*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Whereas usually a Champions League quarter-final second leg signals excitement, anticipation and nerves, this one has an air of ‘get it over and done with’ for Liverpool.
The Reds host Benfica on Wednesday already with one foot in the semi-finals and one eye on Saturday’s mouth-watering FA Cup clash with Man City. While Klopp will no doubt demand that standards don’t slip, his main aim will be to progress with all of his key men still in tact after his side took a big step towards the last-four with a 3-1 victory in Lisbon last week.
What better way to spice up a potential dead rubber than with a juicy four-fold bet builder.
Let’s get stuck in!
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The latest Bet Builder football odds are over at PaddyPower.com right now*A Bet Builder with these four bets pays at approximately 20/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Match Handicap: Liverpool (-1)
Liverpool did most of the heavy lifting in this tie last week with a comfortable two-goal win in Lisbon.
They could have secured their place in the semi-finals last week if they were a bit more clinical in front of goal but now must make sure that they don’t leave the door ajar for Benfica on Wednesday.
Liverpool played out a thrilling 2-2 draw with Manchester City last weekend and face off against the Premier League champions once again on Saturday in an eagerly anticipated FA Cup semi-final on Saturday.
They could do with putting this tie to bed promptly and should have little problems in doing so against a Benfica side that is struggling in the Portuguese league.
Benfica are 15 points off league leaders Porto and were thoroughly outclassed by Liverpool in last week’s first leg.
They famously dumped then-holding champions Liverpool out of the Champions League when they last travelled to Anfield in the competition in 2006, but the chances of them repeating that 2-0 victory are extremely remote.
Liverpool should at least match last week’s two-goal winning margin.
Both teams to score
Benfica managed to pull one goal back in Lisbon thanks to a shocking piece of defending from Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate, but the Portuguese side stand a decent chance of scoring in Liverpool on Wednesday night.
Benfica have scored in all three of their knockout games to date and averaged more than a goal per game in a group containing Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
They managed to score two goals in a 5-2 defeat in Munich and it wouldn’t be hugely surprising to see them nab a consolation in another convincing defeat on Wednesday night.
Liverpool have conceded eight goals in their nine Champions League games to date this season, including three goals in their four games at Anfield.
It would not be overly surprising to see Liverpool race into a comfortable lead before taking their foot off the gas ahead of the City game on Saturday.
Darwin Nunez to score anytime
Darwin Nunez is among the most sought-after strikers in Europe at present.
The Uruguayan is Benfica’s top scorer with 31 goals in all competitions and has scored five of their 11 Champions League goals this season.
He showed good composure to capitalise on Konate’s mistake last week and is by far the most likely Benfica player to get on the scoresheet at Anfield.
Nunez scored a hattrick on Saturday in Benfica’s 3-1 win over Belenenses and is good value to become the first player to score in back-to-back knockout games against Liverpool since Edin Dzeko in 2018.
Trent Alexander-Arnold anytime assist
Trent Alexander-Arnold expertly set up Diogo Jota against Manchester City on Sunday to register his 17th assist of the season.
He has comfortably recorded the most assists of any Liverpool player this season, three more than fellow full-back Andy Robertson in second and six more than Mohamed Salah in third.
Alexander-Arnold creates a staggering 2.32 chances per 90 minutes, a simply mind-blowing statistic considering Salah has the next-highest average with 1.56 per game.
The right-back averages almost three key passes per game in addition to more than two crosses.
He is good value to register his 18th assist of the season against Benfica on Wednesday.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Liverpool v Benfica Bet Builder tips
Match Handicap: Liverpool (-1)
Both teams to score
Darwin Nunez to score anytime
Trent Alexander-Arnold anytime assist
*A Bet Builder with these four bets pays at approximately 20/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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