Champions League round-up: Hat-trick hero Lucas Moura earns perfect WhoScored 10 rating

 

Here we run through the best rated XI from two nights of dramatic Champions League semi-final action in midweek, with additional information about their Football INDEX share prices.

 

Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool) - 8.47 rating

Football INDEX share price - £0.62

 

Alisson bounced back from conceding three goals in the first leg by keeping a clean sheet in Liverpool’s remarkable 4-0 victory at home to Barcelona on Tuesday night. The Brazilian couldn’t deny Lionel Messi last week but was determined to thwart the Barcelona maestro at Anfield. He did that and more, making five saves to help Liverpool advance to their second successive Champions League final. Alisson was part of the Roma team that staged an extraordinary comeback against Barcelona in Europe last season and has now played his part in doing so again here, this time with new club Liverpool.

 

Left-back: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) - 7.02 rating

Football INDEX share price - £1.24

 

Andrew Robertson’s night was ended prematurely after injury forced the Liverpool defender off at half-time and fortunately for Jurgen Klopp’s side they didn’t miss the rampaging full-back. Nevertheless, Robertson was typically excellent during his time on the pitch. The 25-year-old had two shots, hitting the target with one of those, and created one goalscoring opportunity going forward. In defence, he made two tackles and interceptions combined and three clearances - ranking second of all Liverpool players for the latter statistic.

 

Centre-back: Joel Matip (Liverpool) - 7.58 rating

Football INDEX share price - £0.46

 

Virgil van Dijk has rightly taken most of the praise for Liverpool’s resolute defending this season but Joel Matip has quietly been one of the club’s best players in recent weeks and that was no different against Barcelona. The 27-year-old made four tackles and interceptions combined against the Spanish side on Wednesday night, while also completing three clearances and a crucial last man tackle to prevent Barcelona from scoring a decisive away goal. Matip won two aerial duels and impressively completed 93% of his passes.

 

Centre-back: Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax) - 8.29 rating

Football INDEX share price - £2.84

 

Despite Ajax’s dramatic late collapse, it was another hugely impressive night’s work from 19-year-old captain Matthijs de Ligt. The teenager appeared to have sent Ajax on their way to qualifying for the Champions League final with the opening goal of the match, heading in from a corner after five minutes. It was one of 11 aerial duels the Netherlands international won on Wednesday and also one of two shots he managed. The Ajax centre-back has impressively now scored in both this season’s Champions League quarter-finals and semi-finals. Not only that, but De Ligt made four tackles and interceptions combined and six clearances in midweek.

 

Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - 7.98 rating

Football INDEX share price - £2.62

 

Trent Alexander-Arnold was surprisingly benched in the first leg but turned in a decisive performance when called upon at Anfield on Tuesday night. The England international’s cleverly taken corner in the 79th-minute set up Liverpool’s fourth goal of the night, which proved the goal that booked Liverpool’s place in next month’s final. Alexander-Arnold was also influential in Liverpool’s second of the night, denied the assist for Georginio Wijnaldum’s effort by a slight deflection off a Barcelona player. The 20-year-old also made more interceptions (four) than any other player involved across the two semi-final second legs.

 

Left wing: Son Heung-min (Tottenham) - 7.90 rating

Football INDEX share price - £1.64

 

Son Heung-min missed the first leg through suspension and Tottenham sorely missed his pace and dynamism in attack, as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat on home soil. With the 26-year-old back, Ajax certainly had more to worry about in defence and he helped Mauricio Pochettino’s side complete a dramatic comeback. Son completed eight dribbles on Wednesday night, only three fewer than he had managed in the Champions League all season prior to the midweek action. The South Korea international also had six attempts on goal - another personal best in a European game this season. Tottenham needed to be efficient in possession and Son was not wasteful on the ball, completing 92.9% of his passes.

 

Champions League round-up: Hat-trick hero Lucas Moura earns perfect WhoScored 10 rating

 

Central midfield: Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool) - 8.68 rating

Football INDEX share price - £0.54

 

Georginio Wijnaldum later revealed he channeled his anger at being benched by Jurgen Klopp to inspire his incredible substitute performance against Barcelona on Tuesday. The Netherlands international was subbed at half-time to replace an injured Andrew Robertson and scored twice in a 4-0 win to dump Barcelona out of the competition. The 28-year-old is arguably Liverpool’s most improved player of the last two years and was only beaten to the WhoScored Man of the Match award in their game by team-mate Divock Origi. Wijnaldum completed 93.3% of his passes after coming on and two dribbles.

 

Central midfield: Dele Alli (Tottenham) - 7.61 rating

Football INDEX share price - £1.87

 

Dele Alli wasn’t at his best over the two legs but delivered when it mattered most on Wednesday, assisting two goals in Tottenham’s remarkable 3-2 win away to Ajax to help the north London outfit reach their first ever Champions League final. Alli slipped the ball through his marker’s legs for Tottenham’s first of the night and supplied the pass for Moura to complete his hat-trick and send the Johan Cruijff Arena into meltdown in the final seconds of injury time. Alli registered four key passes in total and also tested Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana with his only effort of the match.

 

Right wing: Hakim Ziyech (Ajax) - 8.33 rating

Football INDEX share price - £1.93

 

Ajax would have thought the tie was over after Hakim Ziyech doubled their lead on the night in the 35th-minute and extended their aggregate lead to 3-0. As it turns out, it wasn’t to be for the Dutch side, who conceded three second half goals and crashed out on the away goal ruling but Ziyech is one of several Ajax players to enhance their reputation massively following their displays in the Champions League this season. On Wednesday night, Ziyech had seven shots, one of which hit the woodwork in the 78th-minute, registered four key passes and completed three dribbles. He was also managed three tackles and interceptions combined.

 

Striker: Lucas Moura (Tottenham) - 10 rating

Football INDEX share price - £1.33

 

Tottenham haven’t signed a single player since January 2018 and it’s fitting that their last addition, Lucas Moura, was the one to fire them into the pinnacle event of European club football. Moura scored a stunning second half hat-trick, as Tottenham came from 2-0 down on the night and 3-0 down on aggregate to win 3-2 in Amsterdam and progress to the Champions League final on away goals. Moura’s final goal came in the 95th-minute of the match. It was his fifth shot of the game and third on target. The 26-year-old also registered two key passes, completed four dribbles and surprisingly won as many aerial duels.

 

Striker: Divock Origi (Liverpool) - 8.91 rating

Football INDEX share price - £0.60

 

Divock Origi has only been a fringe player for Liverpool this season but the 24-year-old has scored some big goals for Jurgen Klopp’s side. He’s netted winners against Everton and Newcastle in the Premier League and struck twice against Barcelona on Tuesday night to help Liverpool complete an astonishing comeback. Origi got the ball rolling in the seventh minute, sliding into an open net after Jordan Henderson’s effort was saved into his path before netting the decisive goal with 11 minutes of normal time remaining. Origi was the only player switched on to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cunning corner and superbly managed to direct the drilled low cross beyond Ter Stegen and into the far corner. They were his only shots of the night but both found the back of the net. 

Champions League round-up: Hat-trick hero Lucas Moura earns perfect WhoScored 10 rating