Liverpool take on Benfica in the Champions League this week and according to Ian Rush, this former side cannot afford to get complacent.
The Premier League side are definitely the favourites to win the two-legged tie but Benfica have tremendous European appetite so the Liverpool players cannot afford to think of this as a walk in the park.
Rush said, as quoted: “Liverpool got the Champions League draw they were hoping for in Benfica, but they knocked out a very good Ajax side in the last round so we’re not in the semi-final just yet.
“Benfica are a bit like the Portuguese Liverpool. They’re very famous and have a great affinity with the European Cup having won it back-to-back in 1961 and 1962. They’re not doing so well in the league this season but they’ve come alive on European nights.
“It’s not too dissimilar to Liverpool’s situation in 2005 when the team were struggling in the Premier League but came into their own in the Champions League and, of course, went on to produce one of the greatest nights in the club’s history in Istanbul.
Former Porto player Luis Díaz 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 to fill Klopp in on his Benfica knowledge… 🙃 pic.twitter.com/fTlUSWJCmZ
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 4, 2022
“Maybe Benfica can take some inspiration from that? I expect Liverpool to come through the tie but they need to be careful not to underestimate their opponents because you never know what might happen on European nights and that’s what makes them so special.”
Can Benfica cause an upset by knocking out Liverpool?
Liverpool have been in great form this season and we honestly don’t see them losing to Benfica. They are unbeaten in nine away matches so on a perfectly sunny day, this one should be a regulation win for the Merseyside outfit.
But as Ian Rush said, Benfica will be buoyant after knocking out Ajax in the previous round and with no away goals rule on the table, an upset is not a distant dream for Nelson Verissimo’s side.
The first thing Benfica will look to achieve is to stop Liverpool from killing the quarter-final in the 1st leg itself. The Portuguese side are unbeaten in 5 home games so even if they can hold the English side to a draw on Tuesday, it will be a job well done.
Then at Anfield, Benfica can go all out and throw the kitchen sink.
