Liverpool have been drawn against AS Roma in the Champions League Semi Final draw today. Here are the Liverpool player’s reaction to the news.
If you thought it *had* to be Bayern Munich or Real Madrid then you were wrong. Liverpool have been picked out against AS Roma in the Semi Finals of the Champions League. The first leg at Anfield will be on either Tuesday April 24th or Wednesday April 25th. The return leg in Italy will be a week later on either Tuesday May 1st or Wednesday May 2nd.
The giants of Bayern and Real will face each other in the other tie; the Germans playing at home first. Liverpool fans were mixed in wanting AS Roma. They are certainly the weakest team of the bunch but Liverpool like to be underdogs and often give their best performances against the best teams.
The Reds have played Roma five times before; winning three, drawing one and losing. They have won every tie against the Italians including beating them in their own stadium to win the 1984 European Cup.
Liverpool players took to social media to speak of the news:
Tough draw.... Roma showed what they can do v Barca - this tie will have amazing atmospheres both home and away #YNWA
— James Milner (@JamesMilner) April 13, 2018
100%
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) April 13, 2018
Roma in the semis! What’s everyone’s thoughts? Here’s a little recap of the past week 😏 #YNWA #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/yvKKgeV5hw
— Alex Ox-Chamberlain (@Alex_OxChambo) April 13, 2018
The players are understandably not celebrating the draw like a win – they are too professional and smart to do that. It will particularly be a great fixture for Mohamed Salah who will return to AS Roma where he spent the last two seasons.
Liverpool fans would have liked to play the second leg at home; for the Anfield European atmosphere to see the team over the line to the final. However the home leg against Man City proved that the Reds can take control of a tie early. That suits the counterattacking style of Klopp’s team as we saw to great effect in the second leg.
Next: This is the rotated back four we want for Bournemouth
However the tie goes, and whether or not Liverpool reach their eighth European Cup final, the Reds are back where they belong; European royalty.