Quadruple-chasing Klopp hails 'cup king' Emery

Liverpool boss praises Villarreal counterpart ahead of semifinal

LIVERPOOL, England－A place in the Champions League semifinals secured. The dream of an unprecedented quadruple of trophies still intact. Key players rested amid a hectic schedule.

Liverpool is in a good place entering the home straight of what could turn out to be the club's greatest ever season.

Even conceding two late goals to draw 3-3 at home to Benfica couldn't take the smile off Jurgen Klopp's face.

"The day we qualify for the semifinals of the Champions League and I'm not happy, please come here and knock me out," the Liverpool manager said Wednesday after seeing his team advance from the quarterfinals 6-4 on aggregate.

With Liverpool inflicting significant damage by winning the first leg 3-1 in Lisbon last week, Klopp was confident enough to rest stars like Mo Salah, Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold for a return match against Benfica that turned into a wild, end-to-end contest at Anfield.

Roberto Firmino's second-half double put Liverpool 3-1 ahead on the night and 6-2 ahead on aggregate, only for Klopp's team to ease off the pace. Benfica took advantage by getting behind Liverpool's makeshift defense to score through substitute Roman Yaremchuk and rising star Darwin Nunez, but the gap was too much to make up.

"It was pretty comfortable," Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson said. "But we're disappointed with the goals we conceded".

Ultimately, Liverpool has coasted into the last four of Europe's top club competition, and is there for the 12th time－tying the record for an English team with Manchester United.

Villarreal awaits Liverpool in the last four. Despite the Spanish team eliminating both Juventus and Bayern Munich and its coach, Unai Emery, being a master strategist of European competitions, it's pretty much a dream scenario for Klopp and his team.

The quadruple of major trophies might really be on for Liverpool, already the winner of the English League Cup, currently in second place in the Premier League－just a point behind Manchester City－and into the semifinals of the FA Cup.

That Klopp was able to rotate so heavily against Benfica－even Andrew Robertson and Fabinho had the night off－should enable Liverpool to field a full-strength team against City in the FA Cup semifinals at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

City wasn't in such a luxurious position Wednesday, taken all the way by Atletico Madrid in the Spanish capital where a 0-0 draw sealed a 1-0 aggregate victory.

City, which will face Real Madrid in the semifinals, saw Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker go off with injuries in an often brutal game against Atletico, on the same night Klopp kept his best players fresh and relied on his backups.

Ibrahima Konate was one of them and he followed up his goal in the first leg－his first both for Liverpool and in the Champions League－with another header to open the scoring off Kostas Tsimikas' outswinging corner.

Goncalo Ramos made it 1-1 in the 32nd minute－keeping Benfica in with the unlikeliest of chances－with a goal that had a hint of fortune about it. The ball ricocheted to the 20-year-old forward from a tackle by Liverpool midfielder James Milner and his finish from the edge of the area was emphatic past Alisson Becker.

Firmino is no longer first choice for Liverpool following the arrivals of Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz but the Brazil striker staked his claim for a starting spot in the team's big upcoming games with a double in the space of 10 minutes.

His first goal came after mistakes from goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, who fumbled as he attempted to gather a through-ball, and centerback Jan Vertonghen, who hurried his resulting clearance. Jota drove the ball back into the middle of the area and Firmino applied the finish in the 55th.

The Brazilian volleyed in Tsimikas' freekick to make it 3-1 for the host but Liverpool let Benfica back into the match.

"We were 6-2 up on aggregate and maybe we relaxed," Jota admitted.

'Really happy'

Klopp admitted he was relieved to see Liverpool book a Champions League semifinal showdown against Villarreal

"When I'm not over the moon about qualifying for the Champions League semifinal, something is really wrong and maybe I should quit!" Klopp said.

"The situation was the defense had never played together and it was about details, staying 100 percent concentrated.

"We were 6-2 up on aggregate. The players are human beings, they were like 'OK, job done'. But Benfica kept fighting and I respect that.

"It was not exactly what we wanted but it is absolutely not important. We are through and that's all that matters. I'm really happy."

Liverpool will be firm favorite to make a third Champions League final in the last five seasons.

"To beat Juventus and Bayern Munich, they deserve to be in the Champions League semifinals. Unai Emery is the king of the cups, it is unbelievable what he is doing. But give me a bit of time to prepare it properly," Klopp said, referring to Emery's four Europa League triumphs as a manager.

Liverpool's thoughts will now turn to its FA Cup semifinal with Premier League title rival City at Wembley on Saturday.

But for Benfica, it was an honorable exit from the tournament as the visiting fans recognized with long and loud appreciation after the final whistle.

"All Benfica fans must be proud of this campaign. We had a difficult group stage, and then faced Ajax and Liverpool. As we advanced the opponents became more difficult, but we gave a good account of ourselves," said Benfica manager Nelson Verissimo.

Agencies