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Analysis: Familiar foes Roma rising under new management

1984, 2001, 2002, 2018.

Liverpool aren’t exactly unfamiliar with AS Roma, having met – and defeated – the Italians three times before in continental competition.

But the Roma side that visits Anfield for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg is a very different proposition to Nils Liedholm’s class of ’84, Fabio Capello’s 2001-02 vintage, and to the Mohamed Salah-inspired incarnation that racked up a club record points haul but still finished second to Juventus in Serie A last season.

Since then, positions of power have changed hands and the squad has been transformed. Coach Luciano Spalletti and sporting director Walter Sabatini both joined Inter Milan last summer and were replaced by Eusebio Di Francesco and Monchi respectively.