• This will be Manchester City’s 100th game in the Champions League - the Citizens have won 55 of their first 99, which is already the most by any English side who have reached a century of games in the competition.
• Riyad Mahrez has scored six goals across his past six away games in the Champions League, and in three consecutive away games in the knockout stages of the competition. Should the Algerian winger score in this match, only Cristiano Ronaldo will have scored in more such games consecutively (6 - 2013-2015).
• This is City's first-ever away game against Atletico Madrid in European competition. They have won just three of their previous 11 away games against Spanish opponents (D1 L7), but one of those was on their most recent such trip under Pep Guardiola (2-1 v Real Madrid in February 2020).
• Joao Cancelo has been directly involved in five goals for City in the Champions League this season (two goals, three assists); the joint-most by a full-back in one of Guardiola’s teams in a single campaign.

Will this man cause Liverpool a few headaches this evening?

Darwin Nunez scored a hat-trick at the weekend as Benfica warmed up for their Anfield task with a 3-1 league win.

• Only two teams have ever won by more than one goal away to Liverpool in the knockout stages of the Champions League, but one of those was Benfica (2-0 in 2005-06 in the last 16). The other was Chelsea, who won 3-1 at Anfield in the 2008-09 quarter-finals.
• The Reds have won each of their past five games against Portuguese sides in the Champions League, scoring 16 goals and only conceding three times. Overall, they’re unbeaten in nine games against Portuguese teams in the competition since Benfica won at Anfield in March 2006 (W7 D2).
• Mohamed Salah has scored 14 goals in 23 appearances for Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League – his next home goal will see him overtake Steven Gerrard (14) for the most goals scored by a Liverpool player at Anfield in the European Cup/Champions League.
• Since the start of the 2017-18 season – Liverpool’s first under Jurgen Klopp in the Champions League – only Robert Lewandowski (54) has been involved in more goal-ending sequences of play than Mohamed Salah (46) in the competition

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker says he has enormous faith in his defence heading into tonight's quarter-final against Benfica.

The Brazil international has kept 22 clean sheets in all competitions so far this season and only conceded four goals in nine games.

"It's massive," said Alisson on his confidence in Liverpool's defenders. "I have top players playing in front of me.

"No matter who is playing in front of me, they are always performing in the highest level possible. I'm really happy to be a part of this team."

Alisson highlighted Darwin Nunez, who scored in the first leg, and fellow Brazilian Everton as potential threats to the Reds' last-four ambitions.

"It was a tough game. They have quick strikers, a strong striker as a number nine," he added.

"I know Everton from Brazil, I know his qualities and how good he is. They gave us a lot of work to do but we are ready to face them and achieve our goals."

Shwanchalabi: You know draw was easy when you can afford to rest first team in quarter final! Liverpool can actually rest first team too at semi-final. That must be easiest road ever to a CL final. Liverpool must be the favourite without any doubt. which is annoying as a UTD fan.

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola praised his entire team for their defensive record as he aims to reach a second successive Champions League semi-final.

“You have to be solid and concede few goals, indeed few chances,” he said. “We work on defending when we don’t have the ball and when we do have the ball.

“We are not an exceptional team individually for defenders - ask Kevin [De Bruyne], Phil [Foden], Riyad [Mahrez], Gundo [Ilkay Gundogan].

“But altogether we run as a team and that makes us really solid. If we are not solid it will be difficult to get to the semi-finals.”

Guardiola is expecting a different game to the first leg, when Atletico had no shots on goal and City eked out a narrow lead to take to Madrid.

“It will be so intense,” he said. “We play over there, they defended deep here but that’s not going to happen.

“The people will support their team, led by the manager and we have to adapt. We want to create more and more chances against them and really play as a team.”

Steve Best: People really seem to be missing what Klopp said earlier today about picking those players who were FRESHEST for tonight. This has nothing to do with disrespect, but squad management & fixture pile up.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaking to BT Sport, on learning lessons from last night's Champions League matches: "You saw the games, they were all spectacular for different reasons. We have to be ready for a tough game. We are ready to make a proper game of it."

On the changes he has made tonight: "The reason for the changes is I expect a tough game and I want fresh legs. I want the excitement and desire. I have to make decisions before I know the outcome but I like the team and it is a team that will go for it."

And on the players he has available from the bench: "I told the boys to be ready. The plan is to make five subs. They all have to be ready. We have a chance to go to the semi-final of the Champions League. If we don't fight for it, Benfica should go to the semis and not us."

