Liverpool‘s Jurgen Klopp will be the more relaxed manager going into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Roma, thanks to their 5-2 lead from the first leg.
Eusebio di Francesco will have plenty on his mind as he tries to plot another comeback, after Roma overturned a 4-1 deficit in the quarter-finals against Barcelona.
Here’s a look at the key tactical talking points ahead of Wednesday’s second leg.
LIVERPOOL FACE TEST OF FORTRESS OLIMPICO
There’s a reason teams prefer playing the second leg of European ties at home. Roma might be three goals behind, but they know what they’re capable of in front of their home fans. They have yet to concede a goal at home in the Champions League this season, having hosted Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, and Barcelona.
More than that, however, it’s the fearsome atmosphere that the Stadio Olimpico has. It inspired Roma’s players in their comeback against Barcelona, and the fans will give the players belief again. Can Liverpool hold their nerve in this daunting arena and breach Fortress Olimpico?
Roma’s fans make Stadio Olimpico a daunting place.
WILL ROMA DITCH THE 3-5-2?
Di Francesco insisted he didn’t get his first-leg tactics wrong, instead saying his players hadn’t performed well enough. He’s entitled to believe that, on the basis of the first 20 minutes when Roma were utterly dominant, not to mention the fact that the same 3-5-2 formation and XI pulled off the 3-0 win over Barcelona.
But there’s no doubt that the high back line was suicidal against Liverpool’s electric front three. If Roma are to pull off another miracle, they can’t allow Mohamed Salah and company that much space. Will Di Francesco revert to a back four to avoid that?
Will Di Francesco go back to his favoured 4-3-3?
LIVERPOOL NEED TO KEEP THEIR COOL
Liverpool have history of letting leads slip – they did so in both group games against Sevilla, including the infamous 3-3 draw where they had a 3-0 lead at halftime. More recently, they saw a 2-0 lead against West Brom, the Premier League’s lowest-placed side, evaporate in the last 15 minutes of that game.
The Reds did perform admirably against Manchester City in the previous round, when they went into the second leg with a 3-0 lead and won 2-1. But City battered them in the first half of that game, and it only takes one goal to send nerves jangling.
A Roma goal will send nerves jangling in the Liverpool camp.
