Liverpool win tarnished by late Roma goals in the Champions League semifinal at Anfield. Liverpool hold on for 5-2 win.
Liverpool win sees club take the advantage to the Stadio Olimpico in the second leg. The Reds completely took apart Roma for much of the first leg match. The Italians looked shell shocked after Mohamed Salah’s first goal in the 35th minute. The Egyptian added a second 10 minutes later. Liverpool didn’t let up after the halftime break as Sadio Mane scored 11 minutes after the restart before Roberto Firmino tallied two goals in a seven minute span.
Liverpool suffered a scare late on as the Reds’ defence was wide open in the final 10 minutes. Roma were able to score twice in the final 10 minutes to give the club hope to go through when the teams clash again in the second leg.
Liverpool win tarnished by late Roma goals: One foot in the semifinal
Liverpool’s performance was brilliant, but Roma did have their own chance early in the first half. Left-back Aleksander Kolarov struck the woodwork, but it was as close as Roma would get all night. Shortly after Kolarov’s shot, the Romans slowly capitulated.
Roma did get an important away goal as Edin Dzeko scored in the 81st minute. His goal came from a great cross from Radja Nainggolan. However, Dejan Lovren’s defending was as much at fault for the goal. The defender miss played a header which allowed Dzeko in on goal.
A James Milner head ball allowed Roma a penalty in the final five minutes. The penalty was scored by Roma’s Diego Perotti.
Liverpool win tarnished by late Roma goals: Oxlade-Chamberlain suffers injury
Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain suffered a suspected knee injury during the first half that could keep him out for the rest of the season and possibly the World Cup. The midfielder came up injured after making a hard tackle on Kolarov down the wing.
Oxlade Chamberlain had to be stretchered off following the injury.
With the Reds ahead of the tie with Roma, how did Twitter react to a Liverpool win in the semifinal first leg?
This is utterly embarrassing for Roma. The contrast in performance between tonight and at home to Barcelona demonstrate perfectly how frustrating it must be to follow them.
Twenty-ish good minutes. Complete humiliation since.
— Conor Clancy (@ConJClancy) April 24, 2018
Liverpool definitely have the potential to blow a five-goal lead
— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) April 24, 2018
Liverpool were flying without Ings….
— Chris Sutton (@chris_sutton73) April 24, 2018
Second game running Liverpool have taken off Salah and gone to pot.
— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) April 24, 2018
Strange situation to be into the last two minutes thinking ‘Liverpool really need a sixth here’
— Evan Fanning (@evanfanning) April 24, 2018
Not saying Liverpool are a one player team but Salah goes off and they turn into Walsall
— WBA Rainbow Stand ® (@TheRainbowStand) April 24, 2018
It's funny to think that Roma ends this game with more momentum than Liverpool even though Liverpool beat them 5-2.
— Jimmy Conrad (@JimmyConrad) April 24, 2018
No rivalry in American sports compares to the passion of #ChampionsLeague play.#LIVROM #Liverpool #Roma
— Bubba Ray Dudley (@bullyray5150) April 24, 2018
Fucking bastard Roma Manager had he played 4 at the back it’s a win for him going back to Rome
— chief (@aliladiere) April 24, 2018
2 of Liverpool’s goals shouldn’t have stood and Roma should’ve had a penalty. That is serious lols
— James Stubbs (@Stubbs89) April 24, 2018
What do you think of a Liverpool win in the first leg? Will they go through?
