‘We’re sad’: Benfica pair claim one Liverpool star got very lucky in 3-1 UCL win

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Benfica coach Nelson Verissimo and striker Darwin Nunez believe Virgil van Dijk got very lucky during Liverpool’s 3-1 Champions League quarter-final victory over Benfica in Lisbon, speaking to Record. 

The phrase ‘you’ve seen them given’ certainly comes to mind.

Whether they ever should be given is another matter entirely of course but, the fact remains, you’ve seen them given. 

Shortly after the excellent Nunes halved Liverpool’s lead following a rare Ibrahima Konate blunder, the Uruguayan goal-machine broke away on the counter attack, checked inside and fell to ground after being shoved aside by Van Dijk’s arm. 

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Yes, the contact was minimal. Yes, a 6ft 2ins powerhouse of a man had no business tumbling to the Estadio da Luz turf. But we’ve become accustomed to seeing spot-kicks awarded following such minor indiscretions. 

With that in mind, perhaps lady luck was shining down on Van Dijk in Lisbon.

Did Liverpool get lucky in Lisbon?

“We knew we were going to face a great team. We knew that Liverpool would take advantage of the space,” says Verissimo, who’s side flew out of the blocks after the interval, threatening to cancel out the 2-0 first-half lead given to the Reds by Konate and Sadio Mane. 

“We were always confident that we were in the game. We passed that message on. To have confidence with the ball, without rushing out (of position). We did that and we created dangerous situations.  

“There is a penalty against Darwin. The (eventual 3-1) result makes the objective more difficult, but we believe it is possible.” 

Nunez, who was the subject of a £50 million bid from West Ham United in the January transfer window, agrees with his coach, believing that he should’ve been handed the opportunity to score his 29^th goal of a remarkable campaign from the penalty spot. 

“We are all sad. We did not want this result,” Nunez adds, via O Jogo. “They were better in the first half and we were better in the second. In the incident with Van Dijk, I think I suffered a penalty.  

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“The referee didn’t signal, but could have gone to VAR.”

Luis Diaz’s late strike, set up by the terrific Naby Keita, means Liverpool have a two-goal advantage heading into the return leg at Anfield on April 13^th.