On what he expects from Benfica: "We would go for it with all we have, so why shouldn't they? It's what we expect."

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport at Anfield

Image source, Reuters

Jurgen Klopp pays tribute to Sadio Mane in his programme notes calling the forward - who turned 30 on Sunday - a "machine".

"What he has done for this club and continues to do puts him in the bracket of 'legend'," writes the Liverpool boss.

"For LFC and Senegal he is playing to his highest level possible.

"What's exciting is how he is getting better and stronger. When you see how he looks after himself and his commitment to his profession, turning 30 for him really is only a number."

Mane has scored in each of his past two appearances. Will he make it three in three?

Glyn Thomas: Yes Klopp has made a lot of changes but I don't see it as arrogance - there's a LOT of quality in the side he's put out.

Manchester City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to BT Sport: "Raheem [Sterling] has the ability to recover in one day, he is mature in his body, out of this world, exceptional, it is just one decision - they defend completely different from Liverpool.

"They will press high in their momentum, I don't know how long for - there will be moments as they always have done in the Champions League, Atletico Madrid there are moments they go forward."

Image source, Getty Images

Benfica winger Everton says he has “studied the weak point” of Liverpool’s defence and is targeting Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate in tonight's Champions League quarter-final - although the right-back does not start tonight.

The Brazil winger is hoping to help his side overturn a daunting two-goal deficit at Anfield but insists that Benfica are travelling without fear.

“I’ve been trying to study the opponent, looking to better analyse the individual qualities of Alexander-Arnold and Konate,” he said. “I have tried to see where they have difficulties, their weak point, so that I can exploit and have a happy night, to give joy to the fans.”

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Klopp's team selection shows us he doesn't rate Benfica that highly. If he thought they were a top quality side, Salah and Van Dijk would be playing - that is a fact.

It is a smart move, he doesn't see Benfica as a massive threat.

Khalid: What else are squads for if not to be utilised? May not be the strongest XI Klopp could have fielded (especially back 4) but its by no means a weak XI either.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport at Anfield

Image source, Getty Images

This is James Milner's first start since 2 March. At the age of 36 years and 99 days, Milner is the oldest Englishman to start a Champions League match since David Beckham (37y 335d) did so for Paris St-Germain against Barcelona in the first leg of their quarter-final meeting in 2012-13.

Jack Lovatt: As a Liverpool fan I hope I'm proven wrong, but so many changes gives the impression Klopp may have underestimated Benfica here.

Guillem Balague
Spanish football journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

Diego Simeone came with the hope of being alive in the second leg - success.

Now with the fact the away goals don’t count as double, it will benefit this kind of approach because you will go to City and think 1-0 is fine, we can go home and sort that out.

Simeone doesn’t care what you think of his football. He simply doesn’t care. For him it is a life choice, he is a conservative man who doesn’t want things to happen that he doesn’t like. He doesn’t want to be a protagonist, he is happy to destroy more than create. Pep Guardiola is the other extreme. He is the creative force, he likes the adventure.

A lot of people are saying Atletico Madrid are not supposed to be playing that way, but when you look a little bit closer they have the 13th budget in Europe, there are six Premier League clubs with more money than them.

Manchester City have 15 players that cost 40m euros (£33.21m) or more and Atletico have only got three. They have absolutely the right to defend in their own box because they are being attacked by a team that has more quality.

Simon Gleave
Head of sports analysis, Nielsen Gracenote

Manchester City slightly increased their chance of a Champions League semi-final with a 1-0 first leg win against Atletico Madrid.

City now have 82% chance of a place in the last four compared to 75% before the first leg.

They were the third most likely to reach the semis prior to this week's second legs - after Liverpool and Real Madrid.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Atletico Madrid defender Kieran Trippier on BBC Radio 5 Live: "I loved playing for Simeone and thriving off defending. I improved massively playing for him. He is a special guy.

"Many people watch the odd game, but in La Liga they play totally different football, but against the top teams you need to be more defensive minded. It's not fair talking about the dark arts and him.

"When we used to play Liverpool and Chelsea he would tell us to get in their faces and wind them up. They want to wind players up. From minute one hbe will be asking for yellow cards from the touchline and the players will be winding up others.

"He wants players to get around the ref. Savic will be the big one tonight, he will be in Man City's faces."