HENDERSON: WE CAN KILL ROMA OFF AWAY
SALAH, FIRMINO DOUBLES INSPIRE EPIC SEMI-FINAL SUCCESS FOR SUPER LIVERPOOL
Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson is confident that the Reds can complete the job to clinch their place in next month’s Champions League final.
On an epic night at Anfield, Jurgen Klopp’s men roared into a five-goal lead, before Roma grabbed two potentially crucial away goals to give the Italians hope for the second leg.
Mohamed Salah savaged his former side with a brilliant individual performance which began as a slow-burner before turning into a blistering evisceration of Serie A’s third-placed team.
He scored two brilliant first-half goals – his 42nd and 43rd of an incredible season – with two also for Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane on target as well as Liverpool made the most of their first Champions League semi-final in a decade.
The downside were goals from Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti, with a disputed penalty awarded for handball by James Milner.
On the Reds’ scintillating attacking play, Wearsider Henderson said: “Some of the runs and some the balls in behind were brilliant and we’re probably disappointed not to score more.
“I fancy us to go there and score as well with the forward players we’ve got.”
The ex-Sunderland star felt his side could have scored more goals and felt the penalty awarded was “harsh”.
He told BT Sport: “We were disappointed with the two goals we conceded – we felt we were in control.
“We go there with a threegoal advantage, but it will be hard given what they did against Barcelona in the last round (winning 3-0 at home after a 4-1 away defeat).
“I felt we were still in control but didn’t play football as much in the last 20 minutes, but we still had chances to score. We gave them the Dzeko goal and that brought a few nerves, I don’t know why.
“The penalty was harsh – his arms were by his side.”
Klopp saluted his side for an outstanding night, saying: “It was a perfect performance for pretty much 80 minutes or so, then we made one defensive mistake and Dzeko made the most of the situation.
“I think we agree the penalty wasn’t even a penalty, it’s not even handball, but that’s the situation and now it’s 5-2.
“I would be much more happy if we had won 5-0 or 5-1, but 5-2 is still a fantastic result.
“I could not even have imagined that was possible, so the boys still did outstandingly good and we go there and try to win again, that’s it.”
Roma Head coach Eusebio Di Francesco said: “Hope is still there. We don’t need miracles, we just need to believe in what we do against a quality team, and a different team than Barcelona. Our fans will be behind us, supporting throughout.”