Jurgen Klopp spoke at the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday evening to preview Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final second leg clash with Roma.
The Reds return to European action looking to book their place in Kiev later this month, taking to Italy with a 5-2 lead over their last-four opponents.
Having blitzed Roma at Anfield last Tuesday, Klopp’s side should be confident of finishing the job and setting up a tie with either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid on May 26.
But with their midweek opposition having already clawed back from a three-goal deficit to beat Barcelona in the quarter-finals, the manager is keen to avoid complacency.
“First and foremost you need to be ready for the game because Roma will be ready, very lively from the beginning, high intensity from the start. But we are there as well,” he told reporters.
“The closer the game comes everybody gives a feeling that being three goals up is not enough against Roma, then after the game Roma thought ‘yes, that’s exactly what we needed’.
“Before the game they will realise: ‘We have to score three goals against Liverpool’.
“I’m not saying it’s not possible, because it’s football, but it must be at least very difficult.”
Klopp also provided an update on the fitness of his squad, explaining how despite travelling Adam Lallana is “not really an option for the squad,” while Joe Gomez misses out due to injury.
And he applauded Roma’s tribute to Sean Cox in training on Tuesday, saying “all football fans should really stay together and show this kind of respect, so I love this gesture.”
Liverpool are in the semi-finals of Europe’s top-tier tournament for the first time since 2008, and could reach their second major continental final since Klopp took charge in 2015.
Roma will be eager to make their mark early on Wednesday night, but the hope is the Reds’ quality shines through once again.
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