George Pitts is backing Mohamed Salah to score against his former club on Tuesday, when Liverpool host Roma in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals.
Champions League recommended bets
2pts Mohamed Salah to score anytime and Liverpool to win at 7/2
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Liverpool can bolster their chances of reaching their first Champions League final in eleven years when they face Roma on Tuesday.
The semi-final first leg takes place at Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp’s side odds-on (4/7) to win on the night and 4/9 to qualify for the next month’s Kiev showpiece.
The Reds surrendered a two-goal lead against the Premier League’s basement side West Brom on Saturday, which gave their hopes of a second-placed finish a significant setback.
Klopp’s selection for the Hawthorns was clearly made with their big European match in mind, resting a number of key players, and he is expected to name the same team which shocked Man City in the first leg of the quarter-finals.
One player who did feature was Mo Salah, who has since been crowned PFA Player of the Year ahead of Kevin De Bruyne, and the Egyptian took his tally to 41 goals in 46 appearances for the Reds this term as he scored in their 2-2 draw.
Salah told the crowd at the awards on Sunday evening how he is still targeting records this term, while Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson compared him to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with Salah adding that he would certainly love to be the man to fire the Reds to a sixth European title.
He is, of course, coming up against his former team-mates, having swapped Rome for Merseyside last summer.
The 25-year-old can be backed at a tempting 7/2 in a score-and-win double, 5/2 to open the scoring and less than even money to be on the scoresheet at any time.
Roma have not done too badly without him though, despite his 19 goals and 15 assists in all competitions for them last term. They finished last season as runners up and this time they sit third, 17 points adrift of second-placed Napoli.
They are a different side than Salah knew though, after manager Luciano Spalletti’s summer departure to Inter meant he was at the club at the same time as Eusebio Di Francesco for a matter of weeks. Plus, they have been adjusting to life without club legend Francesco Totti after around 25 years.
Former Sassuolo boss Di Francesco has done well since taking the reins at Stadio Olimpico, with the amazing second-leg comeback to knock Barcelona out in the previous round the standout highlight.
Former Man City forward Edin Dzeko is their top scorer with 20 goals in all competitions. He netted three times in eleven appearances against Liverpool and the Bosnian is 28/11 anytime and around 6/1 to score first.
Roma’s away record in Europe is less impressive, however, so Liverpool to win and BTTS on the night (15/8) could be worth a shout.
Liverpool won their last home tie in the Champions League 3-0, while Roma lost their last away one 4-1, so a winning margin of three or more goals can be backed at 14/5.
When the draw was made, Liverpool’s hopes of making the final were significantly boosted after avoiding Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, and you would expect them to be even closer come the end of play on Tuesday.
Roma will know what to expect, but stopping it is a different matter – Premier League champions Man City will tell you that – and if the home side’s front three are on top of their game it could well be another enjoyable and famous European night in front of the Anfield Kop.
Prediction: Liverpool 3-1 Roma (Sky Bet odds: 10/1)
Best bet: Score-and-win double – Salah/Liverpool at 7/2
Alternative: Liverpool to win and BTTS at 15/8
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Odds correct as of 1600 BST (23/04/18)