LIVERPOOL, England -- Nobody knows better than Liverpool that a three-goal lead is not always a guarantee of success in the Champions League.

They will never forget the "Miracle of Istanbul" at Anfield -- that night in May 2005 when Rafael Benitez's team overturned a 3-0 half-time deficit against AC Milan to win the club's fifth European Cup on penalties -- but there have been more recent reminders that such an advantage is not enough to be certain at the highest level of European competition.

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LIVERPOOL, England -- Three thoughts from Anfield as Liverpool raced to a 5-0 lead vs. Roma only to let in two late goals in their Champions League semifinal, first leg.

1. Liverpool could face anxious night in Roma after late slump

Liverpool need to avoid a three-goal defeat in Rome next Wednesday to reach the Champions League final, but Jurgen Klopp's team should have already booked their place in Kiev after building a 5-0 lead before conceding two late goals against Roma.

Having scored...

TURIN, Italy -- They said Napoli couldn't do it and the case against their title challenge was easy enough to understand. The Partenopei don't have the depth to win the Scudetto, they said, but Maurizio Sarri knows a thing or two about revolutions.

"You only need 16 men for a coup d'etat" is one of his favourite sayings. It led La Gazzetta dello Sport to re-name him the "Che Guevara of Figline." After beating Genoa in mid-March, Sarri said "If it were down to me, I'd go all the way to the Palace...

LONDON -- It was a strange day at the Emirates. It certainly did not feel like the start of a celebratory long goodbye for Arsene Wenger, but at least we knew by the end the reason why the Frenchman's departure as manager at the end of the season is laced with apathy and acrimony in equal measure.

When Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement as Manchester United manager in May 2013, Old Trafford was awash with colour and emotion (and plenty of tears too) when Swansea City were the visitors for...

LONDON -- Three thoughts from the FA Cup semifinal as Chelsea edged Southampton 2-0 to set up a date with Manchester United.

1. Giroud the hero, but Morata also on target

It still feels strange to see Olivier Giroud in the blue of Chelsea rather than the red of Arsenal. Less than a year ago, he provided a game-changing moment in the FA Cup final here for his former employers against his current employers: a brilliant chipped cross for Aaron Ramsey's headed winner. Now, his superb goal here...

LONDON -- Three quick thoughts on Arsenal's 4-1 win over West Ham as fans got their first chance to say goodbye to Arsene Wenger.

1. Wenger's long goodbye begins with a win

It took a while to come to life, with the shock of Arsene Wenger's impending departure perhaps stunning the Arsenal fans into silence, but the first game in the Frenchman's long goodbye as manager ended in victory as West Ham's survival hopes suffered a dent at the Emirates.

The 4-1 winning scoreline flattered Arsenal, with three...