Nearly everyone has heard the saying, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

But 33 intoxicating minutes either side of half time saw Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool leave Roman ruins scattered over the Anfield pitch, as they took a huge stride towards the Champions League final.

The Reds have made a habit of blitzing visiting teams at home in Europe this season, and Eusebio Di Francesco’s Roma were their latest victims as Mohamed Salah and co ran up a 5-0 lead.

A regrettable final 10 minutes saw the Giallorossi score twice to leave the tie with a slither of doubt, but Klopp will be privately confident of progression to the final in Kiev on May 26.

Here’s how the national media covered yet another blistering performance from Klopp’s Red Arrows.

The Daily Mail’s Martin Samuel was hugely impressed with Mohamed Salah’s display, as he wrote: “At 75 minutes his time was up and, with it, arguably the greatest performance by an individual for an English club side in Europe.

Liverpool's Sadio Mane is mobbed after scoring his side's third goal in their Champions League semi-final first leg win over Roma
Liverpool's Sadio Mane is mobbed after scoring his side's third goal in their Champions League semi-final first leg win over Roma

“The less said about what happened after that the better, but Mohamed Salah, two goals, two assists in a Champions League semi-final, is a display that will live long in the memory.

“That Roma scored two goals to keep this tie alive, just, after he was withdrawn only goes to underline his influence. While he was active the Italians could not get back in the game. Once he was gone it was as if a weight had been lifted, a monster becalmed.

“Salah was, quite simply, astonishing. His finishes were perfection, his crosses precise to the millimetre. When the fourth official raised the board with his number 11 on it, Anfield stood as one, convinced they were through to the Champions League final already.”

The Guardian’s Daniel Taylor writes: “Of all the mesmerising nights Liverpool have experienced under Anfield’s floodlights in the European competitions, where does this one stand?

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Roma in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Roma with Roberto Firmino
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Roma in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Roma with Roberto Firmino

“Up there, surely, with Saint-Etienne 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.

“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 Jurgen 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.”

David Maddock, of the Daily Mirror, focused his attention on the performance of Salah, who took his personal tally for the season up to a jawdropping 43.

Mohamed Salah scores Liverpool's second goal against AS Roma in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg at Anfield
Mohamed Salah scores Liverpool's second goal against AS Roma in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg at Anfield

“Mo Salah produced one of the all time great European performances to put Liverpool within touching distance of the Champions’ League final,” he writes.

“But an unlikely, improbable comeback from Roma as they scored two late goals has left the Italians dreaming of another impossible result in the eternal city next week.

“Eusebio Di Francesco’s men know that the same stunning 3-0 win they miraculously earned against Barca in the previous round will put them through the final, despite being left out for the count on another amazing Champions’ League night.

“If Roma’s fight-back took the gloss over what was until the last 10 minutes one of Liverpool finest-ever European nights, then it should not detract from Salah’s masterpiece.”

Chris Bascombe in The Telegraph focuses on the English core at the heart of the Reds’ midfield, saying: “Amid the celebrations for Liverpool’s Formula One football-inspired by the men from Egypt, Brazil and Senegal, it will not have escaped Gareth Southgate’s attention Jurgen Klopp has come to rely on those from London, Sunderland and, most effectively of all, Yorkshire, to start and keep the engine running.

Liverpool's Roberto Firmino scores his side's fourth goal in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Roma at Anfield
Liverpool's Roberto Firmino scores his side's fourth goal in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Roma at Anfield

“It was they who came to the fore in those early stages as the Italians settled and initially looked unflustered.

“It was the harrying of Jordan Henderson and the tactical awareness and all-round brilliance of James Milner that allowed Liverpool to find their stride and recover and launch their blitz.

“The poignant symbolism was not lost that it was Oxlade-Chamberlain’s perfectly timed tackle back on 15 minutes that led to the injury to his right knee, a setback which at first glance looked like it was serious enough to end his World Cup hopes as much as the rest of this campaign.

“Klopp was asked ahead of last night’s semi-final what Liverpool’s European success might mean for English football.

“’We do it for Liverpool,’ was the kind of response that plays well to the Anfield gallery, parochial concerns always of greater interest than the roars of three lions. Nobody here cares about Russia. Only Kiev.”