Michaelson gives his picks

Standing between a first Uefa Champions League final for Liverpool in over a decade is just a poor defensive display tonight against Italian heavyweights AS Roma.

With a 5-2 aggregate score-line, one would say Juergen Klopp’s men did enough when they thrashed Roma at Anfield in the first leg, but given Roma’s resilience, after they staged one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the competition to overturn a 4-1 deficit against Barcelona in the quarterfinals, there is the possibility of a great second-leg affair.

While the Reds’ strength is their attack, made up of Mohammed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane – the defence is their Achilles heel. More often than not, what has worked for them is the old football proverb “the best way to defend is to attack”.

Although the back four is led by the world’s most expensive centreback, Virgil van Dijk, Roma will breach that frail defence and win on the night.

Roma v Liverpool. Previewed above. Tip: Roma win = 1

M2: Athletico Tucuman v Penarol. Win for the home side. Tip: Athletico win = 1

M3: Junior v Boca Juniors. Boca to win on the road. Tip: Boca win = 3

M4: Corinthians v CA Independiente. Narrow win for CA. Tip: CA win = 3

M5: Delfin v Colo Colo. Victory for the visitors. Tip: Colo win = 3

M6: Vasco da Gama v Cruzeiro. Visitors to cruise in this one. Tip: Cruzeiro win = 3

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