Liverpool will face Villarreal in the Champions League semi finals after earning an aggregate victory over Benfica following a pulsating second-leg clash at Anfield on Wednesday (Apr 13).
Liverpool remain in the hunt for an historic quadruple after a thrilling draw with Benfica secured a two-legged Champions League semi-final against Villarreal.
Having established a 3-1 lead in Lisbon, Liverpool extended their advantage with Ibrahima Konate's powerful 21st-minute header from a Kostas Tsimikas corner.
Benfica equalised through Goncalo Ramos' excellent turn and finish, before Roberto Firmino's two second-half goals – a tap-in followed by a volley – in front of the Kop looked to have put the Reds in control.
But after Roman Yaremchuk broke through to beat Alisson and make it 3-2 on the night, Darwin Nunez scored a late equaliser.
Nunez was then denied by Alisson as Benfica finished strongly but Liverpool held out to advance 6-4 on aggregate.
They now host Villarreal – the club they beat in the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2016 – on Apr 27 before travelling to Spain for the second leg on May 4.
Villarreal secured their last-four spot by overcoming Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said: "I'm really happy because being in a semi-final is so special.
"We expect a couple of really difficult games. It will be a tough cookie but we are a tough cookie, so who cares?
"Villarreal deserved to get through. I know Bayern Munich don't want to hear that."
The semi-final brings Liverpool face-to-face with Villarreal boss Unai Emery, who has won the Europa League four times.
Three of those triumphs came at Sevilla, including a victory over Klopp's Liverpool in the 2016 final, and the other with his current club.
