Liverpool v Roma Predictions & Betting Odds – 24th April 2018

Reds to secure first leg advantage against Giallorossi

Liverpool
Liverpool © GEPA pictures

Liverpool v Roma Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 24th April 7.45pm

Liverpool handsomely saw off Manchester City in the last round, flexing their powerful attacking muscles to come through the tie after starting as underdogs. They open their semi final account against Roma on home soil and they will be keen to press home that advantage. After their stunning fight back against Barcelona in the last round though, Roma will pose a threat as they go looking for away goals to carry back to Italy with them.

Liverpool News and Form

Liverpool holds a wonderful W7 L2 record from their nine previous European Cup semi final appearances. They lost their last one though which was against Chelsea in the 2007/08 season. So they have had to wait a decade to get back to this stage so it has been a long time coming for them. Liverpool holds a W4 L2 record in two-legged knockout ties against Italian opposition in Europe, winning the last two. They are down in the overall match head to head against Italian opponents though, holding a W9 D5 L11 record form their previous 25 games against Italian teams. This will be their first meeting with one since the 2012/13 UEFA Europa League meeting with Udinese (home wins traded). Liverpool home record against Italian opposition is W6 D0 L4, losing two of their last three home soil against Serie A visitors.

Liverpool have tremendous scoring power in them and over 2.5 goals at bet365* (Betting Odds taken at 3:24 p.m. on April 20th, 2018) is going to run with some appeal. The Reds have produced an unbeaten streak of form on home soil this season in Europe, collecting seven points in the group stage before home successes over Porto and then Man City. It is likely that there will be enough in the game for it to end with both teams getting themselves on the scoresheet in the fixture. Liverpool will once again be looking towards Mo Salah and his epic scoring this season to give them an advantage over the club that they brought him from last summer. Liverpool have only lost once at Anfield all season (W16 D8) across all competitions, scoring in all but three of those games.

Roma News and Form

Roma produced a stunning comeback, winning 3-0 at home against Barcelona in the second leg of their quarter-final duel with the Spaniards, having lost 3-1 at the Nou Camp. Edin Dzeko was at the centre of their comeback and he is going to be a good option for the Italians in the anytime goalscorer market. A Liverpool 2-1 and the 1-1 draw are the shortest-priced options in the bet365 correct score market at 7/1* (Betting Odds taken at 3:24 p.m. on April 20th, 2018). This is only the second time that Roma have been in the European Cup semi-final, winning their previous visits in 1983/84 against Dundee United. Roma have lost their last six knockout ties against English sides after winning the first three. They have been to England this season already, playing out a 3-3 draw at Chelsea in the group stage.

Roma have produced only the one win in their last 16 games in England (D6 L9). Their only victory in England being at Liverpool in their 2000/01 UEFA Cup tie. Twice this season they have won through after having lost the first leg of a Champions League tie. They did it in the round of sixteen against Shakhtar Donetsk. Both teams to score in the first leg is at 4/6 odds with bet365* (Betting Odds taken at 3:24 p.m. on April 20th, 2018). The Giallorossi have shown tremendous fight and spirit this season. They have only won six of their last 25 Champions League games (D8 L11) but have won five of their last nine. They will have belief enough with what they have gone through that fate could be on their side this year.

Liverpool v Roma Head to Head

There have been five previous meetings between Roma and Liverpool the most famous of them being the 1984 European Cup Final, which was the first ever to go to a penalty shoot out. Liverpool won that. Their next meeting was in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup fourth round, squeezing through 2-1 despite losing at Anfield. Liverpool went on to win the tournament that season. They were then paired up in the 2001/02 UEFA Champions League second group stage with a 0-0 draw in Rome and a 2-0 win for Liverpool back at Anfield.

Liverpool v Roma Betting Odds*

Liverpool 1/2, Draw 10/3, Roma 11/2* (Betting Odds taken at 3:24 p.m. on April 20th, 2018) 

 

Liverpool v Roma Predictions

Liverpool have the strike force to get themselves a win on the night. The important thing for them is to not give up an away goal as the Italians have shown what they can do home soil. The thing is, Liverpool only know how to play one way and that will leave them a little vulnerable defensively. Back a home win and both teams to score.