Liverpool vs Roma - Champions League Semi Final (1st Leg)

[Pablo]

I'm excited but oddly serene. Trying to almost force myself to feel nervous, cos I don't wanna trick myself into thinking it'll be easy, cos I know it won't. But you can't force or fake that. Maybe I'll start bricking it later.

I think we're all feeling like that.

I actually think it might be easy. I mean if we really turn it on again. We'd put 4 or 5 past them if we did that. I said might by the way.

I do worry the complacency will seep through to the team, but I'm hoping not. I'm sure the atmosphere will still be fantastic.

It's nice to feel confident, but it's almost more comforting to be the underdog. Football huh, why do we do it to ourselves!

[PTP]

I've managed to get a pass out for tonight so i'm going the pub with my mates - I reckon once I walk in the pub the atmosphere will start to build and that's where i'll get panicky

that said - I can't get too wrecked

little lad has been invited to play in a football tournament tomorrow at The Academy
so ive got to be up early to drive over

[Pablo]

Oh and I've managed to sort out "working from home" tomorrow

[Buzzo]

I think the team could well be nervous tonight. It is totally uncharted territory for all of them. They know how close the final is.

If we play like we did in the first half v City, we should have no problems. Though Roma are decent, they will not chuck the kitchen sink at it like city, and I wouldn't expect us to be under seige like we were in that game.

So nerves tonight, but also a lot of belief, if we can beat City over 2 legs we can beat anyone.

[PTP]

whats so hard is this Liverpool side is nuts

I have absolutely no doubts that we are capable of smashing pretty much every side on the planet if we turn up.

that said - we still have a cluster **** in us

[meffin]

Didn't realise the Roma manager is the guy who was in charge of Sevilla when they beat us in the Europa final

[labourRed]

Didn't realise the Roma manager is the guy who was in charge of Sevilla when they beat us in the Europa final

He wasn't unless you're whoosing.

He hasn't managed outside of Italy - he is a very good manager though.

[Buzzo]

Didn't realise the Roma manager is the guy who was in charge of Sevilla when they beat us in the Europa final

Emery was the Sevilla manager in 2016?

[meffin]

He wasn't unless you're whoosing.

He hasn't managed outside of Italy - he is a very good manager though.

Emery was the Sevilla manager in 2016?

Ahh, what the **** did I see earlier about him being the reason we didn't win the Europa league then?

Oh well..

[Shaggy]

[ame]https://twitter.com/seanbrad2/status/988780182608732163[/ame]

[Chris]

As if it won't be bad enough out there, we add a Lazio player to the away end. He's mad if he wants to take his kid, we'll probably get kept behind for at least 2 hours. Unless he gets special treatment and can get out early.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I think the team could well be nervous tonight. It is totally uncharted territory for all of them. They know how close the final is.

If we play like we did in the first half v City, we should have no problems. Though Roma are decent, they will not chuck the kitchen sink at it like city, and I wouldn't expect us to be under seige like we were in that game.

So nerves tonight, but also a lot of belief, if we can beat City over 2 legs we can beat anyone.

The bulk of our team and our manager know what it is like to reach finals. We are more experienced on that front than Roma especially the current squads for each team. Yes they have had CL football on a more regular basis than us over the past few years but a CL semi final is unchartered ground for their current team as they have been better at getting knocked out in the CL and EL in recent times than they have in progressing to the latter stages like semi finals or finals.

If anything they are the ones more used to failing at the sharp end than we are.


We have players that have the experience of long cup runs at domestic and European level, and as such our guys have more experience of knock out games like this.


Roma also have form this season in the CL for producing their worst performances away from home, and that is a pattern that their current squad has maintained back to 2015.


Since 20th October 2015 they have played away from home 9 times in the Cl.

Won 1
Drew 3
Lost 5


This season they have played away from home 5 times in the CL.

Won 1
Drew 1
Lost 3


They also leak goals away from home.

From the 9 games they have played away in the CL since the 20th October 2015, they have coceded two or more goals 7 times.

This season from their 5 away games in the cl , they have conceded two or more times in 4 games and never kept a clean sheet away.


It is at home where they are a threat as beating both Chelsea and Barca 3-0 shows. But away from home they can be got at as they often try to go at the home team especially through the centre.


We have the firepower to do them at Anfield, and the fact they like to attack with a high line at times should see our front three get room to work in.

[meffin]

Works dragging, i'm doing **** all work (helps that i handed my notice in last week), can't wait until kick off

[Yozza]

Been out on site most of the day keeping my mind off it...

Just got back into the office about an hour ago & am starting to brick it now....

[BigChief]

No leaky, no lighty girls?