Liverpool will carry a two-goal advantage into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Benfica at Anfield, but Jurgen Klopp insists his team are “not in dreamland” after a crucial victory over Benfica in Lisbon.
Luis Diaz’s late goal put Klopp’s side in control, but they might have been out of sight had it not been for a series of outstanding stops by Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Ibrahima Konate leapt highest to head the visitors into the lead from a corner before Sadio Mane scored a clinical second to dampen the atmosphere at a boisterous Estadio da Luz after a commanding first-half performance.
The home fans got even more excited again after the break when Konate’s mistake let Darwin Nunez score for the Portuguese team.
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However, the Premier League side will have a big lead when they host Benfica in the second leg next Wednesday as Diaz scored a late third with a controlled finish after rounding Vlachodimos, who also denied Diogo Jota in the closing stages.
“Coming here and winning an away game in the Champions League is tough. Obviously, Benfica fought for their lives,” said Klopp.
“We could have scored in the last minute – the fourth one would be nice but we’re not in dreamland here.
“It’s half-time, we know much more about our opponent, and they will go for it again. They won at Ajax, they ground out all the results out in the group stage that they needed, so we are aware of the quality and now we have a nice game in between and then we will be ready again for Benfica.”
