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Andrew Medichini
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Roma v Liverpool, Champions League semi-final

Liverpool face Roma, having beaten them 5-2 at the first leg at Anfield.

Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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Kick off for the game is at 7.45pm.

We’re under way…

Half chance for Roma early on.

El Shaarawy lofts a cross in for Dzeko, but the Bosnia international can’t direct his header on target.

A ball over the top finds Dzeko, but there is no one in the box to convert his cross.

Liverpool have looked less than secure in the early stages of this game.

LIVERPOOL 1-0 ROMA (MANE 9)

Game over already?

Nainggolan gives the ball away. Firmino plays through Mane, and the attacker makes no mistake with his finish.

It’s a classic Liverpool counter-attacking goal.

LIVERPOOL 1-1 ROMA (MILNER OWN GOAL)

The ball is headed across the box, Lovren attempts to clear it, but he whacks it off Milner and it deflects into the net.

That’s a poor goal from a Liverpool perspective, and it brings us back to where we were at the beginning, with Roma needing three goals to progress.

A Kolarov cross is cut out by Lovren.

Roma continue to look dangerous.

ROMA 1-2 LIVERPOOL (WIJNALDUM 26)

It’s another strange goal, but Liverpool will take it.

Dzeko unwittingly flicks on a corner, with Wijnaldum on hand to head the ball home.

AS Roma v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Stadio Olimpico Liverpool fans holding a sign for Sean Cox. Steven Paston Steven Paston

El Shaarawy’s pot shot from the edge of the area deflects off the post, as Roma keep up the pressure on Liverpool’s goal.

The Italians haven’t given up hope yet.

Every Roma outfield player is in the Liverpool half right now.

The way this game is going, it feels like there are more goals to come — it’s just hard to see the Serie A side outscoring their opponents to the extent that they’ll progress to the final.

Another half chance for Roma.

The ball falls to Florenzi inside the box, but he fires wide from a tight angle.

Lovren gets booked for cynically taking down El Shaarawy just outside the box.

Liverpool continue to look shaky at the back.

Pellegrini fires a free kick way off target.

You get the feeling that Roma need a goal before half-time to retain any hope of progressing to the final.

HALF-TIME: ROMA 1-2 LIVERPOOL

The second half has begun…

A Roma ball goes across the box over the head of the defender, but Pellegrini miscontrols it and the ball goes out to safety.

The Italians have started the second half with three up front.

That’s a big decision! Dzeko is played through and taken down by Karius, but the Roma attacker is flagged offside.

It looked marginal judging by replays.

LIVERPOOL 2-2 ROMA (DZEKO 52)

7-4 on aggregate now. They couldn’t, could they?

Roma break – El Shaarawy’s shot is saved, but Dzeko is on hand to coolly convert the rebound.

Kolarov’s free kick is headed over by Dzreko.

Liverpool still look very nervy whenever the Italians attack.

Chance!

Under gets on the end of a long ball, but his volley is straight at Karius.

Another moment of panic for Liverpool.

A goalmouth scramble ends with El Shaarawy’s close-range attempt deflecting over via the hand of Alexander-Arnold.

Penalising the youngster there would be have been harsh, as it was ball-to-hand surely.

Roma are looking dangerous again.

Dzeko fires wide from a tight angle after beating the offside trap.

Nainggolan crosses to Dzeko, who fires the ball well over on the volley.

As I type, Firmino’s attempt from a tight angle is saved by Alisson.

Roma then make a change, with Gonalons replacing De Rossi.

Dzeko lays it off to Gonalons, who shoots well over from the edge of the box.

Roma have less than 20 minutes to score three goals.

Roma make a final change.

El Shaarawy is replaced by inexperienced 19-year-old Antonucci.

Just 10 minutes remain now.

A Liverpool-Real Madrid final is looking highly likely.

As I type, Karius is forced to make a save from another Dzeko shot.

Liverpool make a defensive change.

Mane is replaced by Klavan.

ROMA 3-2 LIVERPOOL (NAINGGOLAN 86)

Nainggolan fires home brilliantly from the edge of the box but it’s surely too little too late.

Liverpool respond by replacing Firmino with Solanke.

There will be three minutes of stoppage time…

A final Liverpool change.

Alexander-Arnold is replaced by Clyne.

PENALTY TO ROMA!

Under tries to take it round Klavan, but he handles it.

Nainggolan fires home the spot kick.

FULL-TIME: ROMA 4-2 LIVERPOOL (LIVERPOOL WIN 7-6 ON AGGREGATE)

Right, that’s all from me. Read our match report here.

Thanks for reading and commenting. We’ll have more reaction to follow.

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