AS a child, I was a big fan of the Asterix books; a series of French comics about a village of Gauls that continually keeps the invading Romans at bay.
It’s all a lot more light hearted than it sounds. Asterix and his friends would take a magic potion brewed by their druid, Getafix, and fight off Romans with the greatest of ease. Julius Caesar and his Roman army were forever trying to figure out ways to defeat the indomitable Gauls, but came up short time after time.
One of the books by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo is titled “Asterix Conquers Rome”, in which our hero and his friends defeat a Roman centurion and his men so ruthlessly that the centurion reports back to Caesar that the Gauls must be gods. Caesar decides to test them by setting 12 tasks that only gods could complete. The villagers choose Asterix and his best friend Obelix to represent them. Fairly predictably, they pass them, and thereby “conquer Rome”.
Last Tuesday with the score at 5-0 to Liverpool, Roma’s players were racing to the side of the pitch to furiously plead for direction from their manager, Eusebio Di Francesco. Their expressions similar to that of the Roman centurion and his look of fear mixed with reluctant admiration. Now The Reds are to be set 90 minutes of tasks to prove that they are worthy. Worthy of eliminating AS Roma and moving on to the biggest game in club football.
Incidentally, I was reminded of the Asterix books the other day by the Atletico Madrid assistant manager Germán Burgos, who like Obelix, very much looks like he was dropped into a cauldron of magic potion when he was a baby. I was half expecting to see the fourth official soaring into the London sky after Sime Vrsaljko was sent off at the Emirates on Thursday. But I digress.
Jürgen Klopp takes his squad to Italy off the back of another disappointing draw with a team likely to be in the Championship next season. The stalemate with Stoke at Anfield was most unwelcome and further muddies the waters of Champions League qualification for next season but, as far as Wednesday goes, warming up for the first leg with a frustrating league performance didn’t work out too badly.
A growing theme continued as experienced referee Andre Marriner denied Liverpool an absolutely certain penalty on Saturday, the third league game in a row that The Reds have not had a spot kick given under particularly blatant circumstances. Against Bournemouth it didn’t matter as the job was already done. However, with several injuries, others needing rest and rusty fringe players in from the start, Klopp’s men couldn’t raise their performances enough to overcome incompetent officiating against West Brom and Stoke.
C’est la vie. It’s annoying, but I’m currently stuck in a “Nothing will ruin my unadulterated glee that Liverpool are leading by three goals in a Champions League semi final” state.
Some seem to have lost that glee, even before Saturday. Everyone was at least slightly deflated by the two goals Roma managed in the final 10 minutes of the first leg at Anfield, but from the reaction of some you’d think those two goals had put the Italians 5-2 up in the tie.
The game management narrative was being peddled all over the place. It’s the new “We lost because Rafa rotates too much”. Every time Liverpool aren’t in complete control of a game and scoring at will, it’s because this manager and his team are no good at game management.
It presumably wasn’t game management then that saw Liverpool head into a 5-0 lead in a Champions League semi final. Roma were all over the place, and by the fifth goal appeared to have given up. To me, it seemed that they got back into things because Liverpool could see that the visitors had their heads drooped and lips pouted. The Roberto Firmino header doesn’t happen at 0-0, or even 2-0. It was the sort of goal you concede when you’ve given up and lost hope. Roma were done.
Then all of a sudden, from one ball over the top to Edin Dzeko, they weren’t. The Giallorossi found a second wind, and Liverpool struggled to react, which is fairly understandable given the effort they had put in and how the game had gone until that point. Then, wouldn’t you know it, a questionable penalty is given against Liverpool in a somewhat mocking fashion.
One particularly amusing viewpoint is that people who think it’s outrageous that Liverpool allowed two goals to be scored also think that Roma are good enough to score three or more in the second leg. Surely if they are indeed that good, then it’s perfectly reasonable that they would be capable of scoring two at Anfield?
The misjudgement of Dejan Lovren and an iffy handball decision were the only costly moments but will mean that Liverpool will need to have their heads screwed on in Italy. The obvious story is that Roma need to replicate their miraculous win against Barcelona, when they defeated the new champions of Spain 3-0 after trailing 4-1 from the first leg.
However, there are three things wrong with that assertion.
