Twitter Bows Down As Mohamed Salah Produces One of the Great Champions League Performances vs Roma

Ok, so it wasn't perfect. Liverpool somehow ended up with only a three-goal margin of victory after being 5-0 to the good with ten minutes to go. However, the

Ok, so it wasn't perfect.

Liverpool somehow ended up with only a three-goal margin of victory after being 5-0 to the good with ten minutes to go. However, the micro-collapse from the Reds hardly distracted from the fact that Salah - Mohamed Salah Ghaly of Nagrig Egypt - was the story of the night. 

Facing his old club, he tore the Romans apart like *insert clever historical reference here like every commentator ever* time and again as Liverpool powered out in front. It was something ti behold. And boy did Twitter behold it.

Here's how the night unfolded...

Pre-match:

Maybe the first omen of a good night for the hosts was this picture of Roma heading in to town, evoking memories of Liverpool's own Spice Boys with their attire.

As they say in Liverpool, Boss! 😏 pic.twitter.com/osFOAzkSlh

— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) April 24, 2018

It was the first Champions League semi Anfield had hosted in a decade and the fans weren't going to let that pass without celebration.

Yes, Jurgen did indeed have a semi on...

Thousands of fans gathering close to The Arkles. #LFC pic.twitter.com/fbhol8eoBW

— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) April 24, 2018

I didn’t even see the coaches go past. #LFC pic.twitter.com/LKl825sZzF

— Glenn Price (@GlennPrice94) April 24, 2018

Few hours time, Reds - get down to Arkles Lane! (But behave!) 🎵❤️🚎

🎥@thesmigger pic.twitter.com/yzCO3Ac3z3

— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) April 24, 2018

Perhaps wisely, Roma's first tactical move involving not parking the bus but directing it in a different route to avoid a repeat of what happened to the City team in the quarters...

Impressive bit of Italian cunning there by Roma. Big crowd waiting for the bus on one street, so drive down another and avoid it...

— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) April 24, 2018

First half:

After the electric scenes inside and outside the game before kick off, the first 20 minutes were something of a disappointment, as Roma controlled the tempo and even had the audacity to take shots.

Things even began to look a little concerning after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was stretchered off... 

Slow enough start for Liverpool here. At this stage against Man City, they'd already won the final.

— Paddy Power (@paddypower) April 24, 2018

15 minutes in, Oxlade-Chamberlain tries to snap Kolarov’s leg and ends up injuring himself. This is going to be a fun tie.

— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) April 24, 2018

But then, it happened: THE SALAH-NING

Oh Mo. Oh My.

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) April 24, 2018

It’s the Mo Salah show and the Mo Salah season.

— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) April 24, 2018

Whenever there's a terror incident, Muslims everywhere get criticism, because you know, we are all to blame. Well you know what, IM TAKING THE CREDIT FOR MO SALAH THEN. GOWON MO.

— Shehab Khan ITV (@ShehabKhan) April 24, 2018

Roma's plan for dealing with Salah appears to have been to let him do exactly what he wants at all times and hope he gets bored/embarrassed eventually

— Andrew Headspeath (@Andy_Headspeath) April 24, 2018

Liverpool were two up at half time courtesy of two absolutely exquisite finishes from you know exactly bloody who. 

If the below is what he get for the PFA, what will he get if he wins the Champions League..?

🇸🇦: Saudi authorities have decided to gift the Egyptian #MoSalah a piece of land in the holy city of Makkah in recognition of him winning the coveted PFA player of the year award. #LFC pic.twitter.com/oVQ7vmKynp

— Footynions (@Footynions) April 24, 2018

Second half:

Foot firmly to the floor for Liverpool, Mane - who was last seen in the first half sizing up a cow's backside and a banjo - got in on the action... 3-0

A whole 26 seconds after I tweeted this, Mane scores. Liverpool fans, you are welcome.

— Paddy Power (@paddypower) April 24, 2018

Imagine thinking Mané isn't going to score.

— Sam McGuire (@SamMcGuire90) April 24, 2018

And then it was 4 as Salah got in behind once again, before teeing up Boberto Firmino for the tappiest of tap ins.

Two goals, two assists for Salah. 

Honestly, Salah is playing this on beginner.

— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) April 24, 2018

Theory: Salah was actually bought by the government and provided with performance enhancing drugs to reduce racism in Liverpool.

— Sunday League Hipster (@HipsterManager) April 24, 2018

And then 5-0... in a Champions League semi final.

GOAL! Bobby with his 50th #LFC goal! 👏 Free header at the back post!

[5-0]#LIVROM #UCL pic.twitter.com/G896HH7PCj

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 24, 2018

So, that was that. An incredible first leg performance saw Liverpool win the game 5----- oh wait, what?

Edin Dzeko gets a goal - the seventh he has been involved in during Roma’s last nine away Champions League games (6 goals, 1 assist)

5-1

— Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) April 24, 2018

Ok so, 5-1 is still a very... oh, there's a penalty.

85' - GOAL. Perotti converts expertly from the spot.
#LFCRoma 5⃣-2⃣

— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) April 24, 2018

pic.twitter.com/ajljaAyayl

— Kelly Welles (@kelly_welles) April 24, 2018

Full Time:

And so it finished 5-2.

Rather unbelievably it was a slightly disappointing scoreline for Liverpool considering their first 80 minutes. However, Jurgen Klopp's team are still the heavy favourites to make it to Kiev for the final ahead of the second leg in Rome... right? RIGHT?

Maybe just ban all players from talking to ex-Red Luis Suarez about holding onto a three-goal advantage in Rome...