'Reds will look to take Roma out of their comfort zone'
Steven Gerrard expects Liverpool’s game plan at Anfield on Tuesday to be based on taking AS Roma ‘out of their comfort zone’.
The Reds entertain the Serie A club in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie this week, with Stadio Olimpico the venue for next Wednesday’s second meeting.
Anfield also hosted the first leg of Liverpool’s last-eight encounter with Manchester City when, amid an ear-splitting atmosphere created by the home fans, a display of ferocious intensity saw Jürgen Klopp’s side race into a three-goal lead before half-time.
And Gerrard believes Klopp’s team will look to replicate that type of performance against Roma.
“I think Liverpool will come out with a high tempo at Anfield and really try to play at a speed to take Roma out of their comfort zone,” the legendary former Reds captain told Roma TV.
“I think Roma’s style and the Italian style is more technical and more at a different pace, whereas Liverpool’s main strength is speed and movement and a high-tempo, pressing game with the fans behind them.
“I think the big challenge for Roma is can they control that? Have they got the players to control that?”
Gerrard is no stranger to huge European ties involving Liverpool, of course, and the man who skippered the club to glory in the 2005 Champions League feels Tuesday’s first leg will define the outcome of the tie.
“I think they [Liverpool and Roma] have different styles, the leagues have different styles, but I think games at this level and of this magnitude come down to the small details,” he continued.
“You need little bits of luck over the two games. I think the big, important game is actually the first leg… when they [Liverpool] get in front, they’re quite good. I think Roma have to stay in the game for the second leg.”
A place in next month’s final, where either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich will await, is at stake, and Gerrard regards all four remaining competitors as serious challengers to lift the trophy in Kiev.
However, the manner of the Reds’ convincing 5-1 aggregate victory over City in the quarter-finals will have been recognised by their three rivals, he thinks.
“I think the reality is that the four teams deserve to be where they are, and I think there’s not one standout team which is a big favourite,” Gerrard said.
“I think, realistically, the four teams all have a really good chance of winning the Champions League, and I think Liverpool have earned the right now to be feared.
“Out of the four teams, Liverpool were the team that none of the other three teams wanted to face because they’re a very difficult team to stop.”