Klopp praises his two-goal ‘genius’ Salah
Egyptian takes plaudits after mesmerising Roma Anfield chief accepts the blame for visitors’ goals
Jurgen Klopp acclaimed the “genius” of Mohamed Salah as Liverpool took a major step towards the Champions League final, but warned Roma have already proved their reputation as comeback masters.
Liverpool seemed to be heading to Kiev when leading 5-0 after 81 minutes of a pulsating first leg at Anfield, with Salah scoring two and creating two of the five goals.
But two late strikes from Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti revived the Italians’ hopes, their manager Eusebio Di Francesco claiming his team needed “belief rather than a miracle” in next week’s return game at Stadio Olimpico.
Roma overturned the same three-goal deficit to knock out Barcelona in the quarter-final.
Klopp said he felt flat after the final whistle, not because of the performance or late lapses, but due to a serious knee injury to Alex Oxlade-chamberlain which appears to have ended his season and probably his World Cup hopes.
There was the usual appreciation for Salah’s extraordinary skills, however.
“In that shape he is outstanding,” said Klopp. “The way we played the first 15 minutes we had to adapt a bit, and then we played how we played and he has a massive impact on that.
“The first goal is a genius strike. He has scored a few like this. It is no coincidence. In the second goal he is cool in the moment and then makes the other two goals.
“What a player. If you think he is the best in the world, write it or say it. What I will say is he is in outstandingly, world-class shape. To be the best in the world you have to do it for a longer period, I think.
“The other two (Messi and Ronaldo) are not bad.
“If anyone wants to say it was my mistake we conceded two goals because I changed the striker I have no problem with that.”
Italian reporters asked Klopp whether the result would have been reversed if Salah was still a Roma player.
“If, if, if,” he said. “If Neymar does not go to PSG we would still have Philippe Coutinho.
“We hoped Mo would have that impact. He is playing a season which is not normal. We try to help him. It is a team game, but you need the players to make the decisive things and he is very good at making decisive things, so we are very glad that we could get him.”
Oxlade-chamberlain’s injury on 15 minutes soured the occasion, with Klopp fearing the worst.
“The medical department is concerned without a scan. It does not look good,” said the German.
“I hope it only feels bad. We will see. I am not flying, mood-wise. We lost a fantastic player and that is not good news, so I am not in the mood to talk about fantastic things. We will go there and play as well as we can. It seems Liverpool always has to take the more difficult way.”
‘The first goal is a genius strike. He has scored a few like this. It is no coincidence’
“Now we have to work again in Rome, that is no problem. We would have had to work if we won 5-0. Roma would have tried everything, anyway. Roma need to score goals against us and as I said a few times, we are not Barcelona.
“Barcelona is one of the two or three best teams in the world and they won so many things in the last few years and we didn’t, so we will fight with all we have for that result. It is a much better result than we expected.”
Di Francesco said if any of his players did not believe they could complete another comeback, he would not select them.
Klopp responded: “If one of my players does not think Roma can come back, he will not play. Although I do not have many players to choose.
“The atmosphere tonight was absolutely outstanding. I say to everyone with a ticket, we need the same at 12.30 against Stoke.”