Roma vs Liverpool: Player Ratings

Liverpool

GK: Loris Karius - 7/10

The German was superb on the night - pulling off some solid saves, handling high balls with a rare confidence and generally being the calmest being on the field. He was, though, lucky to not concede a penalty - he brought down Dzeko in the area, but the linesman adjudged, wrongly, that the Bosnian had been offside moments before whilst collecting the ball.

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (subbed off 90' + 3') - 4/10

Was found out far too many times for it to be called accidental - El Sharaawy, Kolarov and Pellegrini tormented the young lad taking it in turns to run in behind him.. he did well on occasion but at this stage of elite competition that's just not good enough. Was extremely lucky to escape a penalty - and a sure red card - when he handled El Sharaawy's goalbound shot away for a corner. (Inexplicably none of the Romans appealed)

CB: Dejan Lovren - 6/10

The much-maligned centre-back was decent on the night, careful in possession, strong off it, committing very few errors of judgment. He did smack a clearance straight into Milner's head (the own goal), but it'd take an exceptionally cruel man to isolate and blame Lovren for that one.

CB: Virgil Van Dijk - 6/10

Van Dijk was a massive presence in the box, and his sheer physicality at times threw Dzeko off - but he's got to marshal his defense much better and is especially culpable of being nervous in the closing minutes.

LB: Andrew Robertson - 7/10

Was absolutely brilliant going forward - almost set up a goal with a lung-bursting run down the left-touchline - but was vulnerable at the back. Schick's inclination to cut in from the right and stay there, though, played into his hands and though he was more troubled after Under's introduction, was arguably Liverpool's best defender on the night

RCM: Georginio Wijnaldum - 7/10

A first away goal in five years (all competitions, all clubs, and country) gave Liverpool the cushion they needed to sit back and relax for a bit - and eventually proved the difference over the two ties. If that doesn't count for something, I don't know what can.

CM: Jordan Henderson - 4/10

Apart from a superbly weighted ball out to Robertson, can't really remember Jordan Henderson doing anything on that football field tonight. As invisible in this second leg as he was immense in the first

LCM: James Milner - 8/10

He did open the scoring for Roma on the night, but there was very little he knew about it. Played deep for most of the game, almost playing as a third centre-back, a sweeper if you will, and defended with his life. Still managed to have the energy to make some superb, intelligent, lung-bursting runs forward to support the increasingly isolated Mohamed Salah

RW: Mohamed Salah - 6/10

His mere presence at the back ensured that at least two Roman defenders were out of contention in terms of joining in on the battering at the other end. Didn't do much with the ball - well marked by Fazio and Kolarov - and was one of his quieter games this season.

CF: Roberto Firmino (subbed off 87') - 8/10

Roberto Firmino was everywhere. On the right, on the left, down the middle, in the centre of midfield. Everywhere. Celebrated for his determination, defending skills, and never-say-die attitude, his calm pass to Mane to set up the first goal showcased his excellent footballing brain at its best.

LW: Sadio Mane (subbed off 83') - 9/10

The Senegalese speedster was absolutely brilliant on the night - his first finish was impossibly cool and sucked the life of out of some threatening early Roman momentum, and he was a constant threat on the left, keeping Florenzi (and his superb right foot) pegged back and Manolas on his toes constantly. Like his mate Firmino, Mane never stopped running

Substitutes

Ragnar Klavan (subbed on 83') - 6/10

Came on to shore up the defence and did an admirable enough job of it. Was supremely unlucky to concede the late, late penalty

Dominic Solanke (subbed on 87') - 2/10

Did nothing but earn himself a yellow card for a silly foul

Nathaniel Clyne (subbed on 90' + 3') - 6/10

Brought on to waste time. His change wasted at the very least 30 seconds of injury time... and that in itself is worth a 6/10 performance for Liverpool

Edited by Anirudh Menon