Liverpool won Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League semifinal 5-2 against Roma at Anfield, but it’s show-stopping 80-minute isn’t carrying a ton of momentum in the echoes of the final whistle.
[ RECAP: Liverpool 5-2 Roma ]
That’s because of two factors:
- Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was stretchered off the field with an ugly injury
- The two in the score line came in the final 10 minutes, as Liverpool almost inexplicably lost focus.
Before we get to Point No. 2, here’s Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on “The Ox":
As for the Roma goals, Klopp was frustrated but ultimately happy to walk away with a three-goal lead.
Edin Dzeko headed home the Roma opener in the 81st minute before Diego Perotti converted a penalty kick after James Milner handled a ball in the box. Roma collected shot attempts in the final 10 minutes to finish the match 21-14 in Liverpool’s favor.
Baby steps, Roma. Baby steps. pic.twitter.com/pfkRM6TjkD
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 24, 2018
Klopp did not think it should have been a PK.
“Long term perfect performance for pretty much 80 minutes or so,” he said, via the BBC. “We made defensively one mistake. Penalty is not a penalty but that is the situation and now it is 5-2. Of course we would have been more happy with 5-0 or 5-1 but 5-2 is a fantastic result. We go there and try again.”