Liverpool blew Roma apart over a 30-minute spell across both halves of the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, scoring five times as Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane ran riot.
Roma struck back with two late goals to make the scoreline 5-2 and just about keep themselves in the tie – all they need is a repeat of their miraculous comeback against Barcelona in the previous round.
Here are Seven Deadly Stats from Tuesday’s game.
NO STOPPING SALAH
Roma were forewarned. They knew all about the threat of Salah after his season with them last year. But it’s one thing to know what Salah’s capable of, and another thing to try and stop it.
He’s now only five goals away from setting a new single-season record for most goals by a Liverpool player. And who’s to stop him?
Liverpool - Most goals in a single season (all comps)
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) April 24, 2018
47 Ian Rush
43 Mohamed Salah
42 Roger Hunt
40 Ian Rush@mosalah has scored 10 @ChampionsLeague goals this season - the most ever by a Liverpool player in a single season pic.twitter.com/TjpltRzB9c
BORING JAMES MILNER?
It’s been clear for a while that James Milner is the best midfielder Liverpool have. For all the talents of Georginio Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson – who both had superb games on Tuesday, especially Henderson – and Emre Can and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner showed again what makes him so valuable.
He’s now in esteemed company having recorded his eighth Champions League assist of the season, tying the single-season record set by Neymar. That’s right, Milner’s as good as Neymar. Who’s boring now?
James Milner: Is now up to 8 assists in the Champions League this season, more than any other player
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) April 24, 2018
Follow the action live -- https://t.co/b1ICIiBDq7 https://t.co/gYE0bDIZbQ
DEADLY DUO
They’ve got Salah. And Bobby Firmino. And those two are the deadliest attacking pair in Europe at the moment.
In fact, they’re as good as one of the best duos in recent memory.
Two teams have had two players score 10+ goals in a single Champions League campaign:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 24, 2018
☑ Messi & Neymar for Barcelona in 2014/15
☑ Salah & Firmino for Liverpool in 2017/18
Deadly duos. 👬 pic.twitter.com/pN6A8tUIlA
RED ARROWS ON TARGET
While Salah and Firmino were making headlines, Sadio Mane came close to having a game to forget on Tuesday, missing two gilt-edged chances to score in the first-half.
No worries, though, as Salah made sure the third member of Liverpool’s famed trio got on the scoresheet. They love playing as a trio.
8 - Tonight was the 8th time that Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané have all scored in a competitive game for Liverpool in 2017/18. Problem. pic.twitter.com/11C2RitDdA
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 24, 2018
ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK
Here’s a fact: Liverpool score goals. Truck loads of them.
That’s 38 in the Champions League this season now, in just 11 games. For comparison, across the entire Premier League season so far, there are nine teams who haven’t scored that many.
Liverpool have scored 38 goals in the Champions League this season, at least 11 more than any other team.
— LFC Stats (@LFCData) April 24, 2018
Extending the English record with every goal ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/vPyAOeinXG
DZEKO CONTINUES SCORING RUN
In the midst of the carnage, Edin Dzeko kept his head when Roma finally got a clear-cut chance to score. It gave Roma a sliver of hope after Liverpool had torn them apart.
It kept Dzeko’s fine scoring run going. He was already top of the charts for most goals by a Roma player in a single Champions League season, and now he’s got goals in consecutive games against Barcelona and Liverpool.
Edin Džeko has now scored in four consecutive Champions League knockout games:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 24, 2018
️⚽️ vs. Shakhtar
️⚽️ vs. Barcelona
️⚽️ vs. Barcelona
️⚽️ vs. Liverpool
Could it happen again... pic.twitter.com/vH8jGB0oGp
ROMA GIVE THEMSELVES HOPE
Roma followed up Dzeko’s goal with a Diego Perotti penalty to peg Liverpool back to 5-2. They’ve still got a mountain to climb – but it’s one they’ve climbed before, just two weeks ago.
If they can beat Barcelona 3-0, there’s no reason to think they can’t do it to Liverpool, Mo Salah and high-flying attack and all.
Teams to overturn a 3+ goal deficit from the first leg of a Champions League knockout game:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) April 24, 2018
2003/04: Deportivo vs. AC Milan (5-4)
2016/17: Barcelona vs. PSG (6-5)
2017/18: Roma vs. Barcelona (4-4)
More history to be made? 🍿 https://t.co/D8AM5fbdIu