John Arne Riise: 'Roma have the edge over Liverpool'

John Arne Riise has made Roma the "slight favourites" to progress from their Champions League semi-final tie with Liverpool, as two of his former clubs prepare to face off.

The Reds, who have netted 33 goals on their way to the last four, come up against a Roma side that overcame tournament heavyweights Barcelona in the last round.

Riise expects Liverpool to triumph in Tuesday evening's first leg, but believes that it will be a different matter at the Stadio Olimpico in a week's time, as the Giallorossi have won both knockout fixtures there this term to recover from first-leg deficits.

"Roma are slight favourites because they will play the return game at the Olimpico," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "I will be there to watch it and it will be a show. But winning at Anfield is an impossible deed, European nights there are special.

"Liverpool are Champions League animals. Roma found a great coach [in Eusebio De Di Francesco] - you don't get to the Champions League semi-finals by chance. But he will need an antidote to Liverpool's attacking trio.

"I don't think Pep Guardiola did anything wrong - I just think some nights it's impossible to stop [Mohamed] Salah, [Sadio] Mane and [Roberto] Firmino".

Riise spent seven seasons with Liverpool, memorably winning the Champions League in 2005, before moving to Roma for three years.