When was the last great international competition? Erm, um, ah ... Euro 2000? When was the last great Champions League? It's happening right now; it's always happening right now. And this semi-final tie encapsulates why. Hardly anyone thought Liverpool could eliminate Manchester City and yet they did, dispensing a savage kicking in a ferocious atmosphere; and hardly anyone thought Roma could eliminate Barcelona and yet they did, dispensing a different kind of savage kicking in a different kind of ferocious atmosphere. As such, no one knows for certain what will happen in this semi-final tie, and yet everyone knows for absolute certain that whatever does happen, it will be unmissable. As human beings, it is our compulsion and it is our duty to wade right in.

Champions League / Semi-final

Anfield / 24.04.2018

Liverpool

Completed

AS Roma

M. Salah(35', 45')
S. Mané(56')
R. Firmino(61', 68')

E. Dzeko(81')
D. Perotti(85' PEN)

Live

Live Updates

ByDan Quarrell

Updated 24/04/2018 at 20:40 GMT

All
Highlights

21:40

So, thanks for your company - enjoy the rest of your night.

21:38

That was remarkably strange. In an exhilarating way, but strange nonetheless. Roma were good for half an hour, then Liverpool worked them out, ravaged and savaged them, put the tie to bed, and then allowed it downstairs for milk and biscuits. They'd have taken 5-2, but if Roma get the next goal, things will happen.

21:37

What a game that was! What a game that was again!

21:37

Full-time: Liverpool 5-2 Roma!

90+4'

Time vanishes.

90+3'

Off goes Firmino, who now has 11 Champions League goals this season, and on comes Klavan.

90+1'

Roma have Liverpool pinned back; can they find one more away goal? Liverpool will feel they need a sixth.

90'

There'll be four additional minutes.

90'

I almost forgot what a ridiculous game this is, so ridiculous is it, so ridiculous is it so often. Nainggolan shoots from just outside the box and wins a corner thanks to a deflection; it comes to nothing.

90'

Football!

89'

Liverpool have stepped off, but what these last few minutes have shown is that their defence is still their defence; if you can stop conceding goals for long enough to get at it, there are goals to be had.

88'

Fazio is booked for a foul of some sort.

87'

Perotti goes down the left, crosses low, and Dzeko turns around the near post. Behind the goal, the away support are going insane.

86'

Dzeko finds space outside the box, drags the ball across its face and whams a shot just over!

85'

GOAL! Liverpool 5-2 Roma (Perotti, pen) This a fine effort. Perotti pauses, opens his body, and places into the top right as Karius goes bottom-right. Football!

85'

PENALTY ROMA! HAVE A LOOK! Perotti goes down the left, stands up a cross, and Lovren heads clear. but Nainggolan shoots, Milner blocks with a hand, and HANG ABOUT!

82'

Dear oh dear oh dear. Liverpool decide they want that goal back so motor forward, Robertson crosses low, and Wijnaldum is alone inside the box! But he misses his kick!

81'

GOAL! Liverpool 5-1 Roma (Dzeko) Lovely ball over the top from Nainggolan. Just outside the centre-circle, he lifts one towards Dzeko, left side of the box and pulling off Lovren, who attack it for no reason. He misses, and the finish is expert, curved inside the near post as Karius goes towards the far.

79'

I'm trying to recall the last time I saw a capitulation this good, but unfortunately, thanks to Brazil, it's pretty easy to do. This really is that good, though, only this time you can blame manager more than players. All through the game, his men have been over asking him what to do or telling him what they're doing is nonsense, and he's not sorted it for them.

79'

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