Roma know they’ll have their work cut out
They out-thought and out-fought Barcelona but...
IF LIVERPOOL supporters were pleased with the Champions League semi-final draw with AS Roma, who can blame them? They are the fourth favourites in the competition now, they are third and 18 points behind leaders Juventus in Serie A and they are not giants of the game.
There is always a danger that Liverpool fans will regret what they wished for, if Roma reach the final in Kiev, but I do not think there is any danger of complacency from Jurgen Klopp.
Look what they did to Barcelona in the quarter-finals. They outplayed the Catalan giants in the second leg and the 4-1 scoreline flattered the home side at the Nou Camp, with Roma getting that vital away goal. And they beat Chelsea 3-0 in the Stadio Olimpico in the group stages and drew 3-3 at Stamford Bridge.
As a regular viewer of Serie A, in the era of Juventus domination, Roma have barely mustered a challenge and they are some way off Napoli, who are the second best team in Italy at the moment. Perhaps the biggest moment at the club in recent times was when Francesco Totti retired. Their win over Barcelona in the last round was fantastic entertainment but was a complete surprise.
Still, it was thoroughly deserved and if you look through their side there is quality there.
The goalkeeper Alisson has played a major role in their Champions League progress and he has been heavily linked with Liverpool in the last year, although both clubs are perhaps understandably keen to play that down in the build-up to this tie. He could well start ahead of Manchester City’s Ederson for Brazil at the World Cup
Midfielder Daniele De Rossi is a name which might be familiar to some people. He is a 34-year-old holding midfielder who is capable of dictating the outcome of games, although not necessarily with a goal threat. He stops the opposition in his position, sitting in front of the back four, and he is excellent in possession. But with the pace and energy of the Liverpool central midfield he will have his work cut out, especially at Anfield.
Would he get in the Liverpool side? I would have to say no. I don’t think he could actually play in a Jurgen Klopp team because he doesn’t have high-enough energy levels and can’t play at the pace and demands the Liverpool manager puts on his players.
Another name which might ring a bell is the defender Fazio, who was briefly at Tottenham. He was poor in his short spell and could not handle Premier League centre forwards. Although he is obviously happier playing in Roma’s back three, he is not very good on the turn and does not read situations well when the ball is played behind him, which suggests Liverpool’s front three could get some joy.
When Louis van Gaal was Manchester United manager, Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman was linked with a move to Old Trafford but, at 28, that move to a big club like United may have passed him by now but he is still a very good technical player.
Fellow midfielder Radja Nainggolan is the key player and is the one who can really get round the pitch and plays with real energy and physicality.
Striker Stephan El Shaarawy is most remembered for his time at AC Milan, although he was briefly at Monaco. He has only scored eight goals all season and played six full Serie A games this season because he either comes off the bench or he is substituted.
And I have watched most of Italy’s games over the last few years and he flatters to deceive and is not really at a level which I think will hurt Liverpool, but he is an enigma and can produce a moment of magic in one-off situations.
And obviously we all know Eden Dzeko who has scored 20 goals this season. The former Manchester City striker is an excellent footballer, who is technically very good and a threat in the air but he won’t run away from Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren with the ball over the top or in behind the Liverpool defence.
Barcelona really struggled against the crosses coming into the penalty area in both legs of their quarter-final tie so I think the type of football we can anticipate from them against Liverpool is getting the widemen in advanced areas and getting the ball into Dzeko in the area.
This is a huge game for Roma and they know they will have their hands full trying to stop such an attacking, threatening side as Liverpool, particularly at Anfield.
I was at Liverpool’s game against Bournemouth last weekend and the atmosphere in the ground was exhilarating. Even three hours before the game, the place was buzzing and fans are going there expected to be entertained.
That can be a lot to live up to but Liverpool invariably deliver and away from Anfield, we have witnessed brilliant, breathtaking football and great goals. And they have done that regularly since the turn of the year. Klopp’s men are more than capable of scoring in both legs so Roma know exactly what task they have to undertake.