Full Time: Liverpool 5-2 AS Roma
It was another glorious night at Anfield as Liverpool took on Roma in the first-leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final. The Reds were looking to continue their fine form at home and do similar damage like they had done to Manchester City in the previous round.
This was certainly a night to remember as the Reds ran out 5-2 winners over a side that had dumped Barcelona out of the competition.
Although Roma started brightly, it was Mohamed Salah who got the ball rolling with a sumptuous curling finish in the first-half. In stoppage time of the first-half, he made it 2-0 to the Reds and were in command of the tie.
Things got a little crazy in the second half as Sadio Mane tapped in from a Salah cross before Roberto Firmino got into the act with a brace, making it 5-0.
Roma, though, kept on going and it led to Edin Dzeko scoring in the 80th minute as he expertly finished past Loris Karius before James Milner gave away a penalty via a handball, which was converted by Diego Perotti.
The two goals do give Roma a sniff in the second leg but if we play it our way, we should score a goal or two in Italy too.
Liverpool Player Ratings
Loris Karius – 7/10
Karius did have a nervy start as he got away with an unconvincing flap. However, he was solid otherwise. He couldn’t really do much with the two goals conceded today.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8/10
A pretty good showing by our young right-back. Trent did struggle during the early exchanges but was much better in the second half and even had a part to play in a couple of goals.
Dejan Lovren – 6/10
Lovren’s rating would have been higher had he scored from a corner when he was totally free. He was also responsible for losing Dzeko in Roma’s first goal.
Virgil van Dijk – 8/10
Van Dijk was solid at the back and didn’t really make any mistakes. Dzeko could not do anything in the attack whenever the Dutch defender tracked him.
Andy Robertson – 8/10
Robertson too started a little cautiously but slowly got into the game. He constantly ran down the left and Roma couldn’t deal with his energy.
James Milner – 8/10
Milner was one of the stars in the midfield as he battled hard to win the ball back. It was unfortunate that he handled the ball late in the game which led to Roma’s penalty.
Jordan Henderson – 8/10
Hendo was initially struggling to deal with Radja Nainggolan but it was the captain’s tackle on Dzeko that led to the goal and then the crazy onslaught from us.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 6/10
The Ox started brightly but had to be subbed off early after hurting himself.
Mohamed Salah – 9/10
Salah didn’t celebrate scoring against his former side but he did when he assisted the two goals. The Egyptian was incredible and his 42nd and 43rd goals of the season do give us hope of getting the job done in Rome.
Sadio Mane – 7.5/10
Mane might have gotten a goal in the game but he should have started the scoring when he was one-on-one with the Roma goalkeeper but shot just above the bar.
Roberto Firmino – 8.5/10
Industrious, full of running and a thorn in the Roma side. Bobby was himself, as usual, and his performance saw him bag a brace.
Substitutes
Georginio Wijnaldum – 7/10
Was solid once he came on to replace the Ox but should have scored a goal in the second half when Robertson’s ball found him with only Alisson to beat in the Roma goal.
Danny Ings – 6/10
Came on to replace Firmino but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Ragnar Klavan – N/A
Came on for the last few seconds of the game and didn’t really get to do much.
