Egypt's Mohamed Salah, who was on target again in the Champions League against Manchester City, said the goal he scored made Liverpool's task easier as they stunned the hosts to qualify for the competition's semi-final on Tuesday.

The Reds made it to the last four for the first time since 2007 after beating Man City 2-1 at Etihad to complete an emphatic 5-1 aggregate win.

With City leading 1-0 via an early goal from Gabriel Jesus, the effervescent Salah ended the tie as a contest when he struck in the 56^th minute to leave Pep Guardiola's men needing four goals to overturn the deficit.

He released Senegalese forward Sadio Mane, who broke clear but tumbled under pressure. The ball then rolled back to Salah to chip it over Nicolas Otamendi and into the empty net from a tight angle.

"It was expected that City would attack from the very beginning. They pressured us throughout the first half and wasted some chances to score," Salah, who also netted in the impressive 3-0 first-leg win, told beIN Sports after the match.

"But we defended well at the back and the most important thing is that we scored at just the right time. This goal made things easier for us."

Salah became Liverpool's all-time joint top scorer in a single season in the Champions League, having netted his eighth goal, the same tally that Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino has also managed this term.

The 25-year-old has now 39 goals to his name in all competitions, including 29 in the elite Premier League.

Salah was initially doubtful for Tuesday's return leg due to a groin injury he picked up in the first leg.

"I'm now totally fine," he said with a smile.

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