Everyone who watched that game said it was a result of Barca complacency. They played like the tie was won, something that Liverpool certainly won’t do with Klopp as their manager and the warning of what happened to Barca there for all to see.
Liverpool showed their vast superiority over Roma in that first leg (for 60 minutes), whereas the Catalan giants were actually very fortunate to win by as many as they did in the Camp Nou. Again, those who watched it said that it was a very even game settled by unlucky moments for Roma.
The surprise tactics used by Di Francesco to shock and awe Barca were the same as the ones he used in the first leg against Liverpool. They didn’t work last week, at all, so unless the Italian can come up with a completely different way of nullifying The Reds’ front three, and maintaining enough of a goal threat to bag three or more, then it will likely be more of the same in Rome.
I’ve also seen lots of references to the fact that Roma haven’t conceded a single goal at home in the Champions League this season. While an impressive stat not entirely without its merits, it needs a few asterisks next to it (oh hang on, I just got that).
The first game of their group stage was at home to Atletico Madrid. It finished 0-0, but only thanks to the incredible form of goalkeeper Alisson. Atletico managed 10 shots on target that evening, all saved by the Brazilian stopper.
There is also the fact that Roma are nowhere near as stingy at home in the league. They’ve now conceded more than twice as many goals at home (19) as they have away (9) this season in Serie A, and in 2018 they have suffered home defeats to Atalanta, Sampdoria, Milan and Fiorentina.
Then there’s also the stats from Liverpool to take into account. No defeats in the Champions League this season, 18 goals scored in five away games, no defeat in any competition by more than one goal since October last year, and with 43-goal Mohamed Salah ready to do to his former pals what he did to them last Tuesday.
Make no mistake about it, as they were in Manchester a few weeks ago, Liverpool will need to be professional and sensible in Rome, and while it is possible that Di Francesco’s men will pull off another miracle, the idea that it is anything other than very unlikely is factually incorrect.
It’s half time. Liverpool lead 5-2. The Reds just need to avoid heavy defeat to book their place in the final in Kiev, in a season when most thought getting into the knockout stages at all would represent progress.
Like Asterix and the Gauls, Liverpool have already showcased their might, and now can go on and conquer Rome. Probably best to do it without a magic potion though, just in case the anti-doping officials are about.
Allez, allez, allez…
For more buildup to Liverpool’s Champions League semi final second leg in Rome, and extensive reaction in the immediate aftermath, SUBSCRIBE to TAW Player…
🗣 @Carra23 on playing in Rome: “I don’t remember the Stadio Olimpico being intimidating… it’s not Anfield.” ✊
Subscribe and listen to all of our Champions League buildup and reaction here 👉 https://t.co/JCi3zocNYl pic.twitter.com/PpGKITTZyJ
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) 30 April 2018
Recent Posts:
[rpfc_recent_posts_from_category meta=”true”]
Pics: David Rawcliffe-Propaganda Photo
Much is seeming to conspire against us this year, such as;
1. Coutinho deciding he couldn’t wait till the summer for his move to Barca.
2. An injury list that just seems to get longer.
3. Crap officiating in every game… with the best of the lot being a foul on Salah in the box were the ref played on as if it was some sort of advanatge to awarding a pen.
4. Buvac now having a moment at a time when one is not needed.
5. Roma police officials getting in their excuses early to do what they have done to Liverpool Supporters on previous occasions… who needs Roma Ultras bent on trouble when the police there can do a better job.
6. UEFA issuing all kinds of charges against us, but nowt against Roma for the trouble the other day.
7. The awarding of a dodgy pen in the last game against Roma and Dejan having another of his moments for switching off.
8. UEFA appointing a Ref who his 3 previous (and only) Liverpool games has seen us lose all 3 he’s officiated.
So loads and loads and loads of adversity… That’s why we need to get angry and put up the truly siege mentality and make these bastards pay for what we are seeing. I want us to go over there and truly spank this lot and do so just to prove one thing, that we are angry the first leg didn’t finish 8 vs nil to us.
Up the siege mentality Reds.
