It will take a long time to forget one of the most explosive Champions League Semifinals we have ever seen. The first leg of the tie between Liverpool and AS Roma was exhilarating. There were plenty of goals, incredible moments, and everything else you could possibly imagine.
We should see plenty of action in the second leg too. With Roma down three goals, they are going to have to open up their typically conservative playstyle in order to level. They have already pulled out a miracle once before, so Liverpool need to be on their toes.
Don't miss the Champions League action from Stadio Olimpico at 2:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on FS1.
Champions League Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Liverpool +159
AS Roma +152
Draw +274
Over/Under 3.5
First Leg Recap
For the first 20 minutes of this match, it looked like Roma would draw first blood. They looked like the better side for that stretch and had a couple really good chances.
As the half went on, Liverpool took charge and completely dominated the affair for the next 50 minutes. Mo Salah broke the deadlock by beautifully curling a ball away from Alisson and into the top left corner. It was a magnificent goal and he made it two just ten minutes later. Then, he corralled a long ball, worked a give-and-go with Roberto Firmino, and expertly finished.
The rout was on in the second half. After a few frustrating misses, Salah perfectly set up Sadio Mane with a can’t miss opportunity. Mane delivered this time around to make it 3-0. Firmino got in on the action shortly after, notching goals in the 60th and 67th minutes to put Liverpool up 5-0.
It looked like Liverpool would be essentially through, but the tone shifted once Salah came off. He was substituted for Danny Ings in the 75th minute and Roma immediately took over control. The Italians scored twice over the next four minutes to give themselves a chance in the second leg.
Injuries to Watch
Roma had two players suffer injuries in the first leg of the tie against Liverpool. Kevin Strootman and Diego Perotti both picked up knocks, and the status of both players is up in the air.
The loss of Perotti would be a big blow. Perotti provided a spark as a late substitute and the offense flowed well around him. Roma needs all the help they can get when it comes to scoring.
Liverpool has three long-term injuries that have been unable to play for a while. Adam Lallana, Joel Matip, and Emre Can are all dealing with issues and will be out for this match. Additionally, it looks like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may be scratched for the year as well after suffering a knee injury that looked bad. Mane is considered probable with a knock.
Key Player
Ever since Salah left Roma this offseason, the club’s offense has run through Edin Dzeko. It took a while for Dzeko to find his footing, but he has regained his star status. Dzeko has been on fire in the Champions League especially, taking over matches with both his goal scoring and his nifty passing. He has scored in each of his last five Champions League matches and that’s nothing to turn your nose up at. Roma need at least three goals and that means Dzeko needs to have a great outing.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Does anyone really think that Roma will be able to erase a three-goal deficit once more? The club is playing with house money right now and they know it. Liverpool will not sit around and play back like Barcelona did, as they know their strength is up front. That will lead to a different result as Liverpool advance to the final.
Champions League Odds: AS Roma 2, Liverpool 1
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
