Former AC Milan midfielder Michael Essien has admitted that the footballing world expects Liverpool to knock Roma out of the Champions League.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side have been drawn to face Roma in the semi-final of the competition and will host the Giallorossi at Anfield in the first leg of the tie next week.
The Reds eliminated Manchester City in the quarter-final, but Roma saw off the mighty Barcelona over two legs.
Nevertheless, Essien is sure that Liverpool are fully expected by the footballing world to put Roma out and advance to the final of the competition.
"They were a bit like the underdogs when they were facing Man City, but they put up a good performance in both legs", he said at an International Champions Cup event.
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"So I think they deserved to win and go through."
Pressed on whether Liverpool can beat Roma, Essien said: "Everyone will be expecting them to go all the way."
Liverpool look to have locked down a top four spot in the Premier League, meaning the Reds can fully focus on trying to win what would be the club's sixth European Cup.
The last time the Reds reached a Champions League final was in 2007, under Rafael Benitez.
