Liverpool XI vs Benfica: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Champions League clash

Liverpool have a clean bill of health as things stand for Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Benfica.

The Reds host Portuguese opposition at Anfield looking to book their place in the semi-finals after a 3-1 first-leg victory in Lisbon last week sealed courtesy of goals from Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz.

And after a pulsating 2-2 draw away at Manchester City last weekend, the Reds face their Premier League title rivals again on Saturday in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

However, Klopp insists another looming showdown with Pep Guardiola’s men won’t affect his team selection on Wednesday.

“The next game has no influence on the lineup for tomorrow but the last game has,” Klopp told reporters at his pre-Benfica press conference on Tuesday.

“Super intense schedule. No one injured as far as I know but we need to look at who is freshest.

“A super important game (against Benfica). We tried so hard to get to the Champions League and now we can make it to the semis.”

However, it still would not be a surprise to see Klopp make one or two changes for the quarter-final second-leg visit of Benfica to Merseyside, with his team still fighting to achieve an unprecedented quadruple this term and so many key games on the horizon.

Konate is likely to continue his rotation with Joel Matip at centre-back with Joe Gomez another option in defence. Naby Keita is the most plausible candidate to step into the midfield.

Klopp could also opt to rest Mohamed Salah with Diaz and Roberto Firmino the main options of the attackers who did not start at City.

Predicted Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson; Milner, Fabinho, Keita; Diaz, Firmino, Mane.

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