Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco accused of ‘not watching Liverpool this season’ after Mohamed Salah runs riot

The Roma coach's tactics backfired spectacularly on a dramatic night at Anfield

Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco was accused of “not watching Liverpool play this season” by a bewildered Rio Ferdinand, after the Italian side were thrashed 5-2 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool.

Mohamed Salah was outstanding against his former side Roma, scoring twice and setting up another two as Liverpool put one foot in the final with a dominant win.

But Roma scored two late goals through Edin Dzeko and Diego Perroti to at least give them some hope of turning the tie around in Rome.

Ex-Manchester United defender Ferdinand was however left aghast by Roma’s defending and accused Di Francesco of being directly responsible for his team's downfall after their chastising defeat.

“I think the Roma manager has to take full responsibility for the result tonight,” he said on BT Sport. “It's not often you sit here and say a manager is at fault completely for a team's performance.

“I think today he let his players down, the way he set them up. He set them up almost certainly to lose this game, the way they played - a high line at the back against a team that play quick football.

“I question whether he's even seen Liverpool play this season, the way he set them up.”