Champions League semi-final second-leg Preview – Roma v Liverpool

Liverpool look to book their place in the Champions League final on Wednesday as they travel to Roma for the second leg of their semi-final.

The Reds take a three-goal lead to the Eternal City having sealed a 5-2 victory at Anfield.

And whilst they do not believe the job is done – boss Jurgen Klopp believes the attitude is right in his camp, and they are refusing to think about what happened to Barcelona in the previous round when they led 4-1 before losing 3-0 in Rome to go out.

“Barcelona probably thought it was decided. Everyone is telling us it is quite difficult and possible (to turn around the tie) but no-one told Barcelona it is possible to beat you 3-0 because no-one could imagine it could happen but it happened,” said Klopp.

“I didn’t need a warning but if a warning was needed, it was a warning. But the closer the game comes Roma realise they still have to score three: it didn’t happen too often this season against us.

“I’m not saying it is impossible but it is quite difficult. We are here to fight for our dreams, that is how it is, and we want to go to the final.”

Roma chief Eusebio Di Francesco remains hopeful that they can complete another historical comeback.

“From a motivational standpoint we have this desire to complete this comeback, to put everything we have on the pitch and try and do something great and massive,” he said.

“Liverpool are a team on the counter so we need to stay as focused as possible if we are to complete this comeback. I would like to make something clear, we are about to play a Champions League semi-final in front of 70,000 people, do you expect us to sit back? No.

“You have to expect a fighting team, you want to see a team capable of putting everything on the pitch regardless of the score. What I expect is enthusiasm, passion and desire to go past this hurdle.

“[If I could] I would do a copy and paste [of the Barcelona game]. It is in the mind of the players. In order to compete against a rival such as Liverpool, we need to raise the bar in terms of physical effort, then comes the attitude, approach to the game and trying to score an early goal to have the fans behind us even more.”

See below for a preview on the game, including predictions from former England, Crystal Palace and Tottenham midfielder Andy Gray and our own Football Insider Graeme Bailey and BoyleSports’s Lawrence Lyons.

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Roma 19:45 Liverpool (agg 2:5)
Stadio Olimpico
Second leg

TEAM NEWS: Emre Can, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are all sidelined but Adam Lallana and Alberto Moreno are expected to feature. For Roma, Diego Perotti and Kevin Strootman are ruled out.
KEY FACT: Roma yet to concede in five Champions League home games
MATCH ODDS: Roma 6/4 Draw 14/5 Liverpool 13/8
BoyleSports Pick: Roma to win @6/4
ANDY SAYS: Another quality game and I think Liverpool have far too much for Roma…1-3
GRAEME SAYS: Depends how Liverpool approach this, I think Roma might edge it but won’t do enough…2-1
FOOTBALLIndex – One to follow: Mo Salah can still move up, still time to get on

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