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Diaz haunts Benfica as Liverpool win CL quarter final first leg

Luis Diaz came back to haunt Benfica, scoring a vital third goal for Liverpool as they beat Benfica 3-1 in their Champions League quarter final first leg in Lisbon.

Diaz has shone for Liverpool since moving from Benfica's fierce rivals Porto in January, and he restored the Reds' two-goal lead in the 88th minute.

The Colombian strode confidently past Benfica goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos before slotting into the far corner, giving Liverpool some much-needed breathing space heading into next Wednesday's second leg at Anfield.

The first leg was the epitome of a game of two halves. Liverpool dominated the first half, with Ibrahima Konate heading home his first goal for the club, doing so from a whipped Andy Robertson's corner.

Sadio Mane then tapped home after a dazzling counter-attack, which summed up a strong first half. Trent Alexander-Arnold - starting for the first time since injury - picked up a loose Adel Taarabt pass before playing an inch-perfect pass over the top.

The sublime ball found the head of Diaz, who spotted the run of Mane down the right of the area. He squared his header and it was an easy tap-in for the Senegal international.

While Benfica ended the first half with one shot on target and looked to be facing a swift exit from the Champions League, the second half could not have been more contrasting.

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