In the early morning of April 6, Beijing time, the first leg of the 2021-22 Champions League quarterfinals: Liverpool away to Benfica.
At 23:30 Beijing time on April 10, the 32nd round of the Premier League, Liverpool will play the "Battle of Tianwangshan" with Manchester City away, and the Champions League, in order to ensure promotion, is still the main force.
Liverpool started 433, Mane, Luis Díaz and Salah formed a forward trident, midfielders Thiago, Fabinho and Keita, four defenders Robertson, Van Dijk, Conat and Arnold, goalkeeper Alisson. The total value of the starting eleven is 630 million euros.
Benfica started 4231, centre-forward Núñez, forward Everton, Gonzalo Ramos, Rafa Silva, double backs Tarabut, Weigel, four defenders Grimaldo, Vere Tonghen, Otamendi, Gilberto, goalkeeper Vlajo Dimos. The total value of the starting eleven is also 160 million euros.
After the opening of the side plug, the two sides attacked each other. In the 4th minute, Robertson's high-altitude ball was crossed diagonally into the penalty area, and Keita's header was high on goal.
In the 6th minute, Nunez dribbled past Robertson's cross, Arnold was not decisive, Everton stepped forward to shoot, but the ball was out of the line.
In the 9th minute, Mane's heel went straight in and Salah's shot into the box was blocked off the line.
In the 12th minute, Keita's shot was saved by the goalkeeper and Arnold's shot was confiscated by the goalkeeper.
In the 17th minute, Liverpool's corner kick on the left, Robertson drove into the box, Conat's header hit the goal and the ball went in! Liverpool led Benfica 1-0 away.
In the 24th minute, Luis Díaz formed a one-handed knife and the shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
In the 27th minute, Robertson's high-altitude cross was met by Salah, who jumped high to compete for the top, but did not reach the ball.
In the 34th minute, Arnold's diagonal cross from the box was crossed by Luis Díaz's header and Mane pushed it towards goal. Liverpool extended the score to 2-0.
In the 45th minute, Alexander-Arnold's long pass, Salah took the ball into the box, poked a shot in the middle of the run, and was blocked by the goalkeeper.
In the 49th minute, Rafa Silva broke through with the ball and crossed, Konat made a mistake, and Nunes took the ball and pushed it to win. Benfica 1:2 Liverpool.
In the 55th minute, Rafa Silva picked out a pass into the penalty area and Nunes' header went high over the bar.
In the 61st minute, Liverpool made a substitution adjustment, Salah, Mane, Thiago came off, jota, Firmino and Henderson came on.
In the 83rd minute, Alisson took the ball from the edge of the penalty area, Rafa Silva stepped forward to grab it, and Alisson clipped Rafa Silva to pass the ball out.
In the 87th minute, Keita went straight in, and Luis Díaz cut forward to form a single knife, dunked the onrushing goalkeeper, and hit the empty goal. Liverpool locked in the score at 3:1 and took advantage of the promotion.
Winning this game has seen Liverpool win five consecutive away games in the Champions League in their last five appearances, the first time they have achieved this feat since 1984.
Mane, who scored 1 goal in the tournament, has scored 13 goals in the Champions League knockout stage since his Champions League debut in 2017-18, and is tied with Ronaldo for the most in the same period. In the past 5 years of Champions League knockout matches, Messi and Levan scored 12 goals, and Salah scored 11 goals, both inferior to Mane and Ronaldo.