Liverpool will face AS Roma in the second leg of the semi-final of the Champions League on Wednesday. Liverpool have won the first leg with a margin of 5-2 against the Italian side at Anfield. So, the Italian side will have to score three goals to go through to the final of the Champions League this season, though the Reds will try their best to not let that happen. The task is seeming to be almost impossible for AS Roma but they have made a similar sort of come back against the Catalan Giants Barcelona in the second leg of the quarter final of the Champions League this season.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told after the first leg that they would not repeat the performance of Barcelona in the second leg.
The Reds will try to play their natural game against AS Roma in the second leg. If they are able to play in the way they are playing throughout the whole season, it would not be a huge problem for Liverpool to go through to the final of the Champions League in this season.
In this season the attacking trio of Liverpool are performing at their level best. Mohamed Salah is running through the form of his life at this point of time. But their defense were looking vulnerable at some time of the big matches in the season. Their dominance in the attack has nullified their defensive lapses time and time again. In this match also Jurgen Klopp will hope that the same thing will happen again. If they get one away goal early in the match it would be really impossible for AS Roma to make a comeback possible from there. So, AS Roma have to play with taking calculative risk at times.
Team News :
Liverpool :
Alberto Moreno could be missing for this game, due to an injury problem. Otherwise, Klopp will have the full squad in his hand to play. Karius will start in Liverpool goal against Bournemouth while Gomez, Lovren, Van Dijk and Milner are expected to start against Bournemouth while Chamberlain, Henderson and Wijnaldum will be in the midfield for Liverpool. Mane, Salah and Firmino will start in the attacking line for Liverpool against Roma.
Roma :
Patrik Schick, Gregoire Defrel, Emerson Palmieri Kevin Strootman and Stephan El Shaarawy are expected to miss the clash against Liverpool for Roma. Strootman still has a chance to be fit before the match and take part in the match.
Allison will start in the Roma Goal against Liverpool. Bruno Peres, Juan Jesus, Fazio and Kolarov will start in the defense of Roma. De Rossi, Strootman and Nainggolan are expected to play in midfield for Roma while Florenzi, Dzeko and Perotti will start as the attackers in the Roma line up. They are expected to play with a 4-3-3 formation.
Predicted Starting Eleven :
Liverpool: (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper : Karius.
Defenders : Gomez, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson.
Midfielders : Milner, Henderson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain,
Attackers : Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Roma :(4-3-3)
Goalkeeper : Allison
Defenders : Bruno Peres, Juan Jesus, Fazio, Kolarov.
Midfielders : De Rossi, Strootman, Nainggolan.
Attackers : Florenzi, Perotti, Dzeko.
My Score Prediction :
Liverpool 2-1 Roma.