Tuesday 24 April 2018 15:35, UK
Former Liverpool and Roma defender John Arne Riise believes the Italians are "slight favourites" going into the Champions League semi-final.
The Norwegian left-back spent seven seasons in Merseyside and helped the club to win the Champions League title before moving to the Italian capital for three years.
Ahead of Tuesday's much-anticipated first leg between his former clubs, Riise believes Liverpool go into it as underdogs.
"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."
Riise is a fan favourite among both sets of supporters and has carried on following his two former clubs after retiring.
However, Riise, who has praised Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco, said he will not take sides and will watch the tie as a neutral.
"Roma found a great coach, you don't get to the Champions League semi-finals by chance," he said.
"But [Di Francesco] 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] Mané and [Roberto] Firmino".
The 37-year-old was also full of praise for Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, one of his successors, and said he is "impressed by his rise".
"He plays in my position, but we're different kind of players," he said. "I was more offensive and dangerous going forward.
"He doesn't need to emulate anyone - he needs to play to the best of his ability."
