UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Liverpool beat Benfica 3-1 in quarter finals first leg - player ratings

Sports Doctor 4/05/2022 02:43:00 PM

The first half was superb, with Ibrahima Konate's header silencing the home crowd. They should've scored more than they did but had to make do with a two-goal lead thanks to Sadio Mane's goal.

The second half started horribly for the Reds, however, as Darwin Nunez took advantage of Konate's mistake and halved the Reds' lead.

For a few minutes after that, Liverpool were clearly the second-best side on the pitch. It took Klopp to make another triple sub to calm the game down.

Fortunately, the visitors managed to reinstate a more convincing lead. Naby Keita released Luis Diaz who went round the keeper and rolled the ball in.

Below are the player ratings for the Reds as Keita came on Top..

Keita - 8.5

Excellent performance from the midfielder who linked up well with Thiago and Salah. Energetic throughout the game. Registered an assist to Diaz.

Alexander-Arnold - 8

A solid defensive performance, contributed hugely to Mane's goal and should've had at least another assist.

Diaz - 7.5

Rattled opponents with his pace and energy. Got his goal in the final minutes of the game.

Konate - 7

Scored a brilliant powerful header but also gifted Nunez an opportunity to beat Alisson. On balance, a fine display.

Thiago - 6.5

Great in the first half, distributing the ball at ease. Sloppy after the break. Subbed off after 60 minutes.

Salah - 6

Had chances to score in the first half but was denied. Affected the game little beyond that. Subbed off after 60 minutes.

The rest: Alisson - 7, Van Dijk - 7, Robertson - 7, Fabinho - 7, Mane - 7, Henderson - 6, Jota - 6, Firmino - 6.5, Milner - n/a, Gomez - n/a

This was a game that finished as it started. Liverpool on the attack, Benfica struggling to cope. The gap in class evident and painful.

But in between, for a period of about 25 second half minutes or so, Benfica had raised themselves to energise their terrific home crowd and turn this in to frenetic, dramatic and very watchable European contest indeed.