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
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.
34'
32'
Roma have a bit of possession. They must know the jig is up, but they're putting a brace face on things, finding Florenzi down the right whose cross is helped on by Nainggolan, but Alexander-Arnold hacks away.
32'
31'
30'
Roma have cleared their heads and are pushing forward again. A lot of good it's going to do them.
29'
The Liverpool fans are absolutely having it - of course they are. They're going to Kiev in three weeks, and are one game away from being the most surprising Champions League since the last time they won it.
29'
So if Liverpool get another - and they will - Roma will need 7 [seven].
26'
GOAL! Roma 1-2 Liverpool (Wijnaldum) agg 3-7 Now this is over! The corner isn't properly cleared and when it comes back, Dzeko can't get his huge noggin behind it, sending the ball behind him and playing Wijnaldum on. All he has to do is get the ball past Alisson, which he does by way or simple header, and Roma are absolutely cooked!
25'
Brilliant from Robertson who charges down the left. Shick can't be arsed chasing and a change of pace does for Florenzi. Robertson is now at the by-line, and he clips back for Mane, who turns towards the near post .. but Alisson, going the wrong way, makes the save anyway when the ball hits his leg.
23'
Alexander-Arnold wins a tackle, but has to wear Kolarov's studs on his instep. In commentary, Glenn Hoddle notes that Salah isn't coming back to help Alexander-Arnold - presumably he's been told to stay on Fazio - in which case Milner should be sitting in front.
23'
Roma haven't shown much in the way of interplay so far - they're just getting the ball wide and sticking it in the box - indiscriminately so. I don't think that'll be enough for them.
22'
El Shaarawy comes down the left again - Roma are definitely targeting that area - and crosses well enough, but Karius is on hand to claim.
21'
Ah! So this is what happened!
20'
Dzeko gets himself some time on the ball, inside the box, and wins a corner. The delivery isn't bad, but Mane eventually clears; back it comes, but Shick shoves Lovren, though he's quite capable of making his own errors.
19'
Er, who scored?
17'
If Roma get another one before half-time, we'll have waselves a ball-game. The problem is that there doesn't seem any way they'll avoid conceding again because even though Liverpool have barely attacked, they've looked like scoring each time they have.
15'
GOAL! Roma 1-1 Liverpool (Milner own goal) 3-6 agg Well! A long, searching ball from the right finds El Shaarawy pulling off Alexander-Arnold on the left side of the box. He's not threatening much but has far too much space, so nods powerfully across to no one, whereupon Lovren humps a clearance into Milner's humungous coupon, from which it rebounds into the net. Not gonna lie, that was pretty funny.
14'
Wijnaldum breezes thorugh midfield unmolested and finds Salah on the edge of the box. He moves inside to shoot with his left foot, but doesn't get hold of it Alisson saves.
14'
In a way this doesn't change Roma's task, because Liverpool were always going to score...
13'
This is rather a generous description of what happened.