CL: Mohamed Salah superb as Liverpool trounce Roma 5-2

Liverpools Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their first goal during the UEFA Champions League first leg semifinal football match between Liverpool and Roma at Anfield stadium in Liverpool PicAFPLiverpool manager Jurgen Klopp labelled talisman Mohamed Salah a genius as the Egyptian came back to haunt former club Roma in spectacular style with two goals and two assists in a 52 semifinal firstleg demolition of the Italians at Anfield However Liverpools night was soured by the concession of two late away goals and a serious injury to midfielder Alex OxladeChamberlain that looks set to end his season and World Cup chances with England Roberto Firmino also scored twice and Sadio Mane netted Liverpools other goal to make up for missing a series of giltedged chances as the scoreline did anything but flatter the hostsHes outstanding pretty much you cant defend against him said Klopp of Salah The first goal is a genius strike He scored already a few like this and that makes it even more special because it makes it no coincidence Roma produced one of the finest comebacks in Champions League history by overturning a 41 firstleg deficit against Barcelona in the quarterfinals They will need to do the same in the return leg on May 2 but the visitors were at least given a lifeline when Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti grabbed two vital away goals in the final 10 minutes This reaction is welcome because we give meaning to the return match said Roma coach Eusebio Di FrancescoThis was the first semifinal for Roma after three decades we are not used to playing this level of opposition but this tie is not over We have done it before Whoever doesnt believe in this comeback can stay home Liverpool will rue their missed chances and poor late defending but remain well on course for a first final in 11 years Since I arrived Liverpool always had to take a slightly more difficult way but in the end mostly still a successful way and thats what we will try in Roma said KloppIt is still a very positive result tonight The hosts early rhythm was disrupted when Chamberlain was stretchered off with what Klopp described as probably a really bad injury Moments later the visitors were inches away from the opener when Aleksandar Kolarovs longrange strike slipped through the grasp of Loris Karius and came back off the crossbar However Liverpool soon settled and should have put the tie beyond doubt before halftime Mane blazed over when clean through on goal and then skewed wide when teed up by FirminoUnselfish superstarRoma have now lost their last four Champions League away games shipping 13 goals in the process and were punished by the man they sold to Liverpool for what now seems a bargain 42 million euros Acircpound37 million 52 million last year Nine minutes of the first half remained when Salah picked the ball up just inside the Roma area and was given far too much time by Juan Jesus to cut inside onto his favoured left foot and curl the ball with unerring accuracy into the top corner Brazilian number one Alisson has been in stunning form but even he was powerless as Salah struck again in firsthalf stoppage time with a trademark dinked finish over the advancing keeperChasing a first ever Champions League hattrick Salah would have been forgiven for going for goal as he bore down on Alisson once more 11 minutes into the second period But he showed why he is considered one of the games more unselfish superstars by squaring for a relieved Mane to convert from close range Salah wreaked more havoc five minutes later when he sped past the helpless Jesus and pulled the ball across goal for Firmino to tap homeFirmino then rose highest to head in James Milners corner to take Liverpools fearsome front threes combined tally for the season to 88 goals Romas night seemed to be summed up when midfielder Kevin Strootman and coach Di Francesco became engaged in a blazing row after the fifth goal went in However Klopps decision to withdraw Salah 15 minutes from time backfired as the tie swung back Romas way in the final stages Firstly with nine minutes left Dzeko slotted home his 21st goal of the season as Lovren got caught underneath the ball Moments later Anfield was stunned when Milner was punished for handball inside the area and Perotti coolly slotted home the resulting penaltyCatch up on all the latest sports news and updates here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates