Roma vs Liverpool LIVE updates: Champions League semi-final score, goals and highlights
LIVERPOOL head to Roma's Stadio Olimpico with a 5-2 lead from the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. Follow the action LIVE with Express Sport.
Liverpool and Roma go head-to-head in tonight’s Champions League semi-final second leg.
The Reds have one foot in their first Champions League final for a decade as they take a 5-2 first-leg lead to Roma's Stadio Olimpico.
The winner will play defending champions Real Madrid, who beat Bayern Munich on aggregate yesterday, in the final in Kiev on May 26.
The Stadio Olimpico has huge significance for the Reds as it is where, in 1984, they won a penalty shoot-out against the Italian club, playing at their home ground, to lift their fourth European Cup.
Roma XI: Alisson, Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov, Pellegrini, De Rossi, Nainggolan, Schick, Dzeko, El Shaarawy.
Liverpool XI: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Salah, Mane, Firmino.
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ROMA 0-0 LIVERPOOL
1: And we’re off! Liverpool are wearing their white shirts with black shorts while Roma are in their traditional… what colour is it? Orange/Brown/Red? You know what I’m talking about…
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
19:43: Players out, Champions League anthem played, atmosphere incredible. That’s the checklist completed, we’re ready for an epic night at the Stadio Olimpico. Surely Roma can’t do it again, can they?
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ROMA vs LIVERPOOL
19:40: Quick reminder of those line-ups as the sides emerge from the tunnel. Who said football grounds with running tracks can't have good atmospheres? The Stadio Olimpico is a bear-pit tonight.
Roma XI: Alisson, Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov, Pellegrini, De Rossi, Nainggolan, Schick, Dzeko, El Shaarawy.
Subs: Skorupski, Juan, Peres, Under, Gonalons, Gerson, Antonucci.
Liverpool XI: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Salah, Mane, Firmino.
Subs: Mignolet, Clyne, Klavan, Moreno, Ings, Solanke, Woodburn.
‘DO SOMETHING IMPORTANT’
19:38: Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco: "To compete with Liverpool you need to raise your athletic performance, we need to score as soon as possible to excite our fans and give them a reason to push us.
"We're playing a semi-final in front of a stadium with 70,000 people. I want to see enthusiasm and the desire to overcome the obstacle. We have the desire to achieve the comeback and do something important. After that there can be any result, but that's what I want to see."
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HISTORY…
19:35: If past results and statistics are any guide, Liverpool have plenty of reasons to be optimistic tonight.
The five-time competition winners have never been eliminated from Europe when holding a first-leg advantage of at least three goals, which has happened on 21 previous occasions.
Also, on the 49 occasions they have played a knockout first leg at home they have progressed 38 times.
On top of that, Liverpool have conceded three in only two of their last 36 European away games, while the last time they shipped three goals against anyone was in January's FA Cup defeat to West Brom.
Shall we bother playing then? I’m happy to neck a tiny expresso and hit the Colosseum if we’re all up for it?
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TWITTER ROUND-UP
Noel: Am I the only one who is not in the slightest bit nervous?! We are here on merit! We are 5-2 up on merit! We have the team to go through!
Nick: Another night of ‘Liverpool in Europe’ bingo awaits. I’m calling : ‘Glory, Glory nights’ , a shot of Kenny Dalglish in the stand and ‘miracle of Istanbul’ as my three gimmes.
Bet: Liverpool have to put up a masterclass performance tonight. Going by what I've seen by other teams in this stage of the Champions League, the art of defending has been taken for granted. Liverpool have to be on alert. No costly mistakes tonight.
Pure confidence, Noel. I respect that…
NEW RECRUITS
19:25: Sorry to bombard you with a transfer line but I thought this had a touch of the Mohamed Salah’s about it…
Liverpool have joined Newcastle in the battle to sign Chelsea outcast Kenedy, Brazilian reports claim.
Kenedy, 22, has made a huge impact at St James’ Park having helped Rafa Benitez’s side secure Premier League survival with two goals and two assists in 11 appearances.
And though Newcastle are desperate to make his six-month loan spell permanent, they aren’t the only ones vying for his services.
