20:00 Wednesday

Liverpool to win

  • Liverpool have won eight of their last nine matches (Champions League).

 

Liverpool showed their class in the first leg of this quarter-final tie and were comfortable 3-1 winners in the end. Goals from Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz put Jurgen Klopp’s side in the driver’s seat in the tie and Benfica now have it all to do as they travel to Merseyside for the second leg.

 Darwin Nunez’s goal in the second half gave the Portuguese side a lifeline as they look to overturn a two goal-deficit at Anfield. Perhaps the only minor concern for Liverpool is how much the 2-2 draw at the Etihad took out of them at the weekend. The clash was played at a fierce intensity and Klopp will be hoping his squad can recover fully as they turn their attentions back to Europe.

Despite their domestic exertions, Liverpool should have far too much quality for Benfica when push comes to shove on Wednesday night. The Reds are in excellent goalscoring form and have managed to win eight of their last nine in the Champions League. We expect them to make it nine in 10 on Wednesday night.

Over 2.5 Goals

  • Liverpool have seen over 2.5 goals in their last three matches against Benfica in all competitions.

 

It was Diogo Jota and Mane who got on the scoresheet at the weekend and with the ever-present danger of Mo Salah you’d expect Liverpool to find the net at least a couple of times. Benfica are in good goalscoring form themselves and have found the back of the net in their last 18 matches in all competitions.

Nélson Veríssimo’s Benfica breached Liverpool’s defence in the first leg and you’d be brave to back a Liverpool clean sheet in the second. Previous matches between have tended to produce goals and there have been over 2.5 in the last three head-to-head fixtures between these two. 

Each team 4+ Corners

  • Benfica have averaged four corners so far in the Champions League and Liverpool have averaged seven

 

The final leg of our bet builder is in the corner market. The first leg saw six corners for Liverpool and just two for Benfica but that hasn’t put us off backing 4+ corners for each team in the second leg. 

We expect Benfica to play more expansively given they have ground to make up and more attacking endeavour should lead to more corners for the away side.

So far this season Benfica have averaged four corners per game in the Champions League and that looks a likely outcome here given it’s make-or-break for them in the second leg.