For me, it’s imperative we go to Anfield with a multiple-goal lead. I think they will beat us at Anfield considering our away form. Basically, we need a repeat of Bayern ‘15: multiple goals with a clean sheet for the first leg and lose the 2nd leg by a goal but while grabbing an away goal or two.
I expect Klopp to play more conservative first leg and open the floodgates the 2nd leg so I say 4-3-3 with Dembele for the first leg and then the 4-4-2 with Coutinho in the second leg
I think we will control the MF battle, so it’s all about their defense. I don’t fancy TAA and Robertson (defensively) vs Dembele and Messi, and an open game will expose all of this. Basically, they need 2 miraculous defensively displays from Virgil and Alisson and hope they score early in the first leg. That’s the only chance I see for them, otherwise I think they will make it nervy for us but we have better individual quality across the field that will see us through. Defensively, the only player who scares me is Mane against Roberto/Semedo. That’s a good match-up for them but otherwise, I think we can handle Salah and Bobby comfortably. Jordi is just as quick as Salah and Pique can handle Bobby.
Between that and how well EV has drilled us in counter-pressing and mitigating space for teams to counter us, it’s just going to be hard for Liverpool to have enough dangerous opportunities to hurt us. Like I said, it’ll be nervy at times I’m sure but I think between the slightly higher quality of our squad and
, it’s just going to be too much. They really froze up against Real last year, Real were able to control a lot of that match and I have a feeling these games will go similarly.