Benfica v Liverpool player ratings: Nunez 7, Taarabt 4; Keita 9, Diaz 7, Salah 6

Reds put one foot in Champions League semi-finals with 3-1 first leg win at Estadio da Luz

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  BENFICA RATINGS: Odysseas Vlachodimos - 7. The 27-year-old did not deserve to lose so heavily. He made a series of saves that stopped the scoreline getting out of hand. Action Images

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  Gilberto Junior - 5. The Brazilian struggled to keep a handle on Diaz. He was also sloppy in possession, particularly in the first half. AFP

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  Nicolas Otamendi - 5. The Argentinian did some good work in the air and made a number of blocks but the former Manchester City defender made two errors in the build-up to the third Liverpool goal. AFP

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  Jan Vertonghen - 5. The Belgian’s lack of pace was exposed by the Liverpool attack. He made a couple of telling interceptions but was always a step behind the strikers. AFP

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  Ajandro Grimaldo - 4. The Spaniard was pinned back by Salah and he produced little going forward. His passing was off, too, in a sub-par performance. EPA

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  Julian Weigl - 4. The German was over-run and did not disrupt Liverpool’s attacks with any regularity. His passing was efficient but held little threat. Reuters

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  Adel Taarabt - 4. The Moroccan ran down blind alleys in his attempt to dribble and wasted possession. He had scant influence on the game and made way for Meite with 20 minutes left. Reuters

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  Rafa Silva - 4. The Portuguese’s control was poor and his passing was wayward. It was his cross that led to Benfica’s goal but Konate should have cleared it with ease. Getty

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  Goncalo Ramos - 5. The Portuguese tried to drop deep to reinforce the midfield but he was unable to apply much pressure on Fabinho. He did not create much going forward and was substituted for Mario with four minutes left. AFP

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  Everton - 6. The Brazilian tested Alisson and got into shooting positions on another two occasions. He worked hard defensively, too, before making way for Yaremchuk with eight minutes to go. Getty

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  Darwin Nunez - 7. The Uruguayan was bright. He took his goal coolly and asked questions of Konate. His pace and strength troubled the defence. Getty

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  SUBS: Soualiho Meite (Taarabt 70') - 4. He was unable to change the direction of the game, which had already turned against Benfica. EPA

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  Roman Yaremchuk (Soares 82') - N/A. The Ukrainian came on for the last eight minutes for Everton but was kept quiet by the defence during his short cameo. Reuters

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  Joao Mario (Ramos 86') - 4. The Portuguese joined the action for Ramos with four minutes to go. He made no impression on the match. AFP

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  LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 7. The Brazilian made a good save to foil Everton and was generally secure. He was lucky to get away with an overconfident moment on the ball in the second half. Getty

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  Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8. Secure when defending and dangerous on the ball, the 23-year-old showed his class. His pass in the build-up to the second goal was superb. Replaced by Gomez with a minute to go. Action Images

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  Ibrahima Konate - 7. The Frenchman scored a towering header to open the scoring but made a bad error to allow Benfica to pull a goal back. He was effective apart from that one mistake. EPA

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  Virgil van Dijk - 7. The Dutchman was at his finest when Benfica had their best spell in the second half. He calmed his colleagues and tackled with authority. PA

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  Naby Keita - 9. The Guinean was on the top of his game, pressing and passing with elan. He said just days ago that Liverpool had not yet seen him at his best. This was a glimpse of how good he can be. Substituted for Milner with a minute left. AFP

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  Fabinho - 7. The Brazilian was disciplined. He cut out danger and screened the defence. When Benfica got on top in the second half, he dug in and regained the initiative. EPA

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  Thiago Alcantara - 7. The 30-year-old was key to his team’s control of the midfield in the first half. His passing was precise. Henderson replaced him after 61 minutes. PA

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  Mohamed Salah - 6. The Egyptian forced two first-half saves from Vlachodimos but never hit the heights that he regularly reaches. He made way for Jota in the 61st minute. EPA

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  Sadio Mane - 7. The Senegalese worked hard and showed some fine touches. He was rewarded with the second goal. Firmino came on for him after 61 minutes. AFP

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  Luis Diaz - 7. The Colombian tormented Gilberto and set up Mane for the second goal. Always a threat, he gave Liverpool a two-goal cushion when slotting home the third. AFP

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  SUBS: Jordan Henderson (Alcantara 61') - 6. The 31-year-old grafted away in midfield and produced one dangerous through ball to Jota. AP

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  Diogo Jota (Salah 61') - 6. He wasted a superb chance to score a fourth when through on goal. Reuters

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  Roberto Firmino (Mane 61') - 7. The Brazilian's intelligent movement and clever passing kept the defence off balance. Action Images

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  Joe Gomez (Alexander-Arnold 89') - N/A. The 24-year-old saw out the game without any alarms. AFP

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  James Milner (Keita 89') - 6. The 36-year-old is a reassuring presence at the end of games. PA

Liverpool took a firm grip of their Champions League tie with Benfica as goals from Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz earned them a 3-1 victory in Lisbon in their quarter-final first leg on Tuesday.

Konate opened the scoring with a close-range header from a corner and Mane extended Liverpool's lead 30 minutes into what was a one-sided first half, with Mohamed Salah, Diaz and Naby Keita all passing up great scoring chances.

Yet five minutes after the break, 22-year-old French defender Konate completely missed a cross and allowed in-form striker Darwin Nunez to score and put Benfica, roared on by a sold-out Estadio da Luz, back into the game.

Benfica gained in confidence and briefly took charge but former Porto winger Diaz, who never lost a match against their bitter rivals Benfica, scored on the counter-attack after a Keita through ball.

Assessing the performances in Lisbon, Tony Evans has provided his player ratings in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.