Champions League: Power Rankings after semifinal first legs
By Orri Benatar
The Reds are the best team in the Champions League. They haven’t lost and they turned up with an incredible 5-2 win against Roma. The only thing going against them was the last 10 minutes where they conceded the two away goals.
The front three of Liverpool continued this incredible season with Firmino scoring twice, Mane once, and Salah getting another brace. This performance by Salah sparked social media to begin the debate of the Ballon d’Or, in April.
Basically how this is going to work:
— Roberto Rojas (@RobertoRojas97) April 24, 2018
Salah wins Ballon D’Or if: Liverpool win UCL & Argentina, Brazil or Portugal don’t win the WC.
Messi wins Ballon D’Or if: he wins WC
Ronaldo wins Ballon D’Or if: wins UCL & Argentina doesn’t win WC.
Neymar wins Ballon D’Or: Brazil wins WC.
Right now, Salah should win the award. The season he is having is one of the best in football history and he continues to score in the brightest lights for Liverpool in both the Champions League and Premier League. The Reds also got great performances from James Milner and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Next: Salah rightfully the PFA Player of the Year
The biggest loss of the game was the injury to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. He will miss the remainder of the Champions League and the entire World Cup with his injury. Wijnaldum came on for the Ox and I expect Klopp to start him in the second leg.
Liverpool should be able to hold on in Rome and make their first Champions League final since 2007. Klopp will keep his foot on the gas and continue the attacking style that has made Liverpool so successful this season. We shall see if Liverpool can succeed where Barcelona failed.