Liverpool slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Roma at Fenway Park as the Italian side benefited from a fortunate winner in the final minute of the meeting.

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It was a slow start to the match as both sides struggled to find any fluency to their respective games, with Francesco Totti's speculative long-range effort that drifted wide the closest of the early opportunities.

Roma created the first clear chance of the game just after the half-hour mark when Ashley Cole broke free of the Liverpool defence before squaring the ball to Totti, who could only guide his shot past the post from a few yards out.

Liverpool looked far brighter at the beginning of the second half, with Philippe Coutinho coming agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock with a curled effort from the edge of the box just after the break.

Lukasz Skorupski was forced into action a few minutes later to deny Rickie Lambert, who tested the Roma goalkeeper with a powerful strike after linking well with Coutinho.

Daniel Agger threatened to score the winner late on with a header on the stretch which flew past the post.

Both sides pushed for the deciding goal in the closing stages, and it was Roma who enjoyed a stroke of luck in the final minute when Marco Borriello battled to meet a corner with Agger, who inadvertently sent the ball past Brad Jones.