Liverpool boss Klopp offers first thoughts on Roma draw

Matt Stead

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has warned supporters not to overlook the danger posed by Roma.

Liverpool will face Roma in the Champions League semi-finals after drawing the Serie A side on Friday.

They will host the Italians at Anfield in the first leg before visiting the Stadio Olimpico in the second.

Many supporters were relieved to avoid a semi-final date with Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, who face one another in the other tie, but Klopp knows best than to underestimate any opponent.

“Because I knew I’d have to say something after it, I tried to think about what I feel, but it was not that I thought ‘Thank God not Bayern, thank God not Real Madrid, yippee Roma’ or the other way around,” he told Liverpoolfc.com.

“It is just the draw and I know it is very exciting, but it is good because the most important news is we are still in the competition. Whichever opponent we would have got, I would have said there is a chance because it is football – so there is a chance against Roma.

“But if anybody think this is the easiest draw then I cannot help this person; they obviously didn’t see both games against Barcelona. In the first result, the 4-1, it was not like the game was – it was Messi genius against a good side of Roma. The second leg was outstanding, it was outstanding what they did. They should have probably won four or five-nil – I was really impressed.

“It is work and no problem with that and now we are looking forward of course to the first game.”

The two games will see Mohamed Salah return to the club he left in the summer.

“For sure it will be interesting for Mo, but that shows all the quality of Roma,” said Klopp. “Everybody knows how big Mo’s impact on our season has been – and they’ve played a season without him. Where would they be if Mo was still there?

“It makes it a really interesting thing and for him, it will be 100 per cent special. He is already of interest wherever we go, but it might go crazy when we go to Rome! He can deal with that, I am sure.”