Liverpool will take a three-goal lead to the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday evening to take on Roma in their Champions League semi-final second leg and will be looking to secure their place in the final, writes DEAN WORKMAN.
Liverpool dominated the opening 80 minutes of the first leg at Anfield. The Reds were at their scintillating best as goals from Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino fired Jurgen Klopp’s team into a 5-0 lead.
The Italians, however, staged a late fightback as goals by Edin Dzeko and Diego Perotti in the final 10 minutes gave Roma a slim hope. The final score was 5-2 in Merseyside, leaving Roma with the massive task of having to repeat their comeback heroics shown against Barcelona and win another second leg game at home by 3-0 if they are to progress to the final.
Liverpool will be confident going into the second leg. Not only do they hold that massive three-goal advantage, but if they score just one goal in Rome, I Giallorossi will have to score four.
The Reds are the competition’s top scorers and if Roma hope to stand a chance of progressing to the final, they will have to do something that not many teams have managed against Liverpool’s menacing forward attack this season – stop them from scoring.
Just a few weeks ago, Roma shocked the football world by beating Barcelona 3-0 at home, knocking out the European giants in the process. No one saw the result coming after Barca’s dominant 4-1 home win, but an electric atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico, combined with a fired-up side, resulted in one of the competition’s greatest comebacks.
The Italians would now need to repeat that historic night against the Reds. Just as with that game against Barcelona, Liverpool are the favourites, and no one really expects Roma to stage another major comeback. However, this season’s Champions League has served up shocks and drama galore, so can we really rule out another comeback? Surely not?
One thing is for certain: we will have another entertaining night of Champions League football when Roma host Liverpool this evening in their semi-final first leg, with kick-off at 8:45pm.
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