Roma v Liverpool: Reds to roar into Champions League final
Published:
Roma welcome Liverpool to the Stadio Olimpico this evening in the second-leg of their Champions League semi-final.
The welcome isn’t likely to be overly warm, however, as the Serie A giants look to overcome a 5-2 first-leg defeat at Anfield.
Our traders can barely split the two sides in the W-D-W markets. Roma are 31/20 to win, with Liverpool at 29/20. The draw is available at 14/5.
The Giallorossi famously overcame Barcelona in the quarter-final having been three goals downs from the first-leg. That 3-0 win over Lionel Messi and co. will give them huge encouragement here. As will Liverpool’s ropey defensive performance in the last 20 minutes of the first game.
Significantly, Roma scored their two away goals after coach Eusebio Di Francesco switched from a back-five to a back-four. He’ll likely go with a 4-3-3 here.
For Liverpool Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be absent through injury. Georginio Wijnaldum will replace him in midfield. Otherwise, Jurgen Klopp will go with the same XI as in the home leg.
Goals should be on the menu again at the Olimpico. Roma must pour forward in search of at least three goals. And that leaves them vulnerable to arguably the best counter-attacking side in club football.
Roma have yet to concede at home in this year’s UCL – and that includes games against Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, and Barca. But only four sides have kept the Reds scoreless in all competitions this season. And in terms of miraculous comebacks, lightning is unlikely to strike the same spot twice.
Both Teams To Score is 1/3. Over 3.5 Goals is 19/20. You’d have to fancy Liverpool to win this over 90 minutes at 29/20.
The Reds are a younger, fitter, faster side. And they have proven in the previous round against Manchester City that they can build on a first-leg lead.
Klopp’s side are 8/11 to score 2+ goals. With Mohamed Salah on fire, and ably assisted by Saido Mane, and Roberto Firmino, Roma will need to be either defensively incredible or incredibly lucky to keep them all out.
Firmino has gone level with Salah on 10 UCL goals and the Brazilian is 17/10 to add to his tally Anytime. Edin Dzeko has seven goals in the competition and is the Giallorossi’s go-to man. The Bosnian is available at 21/20 to find the net Anytime.
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All Odds and Markets correct as of date of publication
