Liverpool took a 5-2 lead over Roma in their Champions League semi-final.

Mohamed Salah opened the scoring against his former club with a stunning lofted effort before slotting past Alisson shortly before half-time.

The Serie A giants’ night worsened when the Egyptian teed up Sadio Mane for the third of the night as the Reds continued to run riot.

Jurgen Klopp’s side moved further ahead as Salah turned provider once more to return the compliment as Roberto Firmino slotted home on the hour mark.

Firmino added his second of the nght as he rose to head home a James Milner corner to virtually assure a place in next month’s Kiev showpiece.

But Edin Dzeko pulled back a consiliatory strike for the visitors with 10 minutes remaining before Diego Perotti later scored a penalty.

Here were the key talking points from Anfield:

Gladiators needed next week

 

Liverpool have never done formality in the Champions League’s latter stages.

There should have been no coming back for Roma from a five-goal blitz. Two moments of carelessness gave Eusebio Di Francesco’s side an unlikely lifeline.

Now the Reds will have to learn from the error of Barcelona’s ways in next week’s return leg instead of looking ahead to a pre-booked place in the final.

Another gladiatorial performance is now required from the Reds as three goals without reply will send Eusebio Di Francesco’s side to Kiev at their’ expense.

But it could, and really should, have all been so easily avoided.

No Salah, no party

 

What can be said of Mohamed Salah that has not already been said before?

Now with 43 goals this season, the Egyptian continues to make short work of closing in on Ian Rush’s season-best of 47 in the 1983/84 campaign.

His stunning long-range opener blew the roof of Anfield’s bubbling cauldron.

Goals like that on nights like this, where coloured smoke and ear-splitting noise permeates the night air, merit the most rip-roaring celebrations.

True to his character, however, Salah maintained a muted display as he opened the scoring out of respect to his former employers.

It was telling that Liverpool began to stumble and fall in the minutes after he was substituted, with two goals and two assists to his name.

The same pattern repeated itself as his side threw away a two-goal lead at West Brom last weekend. Maybe Jurgen Klopp will finally get the message.

Klopp’s Plan B cushions Ox blow

 

Barely 20 minutes in, Klopp’s best-laid plans had suffered an early detour.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s injury forced Georginio Wijnaldum into his favoured central midfield role after recently flourishing in a holding position.

Roma’s growth in both confidence and momentum saw Klopp’s midfield three preyed upon as the visitors sensed a potential upset on the cards.

That Liverpool recovered well enough to race two goals clear by half-time and assumed a commanding lead is testament to his players’ regrouping abilities.

An effective plan B was able to cushion the blow behind Oxlade-Chamberlain’s likely lay-off for the remainder of this season and potentially further beyond.

Mane’s persistence pays off

 

Sadio Mane could have been forgiven for fearing the worst this evening.

Two misses in the space of a minute threatened to see the Senegal international return to his old misfiring habits in front of goal.

Good work by Roberto Firmino on both occasions saw Mane fluff his lines, first after being put clear and then after being picked out in the penalty area.

Undeterred, the former Southampton man toiled with the home crowd’s support and reaped the rewards when he slotted home the game’s third goal.

Trying times though they have been, Mane has refused to allow a lack of luck to shed him of the confidence issues which occasionally cast a shadow over his season.