Liverpool smashes Manchester City, Barcelona routs Roma in Champions League quarterfinals

Liverpool gave Manchester City a 3-0 beatdown in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie. /Liverpool Twitter/

By Vivem Soriano
Eagle News Service

Liverpool scored 3 goals in the 1st half to deliver Manchester City a 3-0 beatdown in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie in Anfield on Wednesday night.

Egyptian sensation Mohamed Salah sent the Anfield crowd into a frenzy with the opening goal at the 12th minute.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain doubled Liverpool’s lead just 8 minutes later, scoring against a helpless City keeper Ederson.

Sadio Mane joined the goalscoring party during the 31st minute, heading a Salah cross into the back of the net.

It would have been a perfect night for the Reds but winger Salah was subbed off at the 53rd minute to receive treatment for an apparent groin injury.

Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson will also miss the return leg in Manchester next week after being booked late in the game.

In Spain, visiting Roma gifted Barcelona 2 own goals as the current La Liga leaders coasted to a 4-1 win at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night.

Daniele de Rossi inadvertently deflected the ball past his own keeper Allison to give Barca a 1-0 lead via an own goal at the 38 minute.

Disaster struck the visitors once again at the 55th minute after Kostas Manolas also put one past their own goal to double Barcelona’s lead.

Barca defender Gerard Pique then gave his club a 3-0 lead 4 minutes later.

Edin Dzeko pulled one back for Roma in the 80th minute before Luis Suarez closed the show for Barcelona with a late goal at the 87th minute to give the Catalan club a 4-1 aggregate lead heading into next week’s return leg in Rome.