The Details
Venue – Anfield, Liverpool
Date & Time – Wednesday, May 2nd 2018 @ 19:45 BST
Referee – Damir Skomina (SLO)
Current Odds – Roma 27/20, Draw 11/4, Liverpool 9/5
Form
Roma Form
Roma had a good win at home to Chievo on Saturday evening. They were in the mood for goals, too, with their 4-1 victory. Liverpool are not Chievo, however. Roma will have the belief that they can turn this tie on its head after what they did to Barcelona in the quarter-final but I still feel the Reds are too strong for this Roma team.
Liverpool Form
Liverpool have been somewhat stumbling towards the finish line in the race for a top-four place in the Premier League this season. Another disappointing draw on Saturday means that Champions League qualification is still not guaranteed for the Reds this season. However, their European performances have been nothing short of exhilarating as of late and I expect more of the same on Wednesday night.
Team News
Roma Team News
Roma rested Under, Strootman, Florenzi, and Manolas at the weekend. They will return to the starting eleven on Wednesday night. Di Francesco has some thinking to do about how he sets his team up for this game after their back-three lineup and high line were exploited by Liverpool at Anfield. Roma will most likely revert to a 433 shape for this game.
Roma’s Top 3 Rated Players this season (WhoScored.com – 10 appearances or more)
- A. Kolarov —- 7.56
- E. Dzeko —- 7.44
- F. Fazio —- 7.24
Liverpool Team News
Liverpool really are down to the bare bones now as the season reaches its conclusion. The loss of Oxlade-Chamberlain after his injury in the first leg was devastating as the young midfielder had been in the form of his life. After some injury scares for Henderson and Alexander-Arnold against Stoke on Saturday, Liverpool managed to just about come through the game unscathed. Matip, Lallana, and Emre Can are also out due to injury. The only change from the team that started the first leg will be Wijnaldum coming in for the injured “Ox”.
Liverpool’s Top 3 Rated Players this season (WhoScored.com – 10 appearances or more)
- M. Salah —- 7.72
- R. Firmino —- 7.44
- S. Mané —- 7.28
Predicted XIs
AS Roma (4-3-3) – Alisson; Florenzi, Fazio, Manolas, Kolarov; Strootman, De Rossi(c), Nainggolan; Under, Dzeko, Perotti
Liverpool XI (4-3-3) – Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson(c), Milner, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mané
When they last met
Last Tuesday’s meeting at Anfield was a rollercoaster ride. Roma asserted themselves well in the first twenty minutes of the game but then the Reds simply went up a gear and took charge until the 80th minute. Seven goals in all, five for Liverpool, two for Salah. It was a special night at Anfield, marred only by the ugly scenes created by some Roma “Ultras” outside the Albert Pub beforehand.
Prediction
AS Roma 2 – 3 Liverpool
The famous home support might be worth a goal or two for Roma in this game but they are simply second best when comparing the two sides. Liverpool really should have put this game to bed at Anfield, and it looked like they had until the last ten minutes when concentration lapsed. Roma may have kept Barcelona out but, strange as it is to say it, Liverpool are a far more potent attacking force than Barcelona these days. Salah will light up the Italian capital upon his return.
If you are travelling to the game please stay safe and do us proud. YNWA.
For Sean Cox.
** Please note – “xGA” on the Form Stats Tables symbolises “expected goals against”
