Roma's ruin: I Giallorossi undone by Di Francesco's tactics

Eusebio Di Francesco got it all wrong.

Roma's visit to Anfield for the Champions League semi-final first leg was a bit like the tenner on the fishing line trick: An unaware passerby bends down to pick up a 10-pound note only to have it yanked away by an unseen fishing line.

On Wednesday at Anfield, Roma tactician Di Francesco was the oblivious casualty, and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was the chortling charlatan.

Di Francesco opted for the same back-three as against Barcelona, and the Reds' front-three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane tore I Giallorossi's backline to shreds. The Roma manager also opted for a high line consistent with his pre-match quotes. "I don't want us to drop deep, unless they force us to. The idea is to stay compact as a team," the former Sassuolo boss offered.

Spoiler alert: It didn't work.

At first, there was reason for hope. Kostas Manolas and Federico Fazio dominated aerial duels, thwarting all attacks from wide in the opening 25 minutes while fellow centre-half Juan Jesus was tasked with shadowing Salah. Then, the Egyptian star opened the scoring with an unstoppable curling effort in the 35th minute, and the floodgates opened.

With Roma playing a perilously high line, the host put an emphasis on bypassing the midfield with balls over the top.

That tactic was on full display on Liverpool's third goal.

Full-back Aleksandar Kolarov is far too high up the pitch, nearly 70 yards from his own goal. The Serbian international's attempts at closing down Trent Alexander-Arnold are fruitless, prompting the Liverpool right back to fire a crisp long ball to Salah. Di Francesco's ambitious high line sees Salah 20 yards past Jesus, and with the Brazilian a passenger to the pace, Manolas is forced to track the PFA Player of the Year's run, leaving Fazio stranded as both Mane and Firmino make smart runs.

It happened again five minutes later. Kolarov is again in no man's land as Alexander-Arnold easily finds Salah with an audacious pass, essentially giving the 43-goal scorer a free path to the 18-yard box.

"Liverpool are a quality team but we're here to play our football and impose our style," Di Francesco admitted.

It wasn't until the 67th minute that Roma made a tactical switch, bringing on Diego Perotti and Maxime Gonalons for Daniele De Rossi and Jesus. It was a bit late.

Against Barcelona's craft and trickery, De Rossi turned back the clock in the second leg, putting a stamp on the historic come-from-behind victory with a poised display. The Italian midfielder had it easy. Against Liverpool, he was impractical, as was midfield mate and fellow reluctant runner Kevin Strootman. Klopp and Co. were happy to circumvent Di Francesco's stagnant midfield, and it was a tactic that proved beneficial.

Ambitions and stubbornness are bedfellows for managers, and on Wednesday, it was impossible to discern between the two in regards to Di Francesco's approach. Either way, it didn't work.

Like against Barcelona, Roma has given itself a narrow chance courtesy of scoring away from home, but if the Serie A side is to have a chance, Di Francesco will have to decide if he's the trickster, or the pedestrian stooping to grab the tenner.