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Liverpool put themselves on the brink of their first Champions League final since 2007 with a thrilling 5-2 win over Roma.

The Reds raced into a 5-0 lead and, despite a late comeback from the Italian side, Jurgen Klopp's side are heavy favourites to advance to face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in Kiev next month.

This tie with Roma represented their first in the competition's final four since 2008 - and the city enjoyed the focus of the world because of it.

Here, we have detailed a dramatic, emotional 36 hours from Monday afternoon to the first moments of Wednesday morning, giving you all-access-allowed coverage of how this week has unfolded.

Told by those who know Liverpool well, some of its visitors, Jurgen Klopp, Jordan Henderson and more, it is the definitive account of how Champions League fever gripped Merseyside.

MONDAY

12:07pm

It has just passed the morning after the night before. In what will be a defining week for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp, Mohamed Salah sits down after an evening which defined his season.

Less than 36 hours after scoring his 41st goal of a remarkable debut campaign on Merseyside - six, and counting, behind Ian Rush's all-time record - he picked up the PFA Player of the Year award.

Now, he swaps the plush furniture of the Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair, London, for the more relaxed setting of a Virgin Trains first class carriage. In another 36 hours, he will know how close - or far - his Liverpool side will be from their first Champions League final since 2007.

He will be the man on whom the club's hopes rest upon heaviest, and against his former club, no less. But as he settles down for the two-hour journey back home, there would be hardly a hint of worry. Unflusterable.

1:45pm

The world's media have gathered inside Anfield. Standing room only inside the stadium's press conference room. For one of Klopp's usual post-match debriefs, seats can be in short supply, but the couches along the walls serve as a perch to hear the German's words. Not this time. Seats and sofas are all sat upon. It is standing room only. And the Reds boss' arrival isn't expected for another 45 minutes.

2:00pm

Word has spread about Salah's whereabouts. One supporter tweets a photograph, the Egyptian all too happy to pose. As the train arrives at Runcorn, Salah alights. So, too, one fan who spots a rare photo op. He jumps off the train and on to the platform, smiles with Salah for the camera, and then returns to his seat as the conductor calls the final stop: Liverpool Lime Street.

2:12pm

Before facing the mass media, Klopp speaks to a handful of newspaper journalists. Klopp jokes that "maybe only Milly" - James Milner - could remember Liverpool's 1984 European Cup final triumph over Roma.

He wants the Reds to make their own history.

2:30pm

If Klopp is feeling the heat ahead of the biggest game of his tenure he hides it well during his pre-match media duties at Anfield. He strikes the perfect balance between confidence and respect for the opposition.

“Was my answer really that long?” he quips, bemused after the Italian translator went on and on. He later instigates a round of applause for him. Asked about similarities with rival boss Eusebio Di Francesco, he jokes: “We both wear glasses and have a bad shave.”

Klopp even borrows a line from Doris Day when an Italian reporter inquires about the possibility of him working in Serie A. “Que sera sera but not in the next four years for sure,” he says.

There is also a message to Liverpool fans after the previous round win over Man City was marred by damage to the visitors' team coach. "Inside the stadium, do it again, outside the stadium please show the respect we have to show. If we can show how wonderful Liverpool people are and the city and the spirit of the club then the whole world will know it," he pleads.

Klopp leaves to applause from the Italian media.

2:43pm

Captain Jordan Henderson follows Klopp and opens up about the biggest night of his career. "It's what you dream about as a kid - playing against the best teams in Europe," he says. "You want to look back with fond memories about a fantastic performance as a team.

"The fans will be unbelievable and we need to match that with our performance and get a good result."

Henderson reveals he voted for Kevin de Bruyne to win the PFA Player of the Year award but was delighted to see Mo Salah lift the trophy.

"He's been fantastic throughout the season. His record and his stats speaks for themselves. He's been a massive player for us this season and hopefully he can continue that form over the next few weeks.

"He's up there with the world's best so obviously there will be other clubs who want to take him away. But I feel like he's in a great place with a great set of lads and a great manager going in the right direction.

"We want to create our own history here and I'm sure that Mo wants to be part of that. He's a big part of that now and I'm sure he will be for many years to come."

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2:52pm

The preparations continue both on and off the pitch. Following scenes which marred Liverpool's 3-0 win over Manchester City last month, Merseyside Police are keen to avoid a similar situation this time.

A statement is released, with the force declining to confirm the route which the buses of both the Reds and Roma will take. Flares and fireworks are also targeted, said to be both 'dangerous and reckless'.

"We are expecting a vibrant atmosphere at Tuesday’s match, but our intention is that at the end of the day we will be talking about the game and what happened on the pitch as opposed to off the pitch," Match Commander Chief Superintendent Dave Charnock says.

“Merseyside Police has been planning with Liverpool Football Club, AS Roma and other partners in the city to ensure that everyone attending the game has a great evening."

4:30pm

Klopp appears on social media with another plea to supporters ahead of Tuesday's coach welcome. He is statesmanlike in his approach, and sincere in his delivery.

The Liverpool boss was annoyed after hearing of City's bus being subject to missiles from fans, and is desperate not to see a repeat.

