Liverpool reach landmark Champions League numbers as they progress into semi-final

Liverpool’s 3-3 Champions League draw against S.L. Benfica at Anfield was by no means one of the Reds’ best performances, but it was enough to see them through into the semi-finals and tick off some landmark numbers at the same time. 

Jurgen Klopp’s side won 6-4 on aggregate having brought a 3-1 lead back with them from Portugal in the first leg to reach the last four of the competition for the third time in his near seven-year tenure.

Since the competition’s re-brand in 1992, the Merseyside club have now played 160 Champions League games. Regardless of the result on Wednesday night, that was always going to be the case.

However, what wasn’t for sure was whether Liverpool would make it 150 Champions League goals at Anfield. Going into the meeting with the Eagles, Klopp’s side needed to score two for that to happen and of course, they got three, so the landmark number was reached.

Roberto Firmino’s poke home in the 55^th minute took the accolade of 150, the first of the Brazilian’s brace, and he has teammate Diogo Jota to thank for writing his name into a small piece of Liverpool history with the little striker skewing a shot of his own which fell into Firmino’s path.

It was Benfica’s second-ever trip to Anfield in the Champions League, and having won 2-0 in March 2006, their unbeaten record in the competition at Liverpool’s home remains after they came from 3-1 down to finish level on the night.

Goals from Roman Yaremchuk and Darwin Nunez, on 73 and 82 minutes respectively, denied the hosts their 50^thChampions League home victory. When Villarreal come to town in the semi-final first leg on April 26, Klopp’s side will again chase that tally.

Instead, the number of Champions League draws at Anfield has now ticked up to 15, with the record in full reading as below.

Played: 78, Won: 49, Drawn: 15, Lost: 14

Numbers aside, Liverpool know for sure that their quadruple hunt is still on this season, and to be honest, if they go onto achieve it, that’ll be the only figure that matters to all in the red half of Merseyside.

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