On a rainy day at Anfield, the magic was there yet again. Liverpool cruised, perhaps too coolly, to a 5-2 victory. The win was never in question as Liverpool were convincing in almost every facet throughout the vast majority of the game.
Game Story:
The first 20 minutes filled some Liverpool fans with nerves. Roma had a strong foothold in the game with their elevated press up the pitch. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's injury in the 18th hurt the mood and looked to be very rough for the Englishman as we await more from that incident. The best chance in this period came from Roma where Loris Karius got just enough on an Aleksandar Kolarov shot to push it to the post where it bounced away.
After this, however, it was all Liverpool. Three missed chances in three minutes, two Mane mishits and a saved Salah shot, opened up the floodgates and in the 36th Mo delivered with a beautiful strike from right inside the penalty box; a shot he is becoming known for. The Reds were up one, and Salah doubled it with a chip over Alisson off a nice long-ball and subsequent pass from Firmino which rolled into the net to give Liverpool a comfortable 2-0 halftime advantage.
It remained Liverpool's game in the early second half. Salah found Mane and then Firmino just six minutes apart to put the Reds ahead 4-0. The fourth goal exemplified just what sort of player, and from Roma was what not to do on defense, as Salah was given plenty of space and Juan Jesus left a massive channel for Gini Wijnaldum to run into as well. Salah, however, took it himself, skirted past Jesus easily, and sent through a beautiful attacking pass with his weak foot for Firmino to finish. Firmino added another off a James Milner corner kick in the 69th and the Reds were still rolling.
Roma was not willing to go quietly. A Radja Nainggolan over-the-top pass seemed 50/50 for Eden Dzeko and Dejan Lovren and Lovren tried his luck. Unfortunately he missed and let Dzeko into the perfect position for a near-post finish. Four minutes later, Milner conceded a handball penalty which Diego Perotti slotted home well. The Reds finished the first leg with a commanding 5-2 final score, but this is the same advantage Barcelona had entering Rome as well.
How This Happened:
For 60 minutes, Liverpool were absolute world-class and could do no wrong. Firmino and Salah played some of the greatest games perhaps of their careers. Two goals and two assists for each man, all four pretty in their own way. Salah struck fear into Roma's defense, and the Anfield crowd certainly helped too. Andy Robertson put in yet another shift, sprinting forward like a winger to defend and attack simultaneously. Roma looked scared of the Reds and they played like it. By the second half their attempted press that had been prevalent at the start of the game was barely functional if it was even tried. The Reds were stellar for the vast majority of the game.
For 30 minutes, however, Liverpool looked weak. Both goals were easily preventable. The first 20 minutes showcased the fragile Liverpool that would appear in the final ten of the game. Make no mistake about it, Liverpool played a great game. But a three-goal win does not cover them in as much glory as one would expect. Giving up two away goals is not the end of the world, but without question will it give Roma hope and inspire the Roman fans to be up for the challenge of spurring their team forward.
Strong forward Eden Dzeko gave Lovren trouble, and this seems to be a strategy for teams. We saw this with West Brom and Salomon Rondon and we saw it here. Whenever possible, have your bigger striker avoid Virgil van Dijk and go up against Lovren instead. Lovren is no slouch in the air, but as seen today and again in previous games, he is prone to mental lapses and individual mistakes. There is time though to assess and move forward to the weekend in the league and mid-week in Rome.
Final Thoughts:
It seems almost ridiculous to be upset with a three-goal lead. Certainly no one is lamenting the five goals scored, it is the two that were allowed that are having the most frustration directed at by fans. Liverpool are in a similar situation as last round, but Roma are in the exact same one as the quarter-finals. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's injury leaves three fit midfielders left and a mid-week clash with Stoke is looking like a must-win in order to assure themselves of top four unless they want to go to the final day. Additionally, it would be difficult to deny that a 5-2 victory before kickoff would have been taken gladly. The time of scoring just allows a bit of momentum to start to favor Roma, but it is still Liverpool's tie to win.