"You have a reputation in world football as being world class," he says. "Passion. Spirit. Humour. But most of all, warm and welcoming.

"You make football about joy, and this is an occasion where we should embrace the moment and make it special. But for all the right reasons.

"We want to beat them on the football pitch, but off the field we show respect."

5:29pm

Melwood. The click and snap of the photographer's camera accompanies Liverpool's first-team as they stroll out on to their training pitch. The focus lies mainly on Salah, as it has done for the majority of the campaign, and as it will for the remainder of it, too. There are no surprises, no shocks. The main dilemma rests in the midfield, and whether Gini Wijnaldum or James Milner is given the nod.

It is the final chance for those two, and others, to impress.

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6:37pm

The Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco and Aleksandar Kolarov take to the stage at Anfield. Chaos ensues. Four phones belonging to visiting reporters went off at various points, their news desks clearly trying to find the latest information.

Di Francesco has no time for suggestions that he might park the bus. "You want my team to sit back and drop deep, really?" he asks.

"We need to keep our focus and discipline against a team that is lethal on the break.

"But they have to force us to drop deep. We do not want to take a backward step. It is always my idea to look forward."

The Roma squad do not train at Anfield but visit the Hillsborough Memorial where captain Daniele De Rossi laid a wreath in memory of the 96. It is a touch of class.

8:00pm

All is quiet now in the city, apart from a one-mile radius. As journalists continue to tap their previews at Anfield, attention switches to events across Stanley Park as Everton face Newcastle. In City Centre bars, Roma fans who have made the early journey watch on, anticipating what will follow tomorrow.

TUESDAY

9:54am

The invasion has begun. But this is not the Roman Empire, for the direct flight from Rome Ciampino to John Lennon Airport will not land until midday. Instead, these are Liverpool supporters; ex-pats who have swapped Merseyside for more exotic, but less favourable, climes. John, originally from Woolton, spent several years in Italy before moving to Paris last year.

He still travels regularly to Anfield, and has watched the Reds in Europe both home and away. Aged under 30, he is part of the new generation for whom this is a relatively new experience. He was not old enough to truly appreciate 2005 or 2007 - though he went to Istanbul and Athens - but now contemplates the possibility of another trip to a far-flung land.

He touches down in Manchester, where other fans are also beginning their migration to Liverpool. "We went to Basel in 2016," he remembers. "And we thought that could be our only chance to see Liverpool in a European final, me and my mates.

"Look at us now."

11:33am

Roma have been spotted, and not too far from Anfield. Or Goodison, for that matter. In the nearby Walton Hall Park - once considered a possible site for Everton's new stadium, before the club decided upon Bramley Moore Dock - the Serie A side conduct their final training session before kick off.

The Italian giants take over a large portion of the 130-acre park for a gentle warm up, with stars like Daniele De Rossi, Edin Dzeko and Kostas Manolas jogging up and down pitches usually used by Liverpool Business Houses Sunday League sides like Walton Hall Park FC.

It is reminiscent of Borussia Dortmund's visit in 2016, who warmed up for their Europa League quarter-final second leg against the Reds at Marine's College Road ground.

The club's Belgian midfielder, Radja Nainggolan, is called across to the gates to sign a few shirts. There is even a few words of encouragement - presumably by those who will spend Tuesday evening humming the Italian anthem, hoping to see Liverpool's route to Kiev hit a roadblock.

11.40am

Not every Roma fan has travelled from the capital. A train from Rome to Naples takes under two hours, and is how this pair of Roma fans have found their way to England. Now travelling from Manchester Airport to Lime Street, they strike up a conversation with John, whose Italian is good enough to cover a wide range of topics, not just limited to football.

But tonight's game still dominates. Their strengths, their weaknesses, and how they beat Barcelona are all dissected. They are asked if they think they can do it again. "We are just happy to be here," one smiles.

When they step foot out of Lime Street, they will be greeted with a welcome on the huge electronic board opposite, connected to St Johns Shopping Centre.

Benvenuti a Liverpool, it reads.

(Image: jheywood1989 Instagram)

2:38pm

The rain has not stopped all day, a relentless torrent which leaves pavements full of standing water. The weather serves as a reminder to when Liverpool travelled to Porto in February and the incessant downpour which left all in the city running the shelter.

That shelter is now sought in Liverpool. Mathew Street often throbs on occasions like these, with the narrow street packed with tourists and revelry. Instead, a few simply peer from the doorways of the establishments which line the strip, contemplating whether the rain will ever stop.

In the Head of Steam pub on Hanover Street, a handful of supporters from both sides congregate, drying from the storm. A few Liverpool fans - complete with replica shirt - mull over nachos, while the lunch of the travelling Italians consists of far more liquid. "Forza Roma," one says outside. "I don't fancy this rain at all tonight," comes an indirect reply from the opposition, clearly unaware of Klopp's desire for a wet pitch at the Hawthorns on Saturday.

