Neither Liverpool or Roma were expected to reach the Champions League semi-finals, given they were facing Manchester City and Barcelona respectively in the quarterfinals.
But here they are, having pulled off stunning results to knock off the more favoured sides and place themselves on the cusp of reaching the final.
Here are Seven Deadly Stats ahead of Tuesday’s first leg.
FORTRESS ANFIELD
Liverpool would have preferred to play the second leg at home, but they may also wonder if it makes any difference. After all, they did beat City 3-0 at Anfield in the first leg – a result that took them to 19 straight unbeaten European knockout games at Anfield.
They’re also on a run of 12 Champions League games without a loss at any venue. Roma have been forewarned.
Anfield could negate the disadvantage Liverpool have of playing the second leg away.
NO FAIR, MO
Mohamed Salah will be reunited with some of his former Roma teammates on Tuesday, and amid the greetings and reminiscing, the Roma players may want to grill their old star player about a glaring statistic.
The Egyptian had one goal in nine Champions League appearances for Roma. With Liverpool, he’s up to eight in 10. Salah is still a beloved figure among Roma fans and players, but they may have a legitimate gripe.
Salah was good for Roma – but not this good.
LIVERPOOL’S TERRIFIC TRIO
Salah is the danger man, of course, but he’s got a couple of partners in attack who are just as lethal. Roberto Firmino has eight goals in the competition, not counting the qualifiers – the same number as Salah. Only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more this season.
Sadio Mane is right behind them with seven goals. This means Liverpool are the first team with more than two players to net seven Champions League goals in a season since Barcelona in 2014/15, when they had their famed Lionel Messi-Luis Suarez-Neymar strike force.
As good as MSN? Salah, Firmino, and Mane have been on fire this season.
KLOPP’S ACHILLES HEEL?
Jurgen Klopp has done wonders with this Liverpool side in order to get them to the semi-finals, not least out-maneuvering Pep Guardiola in the previous round to take down Manchester City.
But against Roma, he’ll have to confront an old failing. He has yet to beat an Italian team in a European knockout tie. His Borussia Dortmund side fell to Udinese in 2008/09 and Juventus in 2014/15.
Is Klopp going to break his Italian jinx?
ROMA ON A HIGH
Roma aren’t here to make up the numbers, of course, but they’ve already surpassed all expectations by making it to the semi-finals.
They’ve equalled their club record for most wins (5) and most goals (15) in a single Champions League season. No one will be surprised if both those records fall in the next two weeks.
It’s been a historic Champions League campaign for Roma.
NOT THE BEST TRAVELLERS
While it’s been a glorious campaign overall for Roma, they haven’t done well away from home. They’re on a run of three straight away Champions League defeats, and a loss on Tuesday will equal the club record.
In fact, they’ve won only once in 14 away games in the competition.
Roma’s away form is cause for concern for the first leg.
DZEKO’S STUNNING SEASON
Edin Dzeko has already justified his decision to stay at Roma in January, turning down a move to Chelsea, as his goals in the previous round took him to top of the club charts for most goals in a single Champions League campaign.
With six goals in the competition this season, he’s now just one off the record for most goals by a player for an Italian team in a single season – Carlos Tevez with 7 for Juventus in 2014/15.
Dzeko has been the star of Roma’s Champions League campaign.
