Luis Diaz hands Jurgen Klopp new Man City problem as Liverpool return welcomed

The Benfica supporters who made their feelings clear long before the first whistle must have known what was coming.

The loudest jeers when the Liverpool line-up was announced inside the cavernous Estadio da Luz were reserved for Luis Diaz, a one-time rival with Porto before earning his £50million move to Anfield in January.

Having been used sparingly in the last few games, Diaz was in from the start in this Champions League quarter-final first leg. And from first minute to last, he was targeted by both Benfica players and fans.

Clobbered by Gilberto early on, Diaz simply picked himself up and got on with it, regularly driving the Benfica right-back into positions he didn’t want to be and on hand to nod an assist for Sadio Mane to score the second.

Beginning on the left flank, Diaz moved to the right for the final half-hour but was in a central position to calmly convert the goal late on that gave Liverpool a winning margin their overall display deserved. The barrage of flagpoles thrown at Diaz by the frustrated Benfica faithful were met with a dismissive smile.

Mohamed Salah, despite again drawing a blank, was far more encouraging during a lively first-half, Mane similarly shone before the break, Roberto Firmino impressed from the bench and Diogo Jota, as ever, could have scored after being introduced.

Diaz, though, may well have done enough to secure a starting role at Manchester City on Sunday. It’s the kind of headache Jurgen Klopp will absolutely love.

Elite football can be such an unforgiving place. Just ask Ibrahima Konate.

For more than half of this Champions League clash, the Frenchman had overpowered Benfica dangerman Darwin Nunez, setting the tone when knocking the Uruguayan striker out of his stride in