Analysis of magnificent Mohamed Salah as Liverpool put one foot in Champions League final

Matt Jones - Editor 00:52 25/04/2018
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  • Mohamed Salah was a revelation against Roma.

    Liverpool put one foot in the Champions League final with a five-star showing at home to Roma. Mohamed Salah had a stunning evening, scoring two against his former side as well as teeing up goals for Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

    Firmino’s second saw the hosts go five goals up, although the Giallorossi ensured the second leg will be a contest with two late goals from Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti to make it 5-2.

    Here, we analyse the performance of Salah, who was simply sumptuous.

    STATISTICS

    Goals – 2

    Assists – 2

    Shots – 4

    Shots on target – 4

    Touches – 46

    Passes – 26

    Key passes – 5

    Dribbles – 3

    Dispossessed – 4

    Aerials won – 0

    30-SECOND REPORT

    He hasn’t been allowed into the conversation about whether he’s in the same echelon as Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, but do we have to consider him at their level now?

    A stunning season, combined with a virtuoso performance in Liverpool’s biggest game of the campaign so far is the way to get people talking about you alongside the modern greats.

    GOT RIGHT

    Rising to the occasion – As if there was any doubting his world-class ability, Salah stepped up on one of the biggest stages of all and was utterly flawless. Does this confirm his transformation from phenom to top-shelf talent?

    Assist as well as goal king – He’s put up some seriously gawdy numbers this year in terms of goals, but as we wondered how long it would take to get his hat-trick, Salah instead put his team at the front of his thoughts. For Sadio Mane’s and Roberto Firmino’s strikes, Salah could easily have gone for goal himself, but his mentality proved he is a true, all-round talent.

    Perseverance – We’re supposed to put two things a player did right and two things they got wrong in this section. Safe to say Salah’s performance changed our thinking. Even though he struggled initially to get into the game, Salah flourished as Liverpool grew into the game.

    KEY MOMENTS

    3rd min CHANCE: The Egyptian flyer gets into his favourite right channel and cuts inside to unleash a trademark left-footer, but it’s comfortable for Alisson.

    30th min CHANCE: Liverpool are building momentum, Salah plays a nice one-two with Firmino and Salah bends one towards goal, palmed away for a corner by the keeper.

    36th min GOAL: Another sublime goal for the man of the moment. Kostas Manolas gives him far too much room, inviting him to shoot. Even so, it’s a precise shot that clips the underside of the bar, giving Alisson absolutely no chance.

    45th min GOAL: The man can do no wrong. Another brilliant finish. Liverpool break from a Roma corner and Salah makes a fine run onto Firmino’s ball. Alisson advances and Salah dinks it over him coolly to make it 2-0.

    56th min ASSIST: He may have been offside but Salah is given the freedom of the Roma half to advance on goal. He could have gone himself but he squares to Mane who sidefoots home for a handsome lead.

    61st min ASSIST: The man is superhuman. Two first half goals followed by two second half assists. Salah glides past a defender and tees up Firmino at the back post who has a tap-in.

    VERDICT

    You struggle to think of a more complete by one player in the Champions League. In this section we’re supposed to come up with He’s been a pleasure to watch all season but to shine so brightly on the biggest stage of all was breathtaking to watch. Only a miracle will bar the Reds from making the final and whoever they face, with Salah spearheading their attack, anything is possible.

    RATING: 10/10

    All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com

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