Roma players pay respects to victims of Hillsborough Disaster ahead of European tie with Liverpool

Led by Roma captain Daniele De Rossi, a wreath was laid at the Anfield memorial

Daniele De Rossi lays a wreath at the Anfield Hillsborough memorial (Getty)

Roma’s players and staff paid their respect to the victims of the Hillsborough Disaster on Monday, ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League first-leg semi-final with Liverpool.

Led by Roma captain Daniele De Rossi, a wreath was laid at the Anfield memorial in remembrance of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives on 15 April 1989 at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough Stadium.

The squad were joined by former player Francesco Totti, now retired, who stood in silence alongside his old teammates as tributes were paid.

In keeping with the respect shown by their visitors, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has urged his club’s fans to behave in the build-up to this evening’s clash following the scenes that preceded the quarter-final first-leg against Manchester City.

“In the stadium, do it again, outside the stadium please show the respect we have to show,” he said on Monday. ”This is such a fantastic club, an outstanding football family, known for a fantastic atmosphere all over the world so we don’t need to throw whatever at the bus of the opponent team.

“If we can do what we did creating an atmosphere in front of the stadium then let’s do it but show the respect they deserve. We are opponents on the pitch.”

Liverpool are marginal favourites heading into the two-legged tie against Roma as they aim to reach a first Champions League final since 2007.