Liverpool and Barca eye last four

LONDON: Liverpool and Barcelona are eyeing the last four of the Champions League following big wins in the first leg of their quarterfinal ties.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool got its 30 win off to a dream start against runaway English Premier League leader Manchester City when Mohamed Salah opened the scoring after just 12 minutes.

The roof came off Anfield again in the 20th minute as Liverpool doubled its lead.

Alex OxladeChamberlain, who netted in the Reds’ home Premier League win over City earlier this year, rifled in an effort from the edge of the box.

Sadio Mane added a third on the halfhour mark. The only blight for Liverpool was an injury scare for Salah, who left the field in the second term, but it is not believed to be serious.

Barcelona put one foot in the semifinals with a 41 victory over Roma at the Nou Camp.

The Spanish side went ahead in the 39th minute when Daniele De Rossi turned Andres Iniesta’s pass into his own net.

Barca moved further ahead with two strikes in as many minutes early in the second half, Gerard Pique netting from close range after Kostas Manolas’ own goal.

Roma grabbed a lifeline in the 80th minute as Edin Dzeko produced a tidy finish, but Luis Suarez netted his first Champions League goal of the season shortly afterwards.

Liverpool was forced to apologise to City after bottles were thrown at its team bus as it arrived at Anfield.

Reds fans had organised a ‘‘coach welcome’’ for their Premier League rivals and their own team, lining a side street where the team buses were known to be arriving at the ground.

‘‘We apologise unreservedly to Pep Guardiola, his players, staff and officials caught up in the incident,’’ Liverpool said in a statement. — AAP