UEFA Champions League: Liverpool 5 - Roma 2
[]
02:19
Top of the order is football and the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in which Liverpool hosted Itlaian Serie A club Roma for the first leg. Mohammed Salah was recently crowned the best player in the English Premier League, and the Egyptian would show he is a real contender for the best on the planet with another superb performance at Anfield against his former side from last season.
The Reds reaches this stage by dumping out Manchester City 5-1 on aggregate.
We join the action in the 35th minute as Salah cuts inside and rifles a ridiculous shot into the top corner that goes in off the cross bar to make it 1-0 Liverpool. Absolute stunner from the Egyptian forward.
And as half time approaches, Salah gets another chance and makes the most of it with a delicate chip over Alisson that makes coach Juergen Klopp a happy man. Salah's 43rd goal in all competitions this season makes it 2-0.
Liverpool continue to attack and extend the lead in the 56th minute. Salah breaks free on the wing and picks out Sadio Mane for a low finish. 3-0 now and Salah is unstoppable.
The hosts simply rip Roma apart with Salah setting up their fourth in similar fashion around the hour mark. The Egyptian dances past Juan Jesus and finds Firmino who taps it in. It's now 4-0 Liverpool with the Reds seemingly already into the Champions League final.
Firmino would net his second of the night in the 68th when he heads in James Milner's corner. Former Roma captain Francesco Totti's face says it all.
But the Italians suddenly find their rhythm and pull one back nine minutes from time when Edin Dzeko slots inside the near post.
Four minutes later, Milner blocks Radja Nainggolan's shot with his arm.
A penalty is given to the visitors, and Diego Perotti converts it to make it 5-2. That's the final score leaving Liverpool heavily favored to advance to the final, but still have to travel to Rome for the return leg next Wednesday. Remember, Roma came back from 4-1 down to beat Barcelona in the last eight and their two late goals gives them some hope of another crazy comeback.