Pre-match statsLiverpool aiming to reach 20th European semi-final
Liverpool will qualify for their 20th European semi-final if they see off Benfica in the Champions League this evening.
Jürgen Klopp’s side hold a 3-1 lead from last week’s last-eight first leg in Lisbon, where Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz were on the scoresheet.
If they clinch an aggregate victory in the tie at Anfield tonight, the Reds will equal the record for an English club of 12 European Cup semi-final appearances.
Read on for more pre-match facts and figures, courtesy of LFC statistician Ged Rea…
Inside Benfica: Reds win first leg 3-1 in Lisbon
With this game the 12th meeting between the teams, Benfica will become the club the Reds have faced more times than any other in European competition. They have met Chelsea on 11 occasions.
Liverpool have won seven of the encounters to date, Benfica four, with no draws.
In their previous 199 European fixtures at Anfield, Liverpool have only lost by two goals or more on seven occasions, the last to Atalanta (0-2) behind closed doors last season. The last to do so to eliminate the Reds were Benfica in 2006.
The Reds’ home record versus Portuguese opposition is nine wins, three draws and one defeat.
Klopp’s men have lost only three of their last 59 fixtures in all competitions.
Alisson Becker and Mohamed Salah have started all nine Champions League matches this season, while Fabinho and Mane have also appeared in every game.
Salah has scored 12 times in his last 14 Champions League appearances, including eight strikes so far in this campaign.
Thirteen of Mane’s last 19 goals in the Champions League have been scored during the knockout phase.
On the two previous occasions the teams have met in the quarter-finals of this tournament, Liverpool went on to lift the trophy (1978 and 1984).
Benfica have found the net in each of their last 18 matches in all competitions.