Mohamed Salah is the best bit of business Liverpool have ever done
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There is surely no way back after another deafening, devastating Mo Salah night at Anfield.
Salah was the hero, the genius carrying Liverpool towards more European glory after his remarkable virtuoso display put them within touching distance of the final.
And yet amid the mayhem and noise, Salah was the only one in the place not celebrating as his team mates mobbed him and the roof came off the place.
There can be no greater arena than Anfield on a European night and the all conquering hero is simply unstoppable as his brace takes him to 43 goals in 47 games in all competitions this season.
Salah refused to celebrate against his former club while Roma must rue the day they let him go because his £35m move to Liverpool last summer now looks the bargain of the century.
(Image: Clive Brunskill)
(Image: PA)
Roma’s two late goals at least gives the Italians some hope and Liverpool a degree of doubt but it is also impossible to imagine Salah not scoring in the second leg next week.
On this sort of form, Salah can carry his team single-handedly as not only did he score twice but he also provided two assists and it was only after he was substituted that Liverpool took their foot off the gas.
But Liverpool have a wonderful sense of destiny, they believe football’s hand of fate will carry them to a sixth European Cup.
(Image: Clive Brunskill)
You could sense the expectation inside Anfield, the buzz and the noise as the goals went in because Klopp’s men believe this is their time.
But above everything else, they also have the best player in Europe right now with Salah because his goals, pace and individual brilliance destroys opponents.
When Liverpool were struggling to make a breakthrough, up stepped Salah to rise to the occasion and prove that he is a big game player who belongs on the biggest stage.
It was an incredible night because, just when you thought it could not get any louder than against Manchester City in the last round, it was another occasion to savour.
(Image: PA)
Roma survived the early furore and began to look in control. Aleksandar Kolarov crashed a 30 yard shot against the crossbar and, when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was stretchered off, Klopp’s men looked in danger.
But it was then that Klopp turned to the crowd, fist pumped to show them he wanted more noise - and they responded by turning the volume up to the maximum.
Liverpool also produced Klopp’s rock and roll football, Sadio Mane missed two chances and got the ball in the net only for it to be flagged offside.
(Image: REUTERS)
But then up stepped Salah as he absolutely destroyed Roma’s left sided centre half Juan Jesus, turned his former team mate into a nervous wreck and ripped Roma apart.
It started in the 35th minute, Liverpool’s energy and pressing won the ball in midfield and Mane and Roberto Firmino combined to get the ball to Salah who, with inch perfect precision, curled a wonderful shot into the top corner.
Salah got his second after 45 minutes after latching onto Firmino’s return pass and went clean through before lifting the ball over Roma keeper Alisson and into the empty net. Just like the first, Salah did not celebrate and instead just looked to the heavens.
(Image: REUTERS)
Not satisfied with being goalscorer, Salah turned provider in the 55th minute as he raced down the right, put over a low cross and Mane had the easy task of a tap-in at the back post. Salah did it again after 61 minutes, this time his cross set up Firmino.
Liverpool made it five after 68 minutes when James Milner’s corner found Firmino and the Brazil forward headed powerfully home.
Salah was substituted after 75 minutes, he went off to a standing ovation and his job was seemingly done. But it actually led to Liverpool taking their foot off the gas and Roma then staged a late rally.
(Image: Clive Brunskill)
Edin Dzeko got one back for Roma after 81 minutes after Dejan Lovren misjudged Radja Nainggolan’s high ball. The visitors got a second from the penalty spot after 86 minutes after Milner was harshly judged to have handled it. Up stepped Diego Perotti to fire home.
Roma came back from 4-1 down to beat Barcelona in the last round but surely miracles do not happen twice. Not when Liverpool have their own miracle man in Salah.