Liverpool welcome Roma to Anfield on Tuesday night for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie.
Mohamed Salah, who left the Italian capital for Merseyside last summer, is enjoying a phenomenal first season with the Reds and will predictably be the centre of attention when the two sides clash.
However, while the Egyptian will likely play a key role in the outcome of the encounter, there are a couple of other stars who may have a say as well.
MOHAMED SALAH
Where do we begin? He’s scored 41 goals in all competitions already this season, has just beaten the Premier League-winning Kevin De Bruyne to the PFA Player of the Year award and is now believed to have an outside chance at the Ballon d’Or as well.
Alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah is the most feared attacker in European football and that’s no exaggeration.
He’s just that good. Eusedbio De Francesco insists he hasn’t sought the advice of Salah’s former team-mates at Roma on how to stop the Egyptian but that has to be a lie. Stop Salah and you have a chance at stopping Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah.
EDIN DZEKO
It’s hard to watch Roma and not have Edin Dzeko take centre stage. Quite simply, he’s the focal point of their attack.
Whether he’s the one on the end of the move or creating them with his excellent hold-up play, the Bosnian has become an indispensable asset for his side. Since his arrival from Manchester City, where he was always playing second fiddle to Sergio Aguero, he’s now the undisputed main man in Rome.
He scored the crucial away goal at the Camp Nou in the 4-1 first leg defeat to Barcelona in the quarter-finals and his opener at the Stadio Olympico sparked an incredible comeback.
Edin Dzeko
VIRGIL VAN DIJK
Whether Liverpool could’ve been challenging for the Premier League title had they signed Virgil van Dijk in the summer is debatable. But given his impact since his arrival in the January transfer window, that’s not an absurd thought, even less so if Loris Karius could’ve produced his current form sooner.
The Dutchman commands Liverpool’s back-line and has almost single-handedly improved their defensive record. He’s an imposing figure, strong in a tackle and quick in thought, reading the game excellently.
His supremacy in the air is where he makes some of his more eye-catching contributions and in Dzeko, he’ll come up against a worthy adversary.
Van Dijk
