Liverpool vs Roma - Liverpool's need to secure insurmountable first leg advantage
When the Champions League draw for the semi-finals was made, Liverpool were lucky enough to avoid Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to instead set up a meeting with Serie A side Roma. That isn’t to say the Italian outfit will be a walkover at this stage of the competition, but the Reds’ path to the final is all the more easier having avoided Real and Bayern.
The tie also means Mohamed Salah faces his former side for the first time since his departure and, fresh from his PFA Player of the Year award, you’d expect the Egyptian to put any sentiments for Roma to one side to maintain his flying form. Indeed, the 25-year-old netted his 31st league goal of the campaign in a 2-2 draw with West Brom on Saturday and he’s now had scored in each of his last six Liverpool appearances. Facing Roma at home first, however, could come back to haunt the Reds.
Barcelona felt they’d done enough to progress to the semi-finals as they earned a 4-1 home win, only to fall to a 3-0 loss in the second leg and crash out of the Champions League. Away from home, Roma have struggled in Europe’s elite club competition conceding 12 goals in five away matches and winning only one of those five games. At the Olimpico, though, Eusebio Di Francesco’s team are as resolute as they come.
They’re yet to concede in front of their fans in the Champions League this season, despite welcoming Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Barcelona to the capital. Tuesday’s match, then, will be crucial for both teams. Liverpool continue to go from strength to strength, particularly in the final third, and they have the means to blow teams away when their attack is singing from the samn hymn sheet, as it has been for much of the season. By establishing a big first leg lead in midweek, they can establish an advantage that Roma may well insurmountable.
However, the same could well have been said of Barcelona, who would have been confident that a three-goal lead would’ve been enough to guarantee a spot at this stage of the Champions League before they crashed out on away goals. If Roma can keep the score down at Anfield – a tough ask given the Reds have scored three or more goals in four of their last six home matches – then the Giallorossi have a chance of upsetting the odds and making the final.
Di Francesco’s side may have struggled domestically, to an extent, this term, but there is no denying that the manager maximises the personnel at his disposal, particularly at home. Juan Jesus (4.6), Kostas Manolas (3.9) and Federico Fazio (3.6) rank first, second and third, respectively, for clearances per Champions League game of all Roma players this term and this proactive approach helps ease pressure on the goal.
With the hugely influential Alisson operating as the last line of defence – the Liverpool target has made more saves (20) than any other goalkeeper in home matches in the Champions League this season – then Roma have as good a chance as any at making the final, even taking into account their expected first leg loss at Anfield. This could ultimately work in Roma’s favour. They’ll be confident of keeping Salah and co. at bay at the Olimpico, regardless of Liverpool’s goalscoring credentials, and a positive result on Tuesday night will go a long way to helping Roma to a surprise Champions League final spot.
Liverpool though will be in the mood to put Roma to the sword and if the atmosphere is anything compared to how it was when the Merseyside giants welcomed Manchester City to Anfield, then the home side will be confident of securing a big first leg advantage in midweek. They can’t merely rest on their laurels, however, as Roma have what it takes to shut Liverpool out in Italy and deny the Reds a second European cup final under Jurgen Klopp.
