Of all the mesmerising nights Liverpool have experienced under Anfield’s floodlights in the European competitions, where does this one stand? Up there, surely, with Saint-Étienne in 1977, Olympiakos in 2005, the fightback against Borussia Dortmund in 2016 and all the other famous occasions. Liverpool have added another exhilarating one to an already extensive list and, barring an almost implausible feat of escapology from Roma, can start looking forward to the final in Ukraine on 26 May.

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The only possible note of caution is that Roma have already overcome a 4-1 first-leg deficit in the Stadio Olimpico against Barcelona in the quarter-finals. On that basis Jürgen Klopp was entitled to be dismayed by his team’s carelessness when they had a 5-0 lead. Yet perhaps the manager miscalculated by withdrawing Mohamed Salah, who had scored twice and set up two of the others. Roma promptly scored two of their own and, somehow, a hitherto rampant Liverpool side had to endure a nervous climax against reinvigorated opponents.

Ultimately, though, it was another triumphant night for Liverpool – a scintillating performance, for the most part – and Klopp’s team will head to Italy for the return in a position of strength. True, it might not have been the position they anticipated when they led by five goals and were threatening to add even more. Yet it was a smile on Klopp’s face at the final whistle. Liverpool might have been disappointed not to inflict a quick kill but they have inflicted grievous damage and, on this evidence, they should be confident about adding more goals when the sides meet again on Wednesday week.

Roma played well for the opening 20 minutes and found some new momentum in the final quarter of an hour. In between, however, Serie A’s third-placed side looked in need of smelling salts. Liverpool attacked from every angle. The din was extraordinary and Salah had such a hold on the match that it felt almost like a trick of the mind to realise that the fifth goal, when Roberto Firmino headed in James Milner’s corner, did not have the Egyptian’s fingerprints all over it.

Quick guide Liverpool player ratings Show Hide Liverpool player ratings Loris Karius Lucky to get away with pushing first-half Kolarov effort on to his bar; otherwise relatively quiet 6 Trent Alexander-

Arnold Another nerveless performance from the teenager, given space to push on 7 Dejan Lovren Strong defensively, struck Roma’s bar just before half-time. Some impressive distribution 8 Virgil van Dijk The pressure eased while Roma dropped into a rearguard action. Rarely challenged by Dzeko 7 Andy Robertson Profited, like the right-back, from Roma’s narrowness in attack. Some good crosses, as expected 7 James Milner Tireless as usual, his pressing helped win the ball to set up the opening goal. Unlucky to concede penalty 7 Jordan Henderson Boundless energy in protecting back four but still able to exhort his team-mates to greater efforts 7 Alex Oxlade-

Chamberlain Midfielder was burning up the pitch in attack and defence until injury struck 7 Mohamed Salah Unplayable at times, he was withdrawn too early. Inspired passing and breaks even before his opener 9 Roberto Firmino Missed early chance but otherwise tormented Roma with timing and vision. Deserved his goal 8 Sadio Mané Poor lofted finish in the first half. Later provided good support to score the third goal 7 Ratings by Paul Wilson

At that stage, with 69 minutes gone, it would not have been a surprise if Liverpool had emulated, or even bettered, the seven goals that Manchester United scored past Roma in the 2007 quarter-finals. Instead there was a strange and unexpected end to a wild and eccentric evening. There has never been a semi-final in the Champions League with more goals and, if nothing else, at least Roma kept the tie alive with their late show of resistance. Yet the point remains that Liverpool ought to be enthralled with their night’s work.

In the process Salah scored his 42nd and 43rd goals of the season. Sadio Mané added another to his personal collection and Roberto Firmino scored two of his own. Together, those three have accumulated 87 goals this season. Mané’s finishing might have been erratic sometimes but he quickly realised he had the beating of Federico Fazio, the former Tottenham Hotspur reserve. Firmino rarely disappoints on the big occasions and for long spells it was difficult not to pity Eusebio Di Francesco’s team. Roma were taking an almighty chasing.

Quick guide Roma player ratings Show Hide Roma Alisson Encouraged by early save from Salah, but given little chance by the same player twice before half-time 6 Federico Fazio Former Tottenham player was solid in the air, adventurous on the ground when going forward 6 Kostas Manolas Greece international was caught out of position when Firmino slipped Salah through for second goal 6 Juan Jesus Booked when surprised by Mané’s pace, not a success at stopping Salah, a night to forget 5 Alessandro Florenzi The Italian was, like Kolarov, too easily pushed back by Liverpool’s wide players 5 Daniele De Rossi Not given time to play his usual game, the midfielder struggled to handle Liverpool’s pace 6 Kevin Strootman Early shot saved but the Netherlands international possibly at fault for second Liverpool goal 6 Aleksandar Kolarov Could have opened the scoring but rarely made it as far forward again 6 Cengiz Ünder The 20-year-old Turk was anonymous until being taken

off at half-time for Schick 5 Radja Nainggolan Always willing to receive the ball, even under pressure. Some good touches and close control 7 Edin Dzeko Not his most impressive game, often stationed too wide to cause trouble, but took goal well 7 Ratings by Paul Wilson

More than anyone, it was another night to savour the little guy with the magic in his feet and enough manners to hold up his palms in front of the away end to apologise for his first-half goals. Salah scored 34 times in 83 appearances for Roma but this performance was another reminder that he operates now at a different level.

His first goal was a peach – a curling, diagonal shot that went in off the underside of the crossbar – but the second was not too shabby either. Firmino slipped the pass through the middle and once Salah reached the ball first there was a sense of inevitability about what would happen next – a touch to steady himself, a quick look up and then an impudent chip over Alisson, the Roma goalkeeper, almost in slow motion.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Mohamed Salah ghosts past Roma’s Juan Jesus before setting up Roberto Firmino for Liverpool’s fourth goal. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

When Manchester City came here in the quarter-finals Liverpool inflicted the damage with a blitz of three goals before half-time. This time they restricted themselves to Salah’s double but one of the more attractive traits of this side is that, when they are in a winning position, they always go looking for more goals. Another team might have prioritised a clean sheet in the second half. Liverpool, on the other hand, sensed a rout, attacking from every angle, with Salah at the hub of everything.

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Perhaps, in the end, that sense of adventure cost them but it was difficult to be too critical when they had scored five and could also reflect on the chances that Mané missed, the header that Dejan Lovren thudded against the crossbar and the times when Salah slalomed round his former team-mates. Salah left Juan Jesus for dead to set up Firmino’s first goal. Jesus, Roma’s left-sided centre-half, had to be substituted midway through the second half and Aleksandar Kolarov, the former Manchester City defender, did not have the speed or agility to keep up with the newly crowned Professional Footballers’ Association player of the year. Even by Salah’s standards, this was an exceptional performance of skill, sophistication and big-game expertise.

All of which made it perplexing that Klopp removed his chief tormentor in the 75th minute. Liverpool lost their momentum and Lovren’s mistake let Edin Dzeko pull one back before the substitute Diego Perotti added another from the penalty spot, capitalising on Milner’s handball.

The only other downside for Liverpool was the knee injury suffered by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in a challenge with Kolarov in the first half. The midfielder was taken off on a stretcher with his season hanging in the balance. Indeed, Oxlade-Chamberlain seemed so badly hurt there have to be serious concerns he would miss the Champions League final if his team-mates finish the job. Klopp, of course, did not want to be so presumptuous but surely Liverpool will not blow it from this position.