Liverpool are close to sealing a qualification to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals with an away win, on Tuesday, against Benfica.
However, their English rivals Manchester City secured a slim home win.
While the former champions had a comfortable 3-1 victory at Benfica, Manchester City had a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid.
Ibrahima Konate and Sadio Mane gave Liverpool a 2-0 half-time lead in Lisbon, while Darwin Nunez pulled one back.
But a late Luis Diaz strike means that Jürgen Klopp’s team are heavy favourites to wrap up the quarter-final tie at home next week.
Meanwhile, English Premier League (EPL) table-topper, Manchester City, got their win on the night from Kevin de Bruyne.
The Belgian scored in the 70th minute against Atletico Madrid who had ousted Manchester United in the previous round and can still reverse matters at home on April 13.
The other two first leg matches in the Champions League are billed for Wednesday, with holders Chelsea versus record 13-time winners Real Madrid, and Villarreal versus Bayern Munich.
