Roma’s Stadio Olimpico will show Liverpool what a ‘great atmosphere’ is, insists Kevin Strootman

The Anfield atmosphere is famous on European nights

Roma must score early to kill the atmosphere at Anfield insists Kevin Strootman, who warned that the atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico is also something to be feared.

The Italians travel to Liverpool on Tuesday for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie following their stunning comeback against Barcelona in the previous round.

Manchester City, who the Reds knocked out in the quarter-finals, experienced an extremely hostile reception upon their arrival to Anfield and a similar one is expected on Tuesday night.

But Strootman is confident Roma can kill the crowd and insisted that the reputation of Anfield on European nights can be matched by fans in the Stadio Olimpico in the second leg.

“It would be the best start if we scored a goal but also we must be careful not to get a goal against,” he told The Independent. “I saw the game in the Premier League where they won 4-3 and they were really amazing and when they play at home they are really good. I was surprised with the outcome of the first game, the 3-0, in the first half.

“So we know there’s going to be a great atmosphere but also in Roma there will be a great atmosphere here.

“They will be surprised by our crowd and the sound of our crowd when we play against strong crowds like that so it will be special. We will be prepared.”