MatchLiverpool v Benfica: Champions League team news
Jürgen Klopp will consider the physical impact of Liverpool’s draw with Manchester City when deciding on his team for Wednesday’s meeting with Benfica.
The Reds hold a 3-1 advantage over the Portuguese outfit ahead of the Champions League quarter-final second leg at Anfield, a match that will be played a little over 72 hours after a frenetic 2-2 draw at Etihad Stadium.
Klopp’s side will face City again on Saturday in the Emirates FA Cup semi-final, but the upcoming game at Wembley will not inform the boss’ selection for the clash with Benfica.
“The next game has absolutely no influence on the line-up for tomorrow night, but the last game has. So, we have to see. Obviously it’s a super-intense schedule,” Klopp told his pre-match press conference.
“There is nobody injured as far as I know in this moment, but we need to have a look [at] who is fresh enough for this game and stuff like this because we see it really as a super-important game. I know we are in the world of football where you win the first leg 3-1 then that means for people who have nothing to do with the game, ‘Yeah, [they are] halfway through.’
“Then you play City left and right of the game and it’s like somebody could be with their focus somewhere else. We see it slightly different, to be honest.
“This is a super, super, super, super, super-important game to us and we said it a couple of times: we tried so hard last year to qualify for the Champions League and now we can make it into the semis, which is incredible. And that’s what we want to show tomorrow night, that it means a lot to us.”
Should Liverpool progress, Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane would both miss the first leg of the semi-final if they are booked on Wednesday night.
First-leg highlights: Benfica 1-3 Liverpool
Benfica, meanwhile, have named a 24-man travelling squad for the tie. Rodrigo Pinho and Lucas Verissimo are long-term absentees.
Rafa Silva, who began the opening game in Lisbon on the right of midfield, will not be involved after missing training.
Regarding the task awaiting his side at Anfield, coach Nelson Verissimo said: “We go into this game with ambition and belief in the work we are doing.
“We know we have a two-goal deficit, but things can change if you score - and if we score first we can change the course of the game.
“We are facing one of the best teams in the world. We will have to be effective and consistent when attacking, and take into account Liverpool’s strategy.”
Last match
Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool (April 10): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Mane, Salah, Jota.
Benfica 3-1 Belenenses (April 9): Odysseas, Andre Almeida, Otamendi, Morato, Valentino, Meite, Taarabt, Joao Mario, Diogo Goncalves, Everton, Darwin.