Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has admitted that Liverpool were simply the better team in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, but is hoping for an improvement in the return match.

The Giallorossi must evoke the spirit of their memorable 3-0 win over Barcelona if they are to progress through to a first final, having gone down 5-2 at Anfield six days ago.

Nainggolan is expecting an even tougher test than last month when overturning an identical margin of defeat against Barca, but is refusing to give up hope of pulling off a second Stadio Olimpico miracle in the space of a month.

"It was difficult against Barca and we need it so we need to believe in what we do," he told reporters at Tuesday afternoon's pre-match presser.

"It will be more difficult than against Barca because physically they are a better team and the only thing we need to try is to try and score three goals and not concede. I am afraid Liverpool players were more consistent.

"In some parts we did well at the beginning and end but not the whole 90. At Barcelona, we did it for large spells of the game. We cannot afford to repeat the mistake by conceding the goals. We know what we have to do."

Nainggolan, linked with Manchester United and Chelsea last summer, has 11 assists and four goals in 39 Serie A and Champions League outings this term.