They didn't have it their own way for the whole match, but Liverpool's pursuit of a seventh European Cup remains on course after delivering a 3-1 win against Benfica in Lisbon.
Played out in a white hot atmosphere at the Estádio da Luz, Ibrahima Konate and Sadio Mane gave the Reds a 2-0 half-time lead before an error by Konate allowed Darwin Nunez to pull one back for the Eagles. But with only three minutes remaining, former Porto player Luis Diaz rolled home a third to give the Reds a commanding two-goal cushion to take back to Anfield next week.
And here's a round-up of what the Portuguese media are saying after Jurgen Klopp's men secured another credible victory in Europe.
IAN DOYLE ANALYSIS: Luis Diaz asks Man City question as Ibrahima Konate learns quickly
PAUL GORST VERDICT: What Liverpool fans sang after Luis Diaz goal says a lot about Jurgen Klopp
Correio da Manhã - Mission impossible for second leg
The law of the strongest. Liverpool left Luz with a comfortable lead, which they stretched to 2-0 by half-time. Benfica did not surrender. Darwin reduced the deficit and should also have been awarded a penalty, before ex-Porto player Díaz scored for 3-1, making the Eagles' mission practically impossible for the second leg.
The initial tune was not surprising: the ball was handed over to the English. Benfica held a defensive line and waited for a Liverpool mistake to attack with speed. But the first half was totally dominated by Jurgen Klopp's men.
Much has been said about a two-faced Benfica, in European and domestic competition this season. What to say about a two-faced Benfica in the game itself? Klopp had identified Rafa Silva and Darwin as the most dangerous opponents, and he was right. On 49 minutes, a sprint from Silva on the right ended with a low cross that Konaté, who was once a hero and now a villain, missed. Darwin did not forgive and scored to rekindle a light of hope for the hosts.
And how Benfica changed. They looked the shark in the eye and the fear changed sides. Liverpool's difficulties peaked in the 67th minute when (Virgil) van Dijk was dribbled by Darwin and holds the forward with his arm. A penalty chance for Benfica? The referee said play on.
The punishment for Benfica, got worse late on when Díaz took the ball around Odysseas and made it 1-3. Jota threatened a fourth, but the Greek kept the score as it was, which is already difficult enough for the second leg.
Observador - The law of the strongest beats Darwin's theory
It wasn't bad. It was close to being good. And it could even have been very good. Benfica lost to Liverpool at Luz and have an almost impossible task next week at Anfield, that's for sure; but it is also true that Benfica reacted after the break, which forced Liverpool to manage their advantage and it could have been a draw if the stars had lined up.
The Reds (Benfica) suffered their third defeat against the English side in Luz and the history between the two teams in games in Lisbon is now tied with three wins for each side. Benfica have maintained their tradition of scoring at home against Liverpool, scoring at least one goal for the sixth time in six occasions, but have also conceded three or more goals for the eighth time this season.
And if Benfica will travel to Anfield believing that anything is possible, it is also true that history attributes even more favouritism to Liverpool – never, in the 35 times they have won away from home in the first leg of European knockouts, were the English side eliminated.
Publico - Benfica managed to split but ended up broken
It was more of a hope than an expectation. “I believe we can split the tie,” said Nélson Veríssimo, waiting for an exceptional European night for Benfica, in Luz, against Liverpool, in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It is true that the second meeting is still to be played, but the truth is that the “incarnates” managed to share the game and the 1-3 defeat against the “Reds ” is deadly for the aspirations of the Portuguese team. It could have been a lot worse. And scoring two goals at Anfield will not be impossible. Benfica already proved in Amsterdam that they are capable of the impossible.
This Liverpool is everything that Benfica is not. A consolidated team, with world-class stars, with winning dynamics and a coach with the time and resources to get his ideas across. Benfica, on the contrary, is an unbalanced team, with a coach apparently on term, in management mode and with reduced competitive horizons. It had everything to be a one-way, result-driven game that would make the second leg at Anfield next week a mere formality. And during the first part that's what happened.
Liverpool were exactly what they show every week in the Premier League, taking Jürgen Klopp's ideas onto the pitch. Asphyxiating high pressure and always playing in the direction of the opponent's goal, leaving the “incarnates” entrenched around their goal and counting on the inspiration of the goalkeeper, Vlachodimos.
Liverpool led 2-0 at half-time but the second half was completely different. Everything started to change in the 49th minute. Rafa, launched from the right and managed to cross into the area. Konaté, the scorer of the first goal, completely missed the interception and the ball fell to Darwin, who made it 1-2. There was hope again for Benfica, who managed to change the game's narrative. They were more aggressive, more intentional in his offensive actions and very dangerous – Darwin gave Liverpool's central defenders a lot of trouble and even fell in the area in a tussle with Van Dijk, in which the Dutchman hit him with his arm, but the referee ordered him to play on.
Benfica loaded with intention and it must be said that Liverpool trembled. Klopp rotated the team – bringing on Diogo Jota and Firmino on the hour – but nothing changed the dynamics of the game. Everton still had a good chance in this period, but Nélson Veríssimo's team already seemed to be running low on energy to maintain the assault. And Liverpool managed to leave the tie a little more unbalanced, with a goal from Luis Díaz in the 87th minute – this time, the Colombian was competent in finishing after Keita's pass.
The goal that the ex-FC Porto player celebrated in an exuberant way completely emptied Benfica's stack in Luz. But it wasn't a totally wasted night. The “incarnates” may have ended up broken and with a difficult path to the semi-finals of the Champions League, but they managed to share the game against one of the best teams in Europe. And that's already something.
