Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson was frustrated by Roma's fightback
Mohamed Salah fired Liverpool into a two-goal lead by the half-time break before Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino got in on the act as fans began to dream of the final.
However, Edin Dzeko made the most of slack defending in the 81st minute to pull one back before Diego Perotti fired home a penalty moments later to give Roma a glimmer of hope.
Roma still need to secure a 3-0 or 4-1 win in the second leg at the Stadio Olimpico to progress but Henderson believes the late drama took the gloss off a great evening for Liverpool.
Speaking to BT Sport after the final whistle, he said: “It felt as though we were in full control but we basically gave them two goals, you can't do that in the Champions League.
It felt as though we were in full control but we basically gave them two goals, you can't do that in the Champions League
Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson
“At the same time we played well, we will go there with a three goal advantage.
“Overall we have got to stay positive. We knew it would not be easy tonight, we know it will not be easy there.
“It will be a challenge but one we will look forward to and one we will hopefully finish them off.”
Roma defender Federico Fazio believes the tie is not over yet.
GETTY
Diego Perotti pulls a goal back for Roma
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“We scored the two away goals, but also had plenty of chances in the first half,” he said. “We have to keep going.
“We are players, we are athletes, we’ll fight to the last second. It’s not lost yet, we worked so hard to get here and with our people behind us, we’ll try to turn it around to the very last moment of the tie.
“We fought the whole game, this is football, we’ll fight again in the second. Let’s not forget the story of how we got here.”
Liverpool travel to Italy for the second leg next Wednesday (7.45pm).