FeatureLiverpool v Benfica: The story in Europe so far

The clubs have met 10 times previously in an official capacity, with the last fixture between the pair coming 12 years ago in the Europa League.

The forthcoming two-legged clash will see the Reds renew rivalries with the Portuguese outfit for the first time since 2010.

Here is a brief history of Liverpool's past meetings with Benfica...

European Cup third round (1977-78)

The first ever official meeting between Liverpool and Benfica came in the 1977-78 season.

Like this year, the Reds were drawn away from home first and secured a narrow 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Jimmy Case and Emlyn Hughes.

Bob Paisley's men made light work of the Portuguese outfit in the return leg on Merseyside, though.

Liverpool reached a third European Cup semi-final amid a snowstorm in L4, cruising to a 6-2 aggregate victory.

It was Ian Callaghan, Kenny Dalglish, Terry McDermott and Phil Neal this time who made the visitors pay and sent them crashing out of the tournament.

The Reds went on to claim a second European Cup that term – making it back-to-back titles – by toppling Borussia Monchengladbach in the final four before a solitary Dalglish effort against Club Brugge at Wembley secured the trophy.

European Cup third round (1983-84)

It took five seasons for the Eagles of Lisbon to come to blows with Liverpool again, before meeting twice in less than a year.

The first clash of 1984 came in the third round of the European Cup, when the Reds met Benfica in March.

Joe Fagan's outfit edged out a 1-0 win on home soil, a game most remembered for the return of Dalglish after a nine-week absence due to a broken cheekbone.

The Scot stepped off the bench to play a pivotal role in helping Ian Rush secure a slender advantage ahead of the return leg.

"He gave us more skill and from our point of view he won us the game," Fagan said of Dalglish. "It is not always what you do on the ball that counts. But being a world-class player, he causes problems to other teams even when he is not in possession himself."

It was Dalglish who provided the spark and three assists against Sven-Goran Eriksson's team in the away fixture.

Two goals from Ronnie Whelan with Craig Johnston and Rush strikes in between recorded a 5-1 aggregate win.

Liverpool, again, were on their way to European Cup glory as they later defeated AS Roma in their own backyard on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final.

European Cup second round (1984-85)

Eight months later, the two teams were pitted together once more at the start of a new campaign in October of 1984.

Rush, who was making a habit of scoring against Benfica, notched an impressive hat-trick in a 3-1 victory on Merseyside.

The return leg in Portugal was a nervy and sodden affair, a Michael Manniche goal after five minutes meant the teams were just a goal apart and a first-half Dalglish red card only added to the tension.

Mark Lawrenson and Alan Hansen produced memorable performances in the heart of defence while Bruce Grobbelaar battled hard between the posts to ensure a spot in the last eight was earned.

Champions League last 16 (2005-06)

Defending champions Liverpool exited the Champions League at the first-stage knockout round in their first meeting with Benfica for 22 years.

Rafael Benitez's team succumbed late at the Estadio da Luz in the first leg, an 84th-minute goal from Luisao providing the Portuguese club with a slender advantage heading to Anfield.

Benitez was hopeful another comeback could be on the cards but Ronald Koeman had other ideas.

Benfica expected an onslaught and got one.

But Simao – a man who very nearly swapped teams the summer before – made the Reds pay with a killer blow in the 36th minute, leaving the hosts with a mountain to climb.

Fabrizio Miccoli rounded off proceedings in the last minute of normal time, seeing Liverpool exit the tournament in disappointing fashion and suffer a two-legged defeat by Benfica for the first time in the club's history.

Europa League quarter-finals (2009-10)

The first meeting between the two teams outside of the European Cup came 12 years ago.

The clubs were thrown together once more, this time in the final eight of the Europa League.

Liverpool travelled to Lisbon in the first leg and were given a dream start thanks to a Daniel Agger goal from a Steven Gerrard free-kick in the ninth minute.

The Reds, though, played much of the night with 10 men after Ryan Babel was sent off following an altercation with Luisao.

Benfica saw two penalties from Oscar Cardozo turn the game on its head in what was an ill-tempered affair. Despite a narrow loss, Liverpool left Portugal with confidence having notched an all-important away goal.

Their belief was proved right in the reverse clash, Dirk Kuyt and Lucas Leiva completing the comeback in the first half ahead of two second-half goals from Fernando Torres.

Liverpool saw off Jorge Jesus' side 5-3 on aggregate, setting up a semi-final showdown with eventual winners Atletico Madrid.