UCL Road To Kiev Final: Liverpool vs Roma
Key Stats
Sixth European meeting between Liverpool and Roma and the first since March 2002. Liverpool (W2, D2, L2) & Roma (W1, D2, L2)
Liverpool's 10th appearance in the semi-final of the European Cup/Champions League. They've progressed to the final seven times in nine trials, losing only in 1964-65 against Inter Milan and in 2007-08 against Chelsea.
Roma are appearing in their first European semi-final for 27 years when they faced Brondby in the Uefa Cup in 1990-91. The last match was against Dundee United in 1983-84 whom they beat to set up a Liverpool final
Roma have won just one of their past 14 away Champions League games (D5 L8), a 2-1 win at Qarabag earlier this season.
Liverpool have not won the first leg of a European semi-final in any of their past seven attempts (D3 L4), since a 4-0 win over Panathinaikos in the European Cup in 1984-85.
The first of the final stop before the UEFA Champions League final will be a tantalizing encounter between Liverpool and Roma. Both teams are full of belief after they kicked out Barcelona and Manchester City who have dominated their respective leagues and are inevitable winners of the double domestic trophies. Mohamed Salah is expected to be the center of attention because of his outstanding season and more so as he welcomes his former teammates to Anfield. The coaches believe that it is more than the tactics or star players that will see them through.
Liverpool boss has urged the Merseyside fans to come in full voice and try to create a special atmosphere around the Anfield, specifically to try and beat the outstanding support they gave in the quarter-finals against Manchester City. In as much as Klopp once the 12th player behind them, he does not want to witness a repeat episode of the violent bus incident instigated by the Liverpool fans against Manchester City. He has urged the fans to respect Roma. Roma’s Eusebio Di Francesco has admitted that English clubs create memorable atmospheres when they get behind their teams but has since affirmed that their fans are also behind them. Liverpool is expected to field stick to the line-up which beat the English Champions, Manchester City, with Oxlade Chamberlain, Trent Alexander Arnold, Firmino, Lovren, and Robertson expected to return after being rested over the weekend. Roma’s Diego Perotti could return after being sidelined for three weeks while Rick Karsdrop and Gregoire Defrel are set to miss out with an injury. Aleksander Kolarov, Edin Dzeko, Daniele De Rossi and Alessandro Florenzi who sat out in Roma’s 3-0 win over the weekend are also expected to be in for the Giallorossi.
Managers’ Remarks
"Against Barcelona, we played as a team, we did not focus on Lionel Messi, and by playing in this way we can achieve great things. It is not about stopping one player. Liverpool are not only Salah, they have a number of good players." - Eusebio Di Francesco
"They have a full squad available. They have different options offensively, a strong defense, the wingers or wing-backs are strong, it all looks settled, fit and experienced.
"It's a semi-final which is a big thing for them like us. You will see two excited teams and that's good for football." - Jurgen Klopp
Who will gain the advantage in the first leg?