Brazilian publication Globe Esporte claim Jurgen Klopp has asked Liverpool’s hierarchy to free light a deal to bring him to Anfield.
I can hear the Chelsea hierarchy panicking about this one already…
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‘NO ONE CAN HANDLE THEM’
19:20: That’s the opinion of Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, who’s doing punditry for BT Sport this evening.
“This Liverpool team in this competition, progressively so as it’s gone on more and more, they’ve found a way to really produce. No one can handle them so far,” he said.
“They’ve defended tight as a unit, they attack with blistering pace and support each other in attack. There’s no team that has matched them so far. If they keep that momentum, they’ve got every chance.
“They’ve played differently to everyone in Europe this year. They’ve got that real direct threat that the Barcelona teams, for all their great players and Lionel Messi’s they have, they’re not so much a threat in behind as Liverpool are."
Careful, Frank. Anyone would think you were a secret Liverpool fan!
TWITTER
BOOOOOOOO!
19:15: Liverpool have just come out to warm up to deafening whistles from the home fans. Not heard booing like that since I covered for the Chippendales…
It’s certainly an intimidating atmosphere.
ENTRY PROBLEMS
19:13: Sky Sports are reporting that roughly 1000 Liverpool supporters are struggling to pass through the turnstiles at the Stadio Olimpico because they keep jamming.
That’s had an impact on the shuttle busses from the middle of Rome to the stadium, which are currently being held.
Fingers crossed the situation will be resolved soon.
SALAH FEVER!
19:10: Police have detained Mohamed Salah… to take selfies!
See what I did there? Sorry if I sent you Liverpool fans into cardiac arrest with that lampoon.
Anyway, the whole of Rome is obsessed with Salah’s return tonight with pictures, painting and merchandise being sold all over the city.
But one particularly eye-catting incident was when an on duty police officer asked for a selfie with the Egyptian king.
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TWITTER ROUND-UP
Abubkar: Liverpool will surely go through. But I'm worried that our bench does not have any natural midfielders in the event of an injury as it happened in the case of Ox last week.
Helles: Too much of a mountain to climb for Roma? When they have done it just a couple of weeks ago against a better team? Sevilla scored three goals at home vs Liverpool in one half, Roma have twice that amount of time. If they score first, watch the nerves kick in...
Paul: To everyone who say Liverpool can be frustrated by sides sitting back and playing narrow, can I just remind you that Roma need three goals at least tonight. I can't see them getting that by doing a Stoke.
CLEAN SHEET?
19:00: Roma are the kings of clean sheets having yet to concede a goal at home in five Champions League matches this season - including shutting out the likes of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea.
They also have kept five clean sheets in 18 Serie A games at the Stadio Olimpico this term, during which they have conceded 19 goals.
However, the real test will come against the Champions League's leading scorers, with Liverpool having notched 38 times in 11 games.
The Reds have failed to find the net in only one European outing this season, the second leg last-16 tie at home to Porto effectively being a dead rubber having won the first leg 5-0.
TWITTER
AMBITIOUS SIGNING…
18:55: This is perhaps the greatest transfer exchange of all time, folks.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he would like to deploy Gladiator star Russell Crowe in midfield this evening.
But Maximus Decimus Meridius (Yes, I’ve seen the film 500 times) responded that he’s on team Roma!
Asked whether he is aware of the movie Gladiator, Klopp responded: “Sure, Russell Crowe will play in my midfield.”
But Crowe replied: “Wrong team, Forza Roma!”
I’m NOT knocking the signing, although I would question his disciplinary record…
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TWITTER ROUND-UP
Sam: Liverpool are a top keeper, reliable centre-back and replacement for Emre Can away from title fighters. The bench still looks light, though.
Cam: I'm excited but nervous at the same time, let's hope we get an early goal and try not to concede, 90 minutes away from the Champions Final.
Jon: Yet another big night in what so far has been a good season. Now let's get the job done in Rome and make this season a great season by finishing it in Kiev.
HAVE YOUR SAY
18:45: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!
You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.
TEAM NEWS
18:40: No great surprises in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI.
In fact, there’s only one enforced change from the first leg with Georginio Wijnaldum replacing the injured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Sadio Mane, who sat out against Stoke on Saturday, has been passed fit and starts alongside Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino in attack.