(Image: Geoff Davies)

5:34pm

Two hours before kick-off, and still the rain falls. It is now torrential but it hasn't dampened the spirits of the thousands who are lining Anfield Road. The smell of red smoke bombs lines the air, while the sight of a number of youngsters climbing on to any elevated vantage point - including a parked police van - brings memories of the previous round against City.

There is a greater police presence and more barriers are put on. They await patiently for their heroes.

(Image: LIVERPOOL ECHO)

6:04pm

The media room is crammed to capacity, with the excited chatter only interrupted by gulps of hot drinks and the eating of food. Anfield legends Jamie Carragher, Steve McManaman and Jan Molby are among those on duty for various television companies, demonstrating the worldwide appeal of the game.

Bruno Cheyrou is also present.

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6:25pm

The two buses arrive, and both without incident. Roma's is taken around a different route, bypassing Arkles Road and avoiding the massed crowd. Soon after, Liverpool's bus drives past. The security measures ensure the welcome is not as visceral or rabid, but the noise is immense as the players are transported into the stadium.

Plumes of red smoke waft in the air, the smell of singe lingering, as attention now turns to matters on the pitch.

Near the King Harry pub, a busker attracts attention for his latest song of choice: It's about a man named Mo Salah, who runs down the wing.

6:28pm

As the atmosphere fizzles outside Anfield, movement begins inside the stadium. Fathers and mothers, with young sons and daughters, navigate through the electronic turnstiles.

One of the first supporters to enter is one of the dedicated members of the supporter group Spion Kop 1906. They have been responsible for many of the incredible banners, songs and pictures of this run to the semi-finals; the driving force behind the sea of colour and noise which saw Manchester City freeze last month.

They have already spent their Sunday preparing for this night, fixing new poles to all the flags inside Anfield, and sourcing little flags - a far cry from the plastic ones which felt such derision - to create a homage to the iconic images which accompanied the win in 1984.

Spion Kop have been here, and helped, before, spending two nights inside the stadium prior to the City game, putting together a banner which now represents the journey this side, and its support, has been on.

'We've conquered all of Europe,' it reads, a nod to the new 'Allez, Allez, Allez' song which has swept the Kop.

As they get to work on forming the visual mastery which will hit the players as they walk out in just over an hour's time, another new banner is also prepped for its debut.

6:29pm

On the other side of the stadium, Roma fans have started to assemble. They sing songs and make noise, believing it their destiny to avenge their previous defeats to Liverpool.

6:30pm

Team news drops.

There are no surprises.

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6:47pm

At pitchside, Jamie Carragher is being interviewed for US television. Keith Costigan, from Fox Sports, is the man with the microphone.

His visit is a flying one, arriving in England on Monday, only to depart on Wednesday.

"American fans understand the significance of huge European nights and the significant role the fans and atmosphere play in Liverpool’s history in this competition," he explains. " I came straight from my Bundesliga commitments on Sunday in Los Angeles to here, and return in the morning to call Europa League action on Thursday.

"But the chance to be personally here for the first Champions League semi in over a decade was too good to turn down."

His chat with Carragher also goes viral after the ex-defender makes a quip about Alexi Lalas, who claims the Reds should just be happy to be in the semi-finals.

"He should be happy to be in the studio," comes the lightning reply.

7.08pm

Worrying reports begin to emerge from Anfield, as Sunday Times journalist Jonathan Northcroft tells of an attack by Roma fans on Liverpool fans.

"Roma fans have just attacked Liverpool supporters with belts, outside the Albert," he tweeted. "About 20. One guy down getting treatment.

"The Roma group came out of Venmore St, and attack was sudden. Picked an older Liverpool fan and attacked him. A lot of police around but they were slow on the scene. Poor guy is still down. Horrible stuff."

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7:35pm

As atmosphere builds inside Anfield, the Spion Kop 1906 banner is unveiled.

'I don't know what it is but I love it,' it reads, which serves as a homage to Chris Rea's song from 1984. It is part of Anfield folklore, with it being the song the 1984 European Cup winning side sung in the tunnel prior to the final against Roma in the Stadio Olimpico.

9:35pm

The calm after the storm. Joy at such a stunning European triumph is tempered somewhat by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's injury. His season appears to be over.

Jurgen Klopp will be visibly upset at the loss of such a key figure - not just because of his ability, but because of the person Oxlade-Chamberlain has become. The ex-Arsenal man is a popular figure and established himself at Anfield after a difficult start.

He, and Liverpool, deserve better.

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10:15pm

Mixed zone mayhem. It's five or six people deep, with dictaphones and cameras being thrust into the faces of any player who walks past.

The delighted Gini Wijnaldum and Trent Alexander-Arnold stop to give their thoughts, as the circus around them continues.

WEDNESDAY



12:10am

It is just past midnight. Copy and video filed, and calm has descended on Anfield. The lights of the stadium are about to turn off, and the final journalists about to leave, when further details emerge about the Liverpool fan attacked by Roma supporters outside the ground just before kick-off.

The club put out a statement saying they are "shocked and appalled" and that their thoughts are "with the victim and his family at this very traumatic time".

It's a sad end to a dramatic night, one which saw Liverpool put one foot into their first Champions League final in 11 years.