PSV), Salah in 2017-18 (against Man City) and Roberto Firmino in 2018-19 (against Porto).
Ibrahima Konaté became the first defender to score in both matches of a Champions League knockout match by Dani Alves, for Barcelona, ​​against Manchester City, in 2013/14.
Goncalo Ramos is the youngest player (20 years, 297 days) to score against Liverpool, at Anfield, in the knockout stage of the Champions League and the second youngest to score in the knockout stage of the competition with the Benfica, after Nélson Oliveira, in the round of 16, against Zenit St Petersburg, in March 2012 (20 years, 211 days).
Gonçalo Ramos is only the second Portuguese player to score in a Champions League knockout match at Liverpool after Simão, in the round of 16 in March 2006, again with Benfica.
With two goals against Benfica, Roberto Firmino has scored 11 goals for Liverpool this season in all competitions: two more than those achieved in the whole of last season (nine). The Reds striker was not on target in the Champions League, at Anfield, since March 2020, against Atlético Madrid.
Roberto Firmino (20) became the fourth Liverpool player to score at least 20 goals in the European Cup / Champions League, after Mohamed Salah (23), Sadio Mane (22) and Steven Gerrard (21).
Roman Yaremchuk is the first Ukrainian player to score two goals in a single CL knockout stage since Andrij Shevchenko, in 2006/07.
Liverpool have not conceded at least three goals, at Anfield, in the Champions League, since 11 March 2020, against Atletico Madrid, in the round of 16.

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