Who can be the difference maker for Liverpool vs Real Madrid?
Real Madrid are currently having a bit of an injury crisis themselves; it’s not just Liverpool who face the test of fitness currently. Two of Real Madrid’s most important players, as we know, are injured, and are doubts for the game vs Liverpool, and it gives Liverpool some ways to get one over their opponents.
One or two players on the Liverpool squad can be the difference makers for Liverpool.
One of them, obviously, is Mohamed Salah. Salah is always motivated on Champions League nights. We all know that by now. He already has seven goals in the Champions League, and I expect him to continue being that good in the competition, even though he’s been on a bad run of form. Things could change, because the best players always come out with their best performances against great teams with high stakes.
Salah has never had a problem with that. Hell, he thrives on those occasions, and the fact that Real Madrid’s starting left-back Ferland Mendy isn’t even playing makes his chances a bit better.
Another player that could have a deciding game is Virgil Van Dijk, who has come back from injury, and is going to play this weekend.
Ibrahima Konate isn’t around to defend Vinicius Junior. Still, they do have Virgil Van Dijk, and the Dutchman would have to shoulder even more responsibility now that his partner in crime is out injured. Konate had a fantastic Champions League final, keeping Vinicius away from goal whenever he could, but if Van Dijk is able to help out by at least moving into spaces where Vini might go, then it could work out well for Liverpool.
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Obviously, Van Dijk plays on the other side, but he could always help out his other centre-back, and, as I said, analyse what Vini would do so that he doesn’t get the end product he wants. The fact that there might not be any threat from Karim Benzema makes it a lot better for Van Dijk, so let’s see what happens.