3 things that went wrong for Roma against Liverpool

After an incredible comeback in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Barcelona, perhaps there was a case for optimism for the Roma faithful ahead of their all-important clash against Liverpool.

The first leg saw the English side race into a 5-0 lead but two goals late on in the game gave Roma some hope of repeating their antics against Barcelona.

However, it was a nightmare start to the game from Roma as Nainggolan gave the ball away cheaply in the middle of the park and Sadio Mane gave them the lead in the 9th minute.

However, Roma got one back in the 15th minute as Lovren's clearance ricocheted off Milner and went into the back of the net.

But their joy was short lived as ten minutes later, Wijnaldum headed past Alisson to take the aggregate score to 7-3.

Roma started the second half on the front foot and Dzeko levelled the scoreline on the night as Karius could only parry El Sharaawy's effort straight to the Bosnian.

Nainggolan also found the back of the net with a brilliant goal from long range and scored his second from the spot in the 94th minute.

Here are three things that went wrong for Roma:

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#3 Roma run out of time

Roma found the going tough!

Perhaps it was a Herculean task after all to overcome a 5-2 deficit in the first leg, but having successfully engineered a remarkable comeback from a similar situation against Barcelona, Roma had hope.

However, Liverpool's opening goal in the ninth minute and a second from Wijnaldum, both results of their own carelessness, saw them head 7-3 into halftime and perhaps it was a mountain too steep to climb in the second 45 minutes.

They started the second half strongly but left it very late to up the tempo and show some fighting vigour.

Dzeko pulled one back in the 52nd minute but they had to settle for half-chances until the 86th minute when Nainggolan scored to take the aggregate score to 7-5.

The Belgian scored another in the 94th minute from the spot but for all their attacking intent and brilliant display on the night, they had to go out fighting.

#2 Poor end product

Dzeko scored Roma's opener

Although Liverpool's defence improved following Van Dijk's signing, there are still question marks over their solidity and keeper Loris Karius has had his share of criticism this season as well.

If pushed to their limits, this Liverpool defence is likely to crumble and Roma needed to do so if they are to have any chance of going through.

And despite a brilliant start and a strong performance on the night, Roma failed to take advantage of their chances and convert them throughout the game.

They even failed to muster a shot on target in the first-half, something they could not afford to do in a match of such high stakes.

#1 Fatal mistakes

Costly mistakes!

To simply put it, it was a night in which there was absolutely no room for error from either team, but Roma paid the price for two costly mistakes.

Roma started the game very strongly but in the ninth minute, Naingollan gave the ball away cheaply in midfield, which led to Liverpool's opening goal.

The goal dampened Roma hearts and despite drawing level on the night in the 15th minute, they were further pegged back ten minutes later.

Roma failed to clear a corner and Dzeko's eventual headed clearance fell inadvertently to Wijnaldum who score Liverpool's second of the night and take the aggregate score to 7-3.

These two mistakes proved costly for the Italian side because, in spite of showing great character to win the match 4-2 on the night, they lost 7-6 on aggregate to send Liverpool through to their first final since 2007.