Benfica interim-manager Nélson Veríssimo has warned Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool about their fans at Estádio da Luz, as quoted in A Bola.
Portuguese giants Benfica will take on Premier League powerhouse Liverpool at home in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie on Tuesday evening.
The second leg of the tie will be held at Anfield next week.
A Bola quotes Veríssimo as saying: “Liverpool are a very powerful team, guided by a coach who needs no introduction.
“We know we have to be at a very good level and we believe we can split the tie, along the same lines as the 50/50 in the game with Ajax.
“Being at our level, as we were with Ajax, we can suppress Liverpool’s strengths.
“We feel that there are situations in our offensive moment that we can take advantage of, and that we will have to have great security in the defensive process.
“In addition, we have the support of our 12th player, our fans.”
Liverpool favourites v Benfica
In our opinion, Liverpool are the favourites against Benfica over two legs in the Champions League quarter-final tie.
Now, of course, Benfica should not be written off and dismissed.
No team in the Champions League quarter-finals should not taken lightly.
However, we have to say that the tie against Benfica is Liverpool’s to lose.
Liverpool have a fearsome attacking unit, and you would expect the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz to score one or two goals in Portugal.
Liverpool are also very strong defensively, and it would be hard even for Darwin Nunez to get the better of Virgil van Dijk.
We would be very surprised if Liverpool do not come away from Portugal with a 2-0 or 3-0 lead.
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