Champions League: Cruel fate as Liverpool meets AS Roma

It would be nothing to discuss if Salah had not shone since arriving at Anfield and contributed greatly to bringing Liverpool to the semi-finals of the Champions League this season. It would also not be considered cruel that he had to face the team that once "took care" of him - AS Roma.

Salah was once a "hero" and the number 1 scorer of AS Roma. Photo: Internet

Remember, Salah had a thorny and difficult journey, with continuous moves, uncertain future in Chelsea shirt. In 2015, he was pushed to Fiorentina on loan contract. Fortunately, that was an opportunity for the "surplus" in the Premier League to find inspiration to play football again when being appreciated.

But the turning point in the career of this talented and energetic player only really began when he decided to continue his "secondment" mission for Chelsea in Serie A, but not for Fiorentina anymore but for AS Roma.

Returning to Roma, the passion and desire to burn out with the round ball of the player born in 1992 was truly reborn. Right in the first season, Salah became Roma's number 1 scorer with 14 goals and 8 assists in Serie A. That was the reason why the Italian team decided to buy him from Chelsea right after the 2015-2016 season ended.

In August 2016, Salah officially became a Roma player with a transfer contract worth 15 million euros. The best African player of 2017 continued to repay the team that rescued and launched him by exploding with 15 "shots" of goals and 11 assists in Serie A. He became an irreplaceable hero when helping Roma win the second place in Serie A that year, with a total of 87 points - the best score in the history of the club's participation in Serie A.

However, Salah's name has yet to make waves in the football world and it is difficult for him to reach the same level as Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar. Then what was to come has come, the 50 million Euro contract has helped Liverpool get the "treasure" from Roma right from the beginning of this season.

Salah will have to overcome the boundary of his love for AS Roma to fulfill his mission of leading Liverpool. Photo: Internet

Roma made a big profit? Oh no! That's not necessarily their mistake as coach Eusebio Di Francesco's team did something that many people didn't think of: For the first time in the club's history, they reached the semi-finals of the continent's most prestigious tournament in their first season without Salah.

But, they must be regretful and disappointed when their old player is shining brightly with 41 goals for Liverpool in all competitions. He is dominating the desire of "giants" who are willing to spend many times more than that 50 million Euro.

But perhaps Salah felt even more regretful and disappointed when he had to meet his old teammates in an undesirable situation. Just 10 months after leaving Olimpico to return to Anfield, he made a difficult choice. He loved Roma who had taken him in, loved his old teammates who had helped him fly high in Italy, but fate forced him to be cruel to them.

At 1:45 a.m. on April 25, at Anfield, there will be no more “ifs” allowed to appear in Salah’s mind. The fate with the Italian team and Liverpool’s number 1 star will no longer have any lingering or favoring for more than 90 minutes. Everything will be “cut off”, because he is carrying the responsibility of leading the attack to penetrate the defense, “tear the net” and defeat the guests from Italy.

What can he do? Salah must cross that line himself, not only to help Liverpool but also to affirm his professionalism as a top star in world football.