Liverpool's fluid trio make Champions League team of the round

Liverpool’s majestic front three all feature in the WhoScored.com Champions League team of the semi-finals. The trio were in electric form in the Reds’ 7-6 aggregate win over Roma, with all three getting on the scoresheet twice. The player of the round also plies his trade for Liverpool, with Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino the star man. 

Firmino helped himself to two goals and three assists over the two legs, the latter more than any other player, from a return of eight key passes. His fine showings earned a WhoScored.com rating of 8.54, with the forward more than deserving of the accolade. He just pipped teammate Mohamed Salah to the award, with the Egyptian star putting his former side to the sword over the two legs. 

Salah has been in mercurial form recently and his two goals and two assists at Anfield were vital in Liverpool’s progression to the final. He may have underperformed in Rome, but a WhoScored.com rating of 8.33 was enough to make the cut in this XI. Sadio Mane rounds off the Liverpool contingent, with he too netting twice across both legs, including the vital opener in Rome on Wednesday night. The Senegal star chipped in with an additional five successful dribbles and three interceptions to return a WhoScored.com rating of 7.87. 

Roma aren’t without representation, despite crashing out of the competition at the semi-final stage, with Radja Nainggolan impressive over the two legs. He gained a WhoScored.com rating of 7.68 as he bagged a brace and provided an assist in the two games, with the Belgian top for key passes (9) of all players in the semi-finals. James Rodriguez partners him in midfield, with the Bayern star putting sentiment to one side to impress against Real Madrid. While the Bundesliga champions dropped out at the semi-final stage, Rodriguez scored one and assisted another against Los Blancos, while six key passes and two successful dribbles saw the Colombian earn a WhoScored.com rating of 7.67. 

Edin Dzeko also makes the cut, with the Bosnian in fine form against Liverpool at both Anfield and the Olimpico. He scored two of Roma’s six goals against the Reds and led the attack with aplomb, winning 12 aerial duels, creating four goalscoring chances, completing four dribbles and having more shots (12) than any other player to help gain a WhoScored.com rating of 7.75. 

Onto the defence and Dzeko’s teammate Federico Fazio features with a WhoScored.com rating of 7.50. He won more aerial duels (15) than any other player across the two legs, and made seven tackles, three interceptions and 13 clearances in the two semi-final meetings with Liverpool. Raphael Varane features alongside the gargantuan Argentine, with the Real Madrid centre-back earning a WhoScored.com rating of 7.34 against Bayern Munich. He made more clearances (18) than any other player across the two legs, while six tackles, three interceptions and eight aerial duels won capped off solid back-to-back displays from the Frenchman. 

Marcelo stars at left-back as the Brazilian pressed forward well to score one and assist another of Real Madrid’s four goals against Bayern Munich. The 29-year-old made two key passes and completed one dribble in the semi-finals and defended well too, make two tackles, one interception and six clearances to yield a WhoScored.com rating of 7.28. 

Bayern ace Joshua Kimmich rounds off the defence with his WhoScored.com rating (8.16) the third highest of the semi-finals. The German right-back scored two of Bayern’s three goals across the two legs, while returns of seven key passes, eight interceptions, more than any other player, and three tackles capped off two impressive displays from the 23-year-old. Real Madrid shotstopper Keylor Navas completes the XI, with the Costa Rican helping himself to a WhoScored.com rating of 7.62. He made more saves (12) than any other goalkeeper and successfully claimed two crosses, playing a key role in Los Blancos’ progression to the Champions League final.