UCL Semi-Final First Legs: Massive Night in Store at Anfield

We have reached the last four of the Champions League and this week we should be treated to a couple of mouth-watering ties.

Liverpool haven’t conceded a goal at Anfield in the Champions League since September – and star turn Mo Salah will be raring to go against his former employers AS Roma.

Meanwhile in Germany, we’ll see a repeat of one of last year’s quarter-finals as reigning Bundesliga Champions take on a Real Madrid side who know a thing or two about winning the European Cup.

Liverpool v Roma

Liverpool are yet to lose in the European Cup/Champions League to Roma in three previous meetings – including the penalty shoot-out success in the 1984 Final in Rome – and I expect the Reds to take a lead back to the Italian capital for the second leg in just over a week’s time.

Liverpool have scored 33 times in the CL this season and I expect to see the Reds come flying out of the traps at Anfield. The fans played their part against City in the quarterfinal and I expect to see the same passion and energy on and off the pitch.

Roma have won just one of their last 14 CL games on the road – and that was at Qarabag earlier in the season – and are without a clean sheet in their last 26 away games in the competition.

Newly crowned PFA Footballer of the Year Mo Salah has scored in his last four CL starts for the Reds and will meet up with a number of old friends and former teammates.  That friendship will be put on hold for 90 minutes, however, in what will be a white-hot Anfield atmosphere – I take Liverpool to take a significant lead to Rome.

Tip: Liverpool halftime/fulltime at

Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

These two great clubs have played 24 times previously in European competition with nothing between them – 11 wins each and two draws although Real Madrid have held the upper hand in recent years winning the last five.

The Whites have won on their last two visits to the Allianz Arena (4-0 in the 2014 semi-final and 2-1 last year’s quarterfinal) and on both occasions the Spanish giants have gone on to lift the Trophy.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in 12 consecutive games for Real Madrid. 🔥🔥🔥

Next opponent? Bayern…#UCL pic.twitter.com/kxbBAojOdr

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 20, 2018

I cannot split the sides’ midweek, but hope and expect my old side to find the back of the Bayern net. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in his last 11 CL games, which seems almost inconceivable such is the quality of the opposition.

I make no apologies for hoping and expecting to see two of my former clubs Liverpool and Real Madrid in next month’s final in Kiev. Whilst the Reds should take a lead to Italy, I feel Los Blancos will have to settle for a draw.

Tip: Game to finish in a draw at