Mohamed Salah:
One other Champions League evening, one other Salah masterclass. So usually, the Egyptian has been the important thing man for Liverpool on this competitors, and he was once more right here, scoring the Reds’ first objective, creating their third and customarily inflicting havoc all through. Having began quietly, Salah sprung to life three minutes earlier than half-time, latching onto Jordan Henderson’s pleasant cross to clip a stunning end previous Remko Pasveer, the Ajax goalkeeper. It settled Liverpool proper down. Nunez headed them additional forward 4 minutes into the second half earlier than Salah, dropping deep, turned and slid a wonderful cross via for Elliott, who made no mistake on his weaker proper foot. Recreation over. With a objective and an help, Salah turns into solely the third participant to achieve 50 objective contributions with an English membership within the Champions League, following within the footsteps of Thierry Henry and Ryan Giggs. He’s now just one objective behind Steven Gerrard’s document of 40 European objectives for Liverpool. A particular participant, whichever manner you slice it.
Andy Robertson:
If Liverpool are to play their manner out of their latest stupor, they’ll want their tried-and-trusted gamers to wake themselves first. And there have been constructive indicators, to say the least, in the best way Robertson carried out right here. The Scot, like so a lot of his team-mates, has struggled for kind and health this season, however he was the one who set the tone for Klopp’s aspect right here, taking part in with verve, vitality and no scarcity of high quality. It was his cross which allowed Firmino to put on an opportunity which Nunez inexplicably thwacked towards the publish earlier than half time, and his nook which was then headed dwelling by the Uruguayan simply after the break. The sight of Robertson tearing upfield, leaving defenders in his wake, taking part in with goal and perception, could have happy Klopp immensely. He desires extra of this. He wants extra of this.
The optimists:
In Could, shortly after Liverpool had misplaced the Champions League ultimate to Actual Madrid in Paris, Jurgen Klopp appeared down the lens of a digital camera and informed followers to “e-book the resort” for Istanbul 2023. His group have had their troubles since that evening, however they’re into the final 16, and a step nearer to the Ataturk Stadium, which can host this season’s ultimate and which holds such particular reminiscences for Liverpudlians. The optimists, in fact, could have accomplished precisely what Klopp informed them to do after Paris, and whereas the Reds know they must enhance considerably if they’re to have any probability of success this season, they’ve not less than achieved their first purpose. They’re within the hat, and capable of dream of European Cup No.7 on the banks of the Bosphorus.