Evening. I was just thinking, I think it's one of those déjà vu things Or a dream that's tryin' to tell me somethin' Or will I ever stop thinkin' about it I don't know, I doubt it. Three weeks ago, here we were: about to watch Roma pretend they could overturn a three-goal deficit and beat Barcelona. Except we weren't. It sounds ridiculous, but Roma had actually played pretty well in losing the first leg of that tie 4-1, and matched up well with the Spanish champions-elect, as they were then. It felt like it was on. This feels like it's off. Roma defended worse than any side I've ever seen at this stage, and the manner of their collapse was as embarrassing as it was disgraceful. They were entirely incapable of defending the lumped hoof, panicked, and if they'd lost 8-0 could scarcely have complained. It's hard to see how their exceedingly slow defence is containing Liverpool's exceedingly fast attack. Except Barcelona wilted at the Olimpico and they're a better team than Liverpool,
Champions League / Semi-final
Stadio Olimpico / 02.05.2018
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- J. Milner(15' O.G)
- E. Dzeko(52')
- R. Nainggolan(86', 90+4' PEN)
- S. Mané(9')
- G. Wijnaldum(25')
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Updated 02/05/2018 at 21:42 GMT+1
51'
50'
A ball from De Rossi sends Dzeko through and the flag goes up ... Karius hasn't noticed, so charges out to dive at his feet, cleaning him out when the ball is moved sideways. And he's lucky, because a replay reveals that wasn't offside.
49'
Robertson is playing really well, and he barrels forward around one tackle and through another, over halfway. But when he finds Salah, he learns that his pal has wandered offside.
47'
Roma give it away in midfield and immediately Firmino and Salah are on them, the former finding the latter whose shot is blocked and the ball ends up with Alisson.
46'
Nice from Roma, Kolarov sticking a ball into space down the line and Nainggolan charging after it. His cross is decent too, but on the back post, Pellegrini gets excited and allows it under his studs.
46'
Off we go again!
20:48
Back come the teams. Roma look haunted.
20:45
One way of putting it.
20:33
Liverpool haven't been great, but they're winning comfortably. Roma aren't good enough going forward to wear how bad they are at the back, and Liverpool are better than them in both areas. This is over, butp[erhaps we'll get some decent second-half violence as Roman tempers fray.
20:33
Half-time: Roma 1-2 Liverpool (agg 3-7)
45'
There'll be one additional minute.
45'
Oh wow! I'm not sure what Pellegrini was trying there, but the ball flies off the toe of his boot and miles away from everywhere, even Selhurst Park.
44'
A ball out to the left see El Shaarawy skirting around the outside of Lovren, who shoves him over. Booking and a free-kick in a dangerous position...
44'
Firmino gets the ball outside the box and is given phenomenal time to control, look up and shoot. He scuffs the effort against Manolas, but still.
42'
Ball into Dzeko, who turns around the corner for Nainggolan to nod into the space in front of Florenzi. He lashes a first-time shot, but hits across it and the ball flies wide of the near post.
41'
We see that dive again - Alexander-Arnold properly took his leg away before El Shaarawy collapsed. Graham Poll revelates that there was slight and "natural" contact, hence no booking. I don't know what that means or why it matters.
40'
Roma break, and El Shaarawy runs at Alexander-Arnold, cutting across him and vaulting over his thigh. No penalty says the ref, who for some reason keeps his yellow card to himself.
38'
Manolas stands off Firmino; one straight ball and Salah is one on one with Fazio! Dear oh dear. But Fazio stands up well and gets a block in.
37'
I'd go Schalke in 2011. But yes, they are awful.
35'
Roma hit the post! El Shaarawy cuts inside and across the face of goal, hitting a shot which deflects off Milner, looking for a brace, and the ball loops onto the far post.
34'
It's absolutely absurd how poor defending is at the top level. I'm not sure I can think of one in the same league as Terry, Carvalho, Vidic and Ferdinand, and those four were playing in the same league.