There are three changes for Roma with Kostas Manolas, Patrik Schick and Lorenzo Pellegrini all making the starting XI.
ROMA vs LIVERPOOL
18:35: And here are your line-ups folks.
Roma XI: Alisson, Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov, Pellegrini, De Rossi, Nainggolan, Schick, Dzeko, El Shaarawy.
Subs: Skorupski, Juan, Peres, Under, Gonalons, Gerson, Antonucci.
Liverpool XI: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Salah, Mane, Firmino.
Subs: Mignolet, Clyne, Klavan, Moreno, Ings, Solanke, Woodburn.
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CAN LIGHTNING STRIKE TWICE?
18:30: Roma have already produced one remarkable comeback in this season's competition, having overcome a 4-1 first-leg deficit to knock Barcelona out with a 3-0 home win in the last round.
A repeat performance would, once again, be enough for them to progress on away goals.
While Liverpool were labouring to a goalless draw at home to Stoke on Saturday, Roma warmed up with a 4-1 win over Chievo, a side in a similar position to the Potters in Serie A.
Roma have won by a three-goal or more margin eight times this season, with three of those coming in their last six matches.
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TWITTER ROUND-UP
Cormac: Just caught myself trying to remember what I was wearing last Tuesday night, in case it's lucky. I'm 40 years old.
Tom: To all Everton and Manchester United fans. Can you tweet me later and let me know what happened in Coronation Street. I’m kind of busy tonight. Cheers, love you!
Joel: I’m worried about us making mistakes tonight but I’m more worried about injuries. Can’t afford a single one. Don’t want to get to final having to play Ben Woodburn, Dominic Solanke and Danny Ings.
Couldn’t resist could you, Tom?
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FAN UPDATE…
18:20: The build-up to the game has been dominated by events off the field with an attack on a Liverpool fan outside Anfield before last week's first leg heightening security fears for the return meeting in Rome.
Unprecedented measures to safeguard 5,000 travelling supporters have been taken but there remains a genuine concern the match will not pass off without trouble in the Italian capital.
Sky Sports are reporting that there has been no trouble or scenes of violence in Rome today. Fingers crossed it stays that way.
ROMA TEAM…
18:18: Nice and early team announcement from Roma. No real surprises in Eusebio Di Francesco’s starting XI.
Roma XI: Alisson; Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov; Pellegrini, De Rossi, Nainggolan; Schick, Dzeko, El Shaarawy.
Still awaiting confirmation from Liverpool…
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EVENING…
18:15: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of Roma vs Liverpool from the Stadio Olimpico.
I can’t believe the big day has arrived.
It feels like Christmas, Easter and the annual beer festival at my local all rolled into one…
Liverpool ousted Roma 5-2 in the first tie and could reach the Champions league final for the first time since 2007 if they hold on to their healthy advantage tonight.
It all sounds relatively simple, right? Wrong (he says knowing full well he sounds like someone selling a pyramid scheme).
Roma have already produced a miracle in the competition when overturning a 4-1 deficit in their quarter-final against Barcelona.
But can lightning strike twice? Let’s find out!
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ROMA vs LIVERPOOL
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will restore his first-choice defence to the starting line-up for the Champions League semi-final second leg against Roma.
Dejan Lovren and Andrew Robertson are set to return, with Trent Alexander-Arnold dropping into his more familiar right-back role, at the expense of Joe Gomez - who has not travelled because of injury - Ragnar Klavan and Alberto Moreno who played in Saturday's goalless draw with Stoke.
Klopp does not have the same luxury in midfield where his only three fit senior players Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum will start.
Provisional squad: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mane, Mignolet, Clyne, Klavan, Masterson, Woodburn, Moreno, Ings, Solanke, Jones.
STREAM DETAILS
You can watch Roma vs Liverpool on BT Sport 2 (Sky 868, Sky HD 414, BT TV 410, Virgin Media 528), with the pre-match build-up starting at 7pm BST and kick-off set for 7.45pm BST.
The match can be watched online via the BT Sport website on their enhanced video player. EE mobile customers can also stream the game, thanks to a free subscription plan.