#Liverpool F.C and A.S Roma square off in the first leg of their Champions League Semi-Final Tuesday at 2:45 pm U.S time, and one player is at the center of it all. When Liverpool bought the 25 year old Mo Salah from the Italian giants Roma for 34.3 million euros, more than a few Liverpool fans scoffed at the price. Salah was an undoubted talent in Serie A, but with his unremarkable prior stint for Chelsea in the minds of many and the already crowded front line of Liverpool--the buying price seemed inflated. Salah ignored the doubters and is nearing the end of one of the most impressive Premier League seasons for a player ever, if not THE most impressive.

The Egyptian winger has scored 41 total goals, won the PFA Player of the Year Award and has already tied the Premier League record for most goals in a season at 31 with three games still left.

However, the most impressive thing Salah has done so far is help lead the surprising charge of Liverpool in this years Champions League.

Salah was fantastic over the two legs against Manchester City in the quarterfinals of the competition, and Salah might have even more to prove against his former team Roma in the semi-finals.

Salah and his time at Roma

Chelsea sold Salah to Roma in sumer of 2016 for 20.70 million euros. Salah had been on loan for the Italian side the season before, and Salah performed well for Roma from 2016-2017. The little Egyptian accounted for 34 goals over the two season span, and helped the team finish in the top three of Serie A in both seasons.

Roma than sold him back to the Premier League in the summer of 2017, however this time to play in Anfield for Liverpool.

A.S Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco will undoubtedly be weary of Salah's familiarity with the way in which Roma plays. However, Salah's time spent with Roma might also help the Italians at defending the speedy winger, as the defenders might have a better understanding of his movement from practicing with him on such a consistent basis.

How Salah will line up against Roma

Salah returned to the Premier League with an absolute vengeance in 2017. The winger wasted no time getting in the goals and he has undoubtedly forced his name into the conversation for the Ballon d'Or in 2018. Salah has already helped the Reds secure a top four finish in the Premier League, and his inspiring performances for his country Egypt has been a cherry on top of it all.

Salah must be chomping at the bits to show his former team what they lost and look for him to line up in his usual right wing position against Roma, and while the Italian side did find success in slowing down Messi in its previous leg--stopping Salah will be an entirely different matter.
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