@J Not sure about consipiracy theories here…
1. Coutinho deciding he couldn’t wait till the summer for his move to Barca.
Coutinho is an example of today’s young generation or Millennial for short. There is an increasing trend for them to switch jobs for selfish reasons. Yes playing footie is a job like the rest. His head was turned last summer, and the chance to play with Messi, Suarez, etc, warmer weather, cool city and loads of money may have got him started.
Add to it, maybe Klopp is also difficult to work with, since both have egos too. Switch it around, and he could have just as easily gone to LFC if we offered the same deal. Also Barca, like Manchester clubs attract players because they set a precedence and perspective already that they pay the big bucks. LFC doesn’t do this, nor does Klopp work like Pep or Ancelotti.
In hindsight, it has helped the team become stronger and I have not missed the guy at all. I felt he was a discount Ronaldinho, nothing special. We did not win any trophies with him in the team, just some entertainment every 5-6 games when he scored worldies.
2. An injury list that just seems to get longer.
No argument there, but this is hardly conspiring. It shows that maybe Klopp should have spent more money on bulking up the squad when he had the chances to. He chose to selectively buy, so it’s nothing new that injuries happen under Murphy’s Law and the squad doesn’t have quality replacements.
3. Crap officiating in every game… with the best of the lot being a foul on Salah in the box were the ref played on as if it was some sort of advanatge to awarding a pen.
Crap officiating, but not in every game. We had many games we drew from winning positions that cost us the league. I don’t recall crap officiating there, just crap tactics and mentality from both Klopp and the team.
4. Buvac now having a moment at a time when one is not needed.
You can read anything into this, but I am willing to be optimistic that he took a break for personal reasons. I mean he has a life outside LFC like you and me. So give him the benefit of the doubt.
5. Roma police officials getting in their excuses early to do what they have done to Liverpool Supporters on previous occasions… who needs Roma Ultras bent on trouble when the police there can do a better job.
Roma President came out and condemned the incident. At least he did this though it was barely covered by the British media. I don’t disagree with you that there may be trouble, especially with the likes of the Police and Ultras, but I hope LFC supporters use common sense, and do their best to stay away from trouble, though it will be easier said than done.
6. UEFA issuing all kinds of charges against us, but nowt against Roma for the trouble the other day.
Yeah somewhat agree with this, but, why do we invite trouble, like the City bus incident, if you and other supporters know or say that everyone has it in for us?
7. The awarding of a dodgy pen in the last game against Roma and Dejan having another of his moments for switching off.
I don’t think it should have been a penalty either, but the refs overall had a good game, and the ball did hit Milner’s arm.
As for Lovren, I think I see it as a well weighted ball played to a very experienced striker in Dzeko. Maybe it was a lucky pass, those happen from time to time, and should have been stopped from happening in the first place. Maybe Karius should have done better like De Gea has so often done to save his team, and the list goes on and on.
8. UEFA appointing a Ref who his 3 previous (and only) Liverpool games has seen us lose all 3 he’s officiated.
Yes you’re right that Damir Skomina has officiated three games in which Liverpool lost, but he also officiated games in which Roma lost one and drew one. So not sure what this has to do with it working against us.
At the end of the day, if Klopp and the Reds underestimate Roma we will be out of the CL, with or without the refs’s help, and/or the above cited conspiracies.
Imagine the conspiracies that await us in the final against Real Madrid (most likely to make it)?
Like you said get angry and go there to finish the job.
Hi Sash, please note that I said CONSPIRE not conspiracy. The above list was a list of facts and why we should equally use this to motivate. Sometimes the best stuff comes from facing adversity and that is what I was stating.
People also seem to have overlooked the fact that we will be taking to the field in bold citrus this Wednesday.
I am genuinely more confident now.
Good reason to want Bayern to pull something out the hat tomorrow too!
I’ve got a new theory about why so many seemed so glum after we won a Champs Lge semi 1st leg by three clear goals. Inexperience.
How much experience do we have of going 5-0 in huge games? How much experience does *anyone* have of this?
And how much experience do we have of situations where conceding two goals in a few minutes isn’t an outright disaster? They’re not common.
I mean obviously it’s never a good thing to concede like that, but maybe it’s hard to get it into context when you’ve almost never had to before..!
Meh, anyway, Bring on Yer Roma by the Score!!
If the Reds don’t qualify for next seasons Cl,this season is a failure. Anyone disagree?