Game Story:
The first 20 minutes filled some Liverpool fans with nerves. Roma had a strong foothold in the game with their elevated press up the pitch. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's injury in the 18th hurt the mood and looked to be very rough for the Englishman as we await more from that incident. The best chance in this period came from Roma where Loris Karius got just enough on an Aleksandar Kolarov shot to push it to the post where it bounced away.
After this, however, it was all Liverpool. Three missed chances in three minutes, two Mane mishits and a saved Salah shot, opened up the floodgates and in the 36th Mo delivered with a beautiful strike from right inside the penalty box; a shot he is becoming known for. The Reds were up one, and Salah doubled it with a chip over Alisson off a nice long-ball and subsequent pass from Firmino which rolled into the net to give Liverpool a comfortable 2-0 halftime advantage.
It remained Liverpool's game in the early second half. Salah found Mane and then Firmino just six minutes apart to put the Reds ahead 4-0. The fourth goal exemplified just what sort of player, and from Roma was what not to do on defense, as Salah was given plenty of space and Juan Jesus left a massive channel for Gini Wijnaldum to run into as well. Salah, however, took it himself, skirted past Jesus easily, and sent through a beautiful attacking pass with his weak foot for Firmino to finish. Firmino added another off a James Milner corner kick in the 69th and the Reds were still rolling.
Roma was not willing to go quietly. A Radja Nainggolan over-the-top pass seemed 50/50 for Eden Dzeko and Dejan Lovren and Lovren tried his luck. Unfortunately he missed and let Dzeko into the perfect position for a near-post finish. Four minutes later, Milner conceded a handball penalty which Diego Perotti slotted home well. The Reds finished the first leg with a commanding 5-2 final score, but this is the same advantage Barcelona had entering Rome as well.
How This Happened:
For 60 minutes, Liverpool were absolute world-class and could do no wrong. Firmino and Salah played some of the greatest games perhaps of their careers. Two goals and two assists for each man, all four pretty in their own way. Salah struck fear into Roma's defense, and the Anfield crowd certainly helped too. Andy Robertson put in yet another shift, sprinting forward like a winger to defend and attack simultaneously. Roma looked scared of the Reds and they played like it. By the second half their attempted press that had been prevalent at the start of the game was barely functional if it was even tried. The Reds were stellar for the vast majority of the game.
For 30 minutes, however, Liverpool looked weak. Both goals were easily preventable. The first 20 minutes showcased the fragile Liverpool that would appear in the final ten of the game. Make no mistake about it, Liverpool played a great game. But a three-goal win does not cover them in as much glory as one would expect. Giving up two away goals is not the end of the world, but without question will it give Roma hope and inspire the Roman fans to be up for the challenge of spurring their team forward.
Strong forward Eden Dzeko gave Lovren trouble, and this seems to be a strategy for teams. We saw this with West Brom and Salomon Rondon and we saw it here. Whenever possible, have your bigger striker avoid Virgil van Dijk and go up against Lovren instead. Lovren is no slouch in the air, but as seen today and again in previous games, he is prone to mental lapses and individual mistakes. There is time though to assess and move forward to the weekend in the league and mid-week in Rome.
Final Thoughts:
It seems almost ridiculous to be upset with a three-goal lead. Certainly no one is lamenting the five goals scored, it is the two that were allowed that are having the most frustration directed at by fans. Liverpool are in a similar situation as last round, but Roma are in the exact same one as the quarter-finals. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's injury leaves three fit midfielders left and a mid-week clash with Stoke is looking like a must-win in order to assure themselves of top four unless they want to go to the final day. Additionally, it would be difficult to deny that a 5-2 victory before kickoff would have been taken gladly. The time of scoring just allows a bit of momentum to start to favor Roma, but it is still Liverpool's tie to win.
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