The Reds, winners of the C1 in 2019 but eliminated by Real Madrid at this stage of the competition last season, opened the scoring from a corner by Konaté (17th), before Mané (34th) made the break before the end of the first period.

Taking advantage of a blunder from the same Konaté, Darwin Nunez reduced the gap at the start of the second period (49th), but Luis Diaz set the final score at the very end of the game, leaving little suspense for the meeting of the next week at Anfield Road.

At kick-off, Jürgen Klopp had chosen not to field his captain Jordan Henderson, perhaps to spare him before the return quarter of C1 but also the double duel against Manchester City on Sunday for a shock at the top of the Premier League and six days later in the FA Cup semi-final.

Three days later, a trip to the league at historic rival Manchester United awaits Liverpool.

The trip to Lisbon will not have complicated things too much for them, with Liverpool confirming their status as favorites on the pitch.

After creating the danger by Salah (9th) then Keita (12th) the Reds logically opened the scoring from a corner, with an easy header from the young Franco-Malian Ibrahima Konaté (1-0, 17th), who thus marked his first goal for the Reds.

The joy of Uruguayan Darwin Nunez after reducing the score for Benfica against Liverpool in Lisbon, April 5, 2022 CARLOS COSTA AFP

Salah remains silent

Benfica then tried to react, but could not overcome the high pressing of the Reds, who recovered the ball in the opposing part of the field to launch successive attacks towards the Vlachodimos cage.

The Greek doorman of the local team has also signed one of the best individual performances of his team, winning two duels against Mohamed Salah (24th, 45th), on the podium of the scorers of this edition with eight achievements.

Vlachodimos could hardly have avoided England's second goal, when Liverpool right-back Alexander-Arnold, fresh from a minor injury, placed a long ball through the head of Luis Diaz, who offered Sadio Mané his third goal of the season in C1 (2-0, 34th).

Mohamed Salah well muzzled by the Benfica defense during Liverpool's success in Lisbon, April 5, 2022 CARLOS COSTA AFP

Returning from the locker room, the bubbling spectators at the Estadio da Luz believed in it again when the Uruguayan Darwin Nunez took advantage of a huge miss from Konaté in the middle of the penalty area to adjust goalkeeper Alisson Becker (2-1, 49th) .

It was then Becker's turn to shine, deflecting a fine strike from Everton (61st).

Just as Benfica looked more threatening, Klopp took Salah, Mane and Thiago Alcantara out of the way, again suggesting he wanted to keep some reserve for this weekend's game against City.

But the German coach was right to rely on the mastery of his players, the Colombian Luis Diaz converting a nice deep pass from Keita (3-1, 87th) into a goal.

© 2022 AFP