Liverpool v Roma betting sees the Premier League side continue their pre-season preparations. With new manager Brendan Rodgers at the helm, in his first match in charge he could only watch as his side drew 1-1 with MLS side Toronto on Saturday. It wasn’t anywhere near as strong of a Liverpool side as you will see in the Premier League, as Rodgers has pretty much had to turn to the youth Academy to fulfil the obligations of the pre-season matches. There were a handful of bigger established names in the ranks like Alberto Aquilani, Charlie Adam and Joe Cole, but all of them looked a yard short of pace and struggled to get in the game at all. The match also signalled a return from midfielder Lucas, who has been trying to recover from a cruciate injury for the last seven months or so. So these are nothing but baby steps for Rodgers in his new role, but at least it gives him a chance at looking at the future of the club, and there is a lot of excitement and expectation about 17 year old Raheem Sterling, who scored the equaliser against Toronto.
Liverpool’s Euro 2012 contingent turned up a couple of days after their opening match, so they have been without them. Star striker Luis Suarez is also absent because of his role with Uruguay at the London 2012 Olympics. So no-one knows if any of the late arrivals to the tour party are really going to be fit or match sharp to swing straight into action against Roma. Steven Gerrard and co may be rested, perhaps given a substitutes role because there are more pressing things ahead like their Europa League qualifier on August 2nd. Rodgers has faced this problem of only really having most of the reserves to train with during his short stint at Anfield so far. While Charlie Adam and Joe Cole didn’t really do themselves any favour in trying to lock down a starting place next season, there were some positives for Liverpool as the established players in the side against Toronto were out-shone by youngster like Suso, Jordan Ibe and Raheem Sterling.
So the future of Liverpool doesn’t look to bad. All they really did against Toronto was try and keep position, much in Swansea’s style of last season. But the Reds didn’t have any penetration against the MLS side at all. Roma finished seventh in last season’s Serie A and therefore missed out on a place in Europe next season. The Italians have a pretty solid side and they have been breezing through their pre-season friendlies. Not that they have played anyone of any note so far on their 2012 US Tour. They beat a Romanian Club side, Rapid Vienna and then a Polish club side. So not exactly stern tests, but they are working their way towards next season like everyone else. So perhaps nothing too much for a solid Liverpool side to worry about, but it may not be that strong of a Liverpool side which turns up.
Liverpool v Roma Betting Odds at online bookmaker Bet365
Liverpool 5/4, Roma 7/4, Draw 12/5
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