The eternal fascination of Anglo-Italian football rivalry and bittersweet memories of the 1984 Champions Cup final are just two of the intriguing ingredients in tonight's UEFA Cup tie between AS Roma and Liverpool at the Olympic Stadium in Rome.
The last time these two clubs met was on a warm May evening in 1984 in Rome for a dramatic final won in a penalty shoot-out by Liverpool. Even though much water has since flown under the Tiber bridges, that night remains vividly etched in the collective Roma memory.
To some extent, that memory and Roma's current preoccupation with the Serie A title race could work in Liverpool's favour. Even if today's Liverpool, managed by Frenchman Gerard Houllier, is light years removed from the ShankleyPaisley-Fagan Liverpool, the name still strikes a fearsome chord in Roma hearts.
In a British newspaper last weekend Houllier expressed the view that it is no longer merely jingoistic and blinkered to suggest the English Premiership is the best league in the world. He believes English soccer is currently stronger and more competitive than its European counterparts.
That opinion should at least be severely tested tonight when his side face the current Serie A league leaders. With 13 wins, three draws and two defeats in 18 league games thus far, Roma have set a blistering pace reaching the halfway mark in the season 10 days ago with a record points haul. Six points clear of Juventus at the top, Roma have both the best defence and the most prolific attack with just 14 goals conceded and 35 scored.
The Serie A title, however, remains Roma's priority and to that end, it is almost certain Roma coach Fabio Capello will rest his ace striker, Argentine Gabriel Batistuta, replacing him with Vincenzo Montella. With captain Francesco Totti returning to the side Capello may feel he can afford to rest the Argentine who this season has been afflicted by a rotular tendon problem in his right knee.
Roma will also be without injured defenders, Brazilian Aldair and Frenchman Jonathon Zebina, whilst another Brazilian defender, Zago is suspended.
Too much should not be made of these absentees since Roma will still field the key elements in their overall 3-4-1-2 game plan - Frenchman Vincent Candela on the left, Brazilian Cafu on the right, Argentine Walter Samuel in central defence and Totti behind the front pairing of Montella and Marco Delvecchio. Alessandro Rinaldi and Amedeo Mangone come in for Aldair and Zago in defence.
Liverpool, however, also have injury problems with midfielders Jamie Redknapp, Czech Patrick Berger, Danny Murphy and, arguably most importantly, Steven Gerrard as well as striker Michael Owen, all ruled out. Croatian midfielder Igor Biscan is cup-tied whilst Liverpool also have worries about the fitness of striker Emile Heskey.
Good news for Liverpool, though, concerns defender Jamie Carragher, Czech midfielder Vladimir Smicer, and Finnish defender Sami Hyppia, recovered from a knee knock. All three are expected to play.
In attack, Houllier will probably make a last minute decision about Heskey, due to be partnered by Finnish schemer Jari Litmanen. If Heskey drops out, then Robbie Fowler may well replace him.
Probable Teams
ROMA (3-4-1-2): Antonioli; Rinaldi, Samuel, Mangone; Cafu, Emerson, Tommasi, Candela; Totti; Delvecchio, Montella.
LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Vesterveld; Babbel, Hyppia, Henchoz, Carragher; Smicer, Hamann, McAllister, Barnby; Litmanen, Heskey.
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany).
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