My Roma pals didn’t want us in semi – Salah

Five-time winners Liverpool have been drawn to meet Roma in the Champions League semi-finals – in a a repeat of the 1984 European Cup final.

And Reds forward Mohamed Salah revealed that his former Roma team-mates wanted to avoid his side.

Real Madrid tackle Bayern Munich in the other tie.

Roma beat Barcelona in astonishing fashion in the quarter-finals, overturning a 4-1 first-leg deficit by winning 3-0 at home on Tuesday to progress on away goals.

The Giallorossi will once again be away as the first leg is at Anfield on April 24 before the return fixture on May 2.

Speaking to CNN International ahead of the draw, Salah (pictured) said of his old teammates: “They’ve all said, ‘We don’t want to play against Liverpool’.

“It would be nice to go back to Rome, it’s my old club. I love the fans there and they love me too.

“I still talk to most of the players there. We were very close to each other and we are good friends.

“Of course, I have happy memories. We played together for two years. We had a good time in the dressing room.” Roma may have lost Salah to Liverpool last summer, but Anfield boss Jurgen Klopp insisted the Italians’ display against Barcelona epitomised how strong they still are. “It will be two difficult games because they are fantastic side,” Klopp said. “You saw the two games against Barcelona. If somebody only saw these two games then you know already pretty much everything about Roma.

“They play a good season after a difficult transfer window for them last year. They lost Mo and Emerson Palmieri, two really key players for them, and they still play a really good season, fighting for the Champions League again.

“I watched the second leg against Barcelona – that was outstandingly good.”

Roma sporting director Monchi said of the tie: “It feels like a great opportunity to chase the joy we were not able to experience so many years ago.

“But, of course, it will be difficult because Liverpool are an extremely strong side.”