Liverpool will face Villarreal in the Champions League semi-finals after surviving a late collapse in their 3-3 draw with Benfica on Wednesday.

Jurgen Klopp’s team had already qualified for the last four after winning 3-1 in the first leg of the quarter-finals in Lisbon.

For many stretches in the second leg at Anfield, they were on autopilot, but they had to maintain their nerve to advance 6-4 on aggregate following an unexpected meltdown in the dying moments.

Liverpool took the lead through Ibrahima Konate, but Goncalo Ramos equalized late in the first half.

The contest appeared to be all but gone when Roberto Firmino scored twice after the break.

However, Benfica’s Roman Yaremchuk and Darwin Nunez scored to offer the visitors hope of an incredible comeback before Liverpool restored order.

In the semi-finals, Liverpool will meet Villarreal of Spain, with the Reds aiming to reach their 10th Champions League final and win their seventh trophy in the competition.

Despite Villarreal’s remarkable wins over Bayern Munich and Juventus in the previous two rounds, Liverpool will be heavy favourites to reach their third Champions League final in five seasons.

That would bring them one step closer to a historic clean sweep of all four major trophies in a single season.

Klopp made seven changes from his side’s 2-2 draw with Premier League leaders Manchester City on Sunday, opting to rest his key players ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Pep Guardiola’s side at Wembley.

After a pre-match minute of silence to mark the 33rd anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster on Friday, Liverpool’s much-changed line-up took a while to get into their stride.

Firmino stars

Ironically, it was a guy named after Liverpool’s arch-rivals Everton who threatened early for Benfica, curling a long-range shot narrowly wide.

Liverpool, on the other hand, didn’t waste any time in flexing their muscles.

In the first leg at Benfica, Konate had headed the opener, and Liverpool’s tall center-back tormented the Portuguese side with his aerial abilities once more in the 21st minute.

Kostas Tsimikas blasted an outswinging corner towards Konate, climbing over three Benfica players to head into the far corner from a distance of 10 yards.

In the 32nd minute, Benfica salvaged an equalizer against the flow of play.

Diogo Goncalves’ pass clipped James Milner and slipped through to Ramos, who smashed a beautiful finish past Alisson from just inside the box.

Any expectations of a dramatic Benfica comeback were dashed in the 55th minute as the visitors shot themselves in the foot in ludicrous fashion.

Benfica’s meltdown began when goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos botched what should have been a simple interception of Naby Keita’s over-hit pass.

Jota crossed back into the six-yard box, where Firmino had the simple chore of tapping into the empty net, thanks to Jan Vertonghen’s desperate attempt to remove the danger.

Firmino scored again 10 minutes later after his first home Champions League goal in two years.

Firmino escaped Benfica’s shoddy marking to volley home from close range after Tsimikas curled a brilliant free-kick to the pass.

Yaremchuk scored in the 73rd minute, rounded Alisson and slotting home after beating Liverpool’s offside trap.

Nunez scored with a predatory finish in the 82nd minute, causing a sudden intake of air around Anfield.

Nunez’s low strike troubled Alisson moments later, but Liverpool held on to keep their quadruple hopes alive.