Liverpool were tipped to come unstuck in Dortmund last week against a Borussia side who had been flying in the Bundesliga. However, Jurgen Klopp’s side return to Anfield for the second leg with a more than creditable away draw to their name.
Now, though, the game comes down to a 90-minute decider and both sides will be desperate to move a step closer to silverware and into the semi-finals of Europe’s second-tier continental competition.
Ahead of the match, Sport360 examines where the tie will be won and lost at Anfield.
We’ve all heard about the famous European nights at Anfield but this clash will be added to the pantheon of great fixtures. These high-stake occasions under the lights are what Liverpool supporters crave more than any other. But will the hosts be paralysed by a sense of trepidation or will they seize it and use the power of Anfield to their advantage?
Divock Origi took centre stage at Anfield by netting twice in the Reds’ biggest home win of the season on Sunday. But it was telling Jurgen Klopp turned talk to Daniel Sturridge after that win over Stoke, and rightly so. He responded to being dropped for the first leg with a performance full of hunger and desire. The question is, will Klopp go for the jugular and find room for both in his line up?
Fine recent form: Divock Origi.
Mamadou Sakho’s performances go from one extreme to the next. At times he looks composed and assured but in others gangly and error-prone. For Dortmund to get that crucial away goal, they must attack Liverpool’s weak-link at the heart of the defence. An early goal will dampen that Anfield atmosphere significantly and in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, they have just the man.
Thomas Tuchel said after the 2-2 draw with Schalke at the weekend that his side had “reached their limit”. Does he really have a legitimate complaint though? When you delve deeper, Liverpool (52) have actually played four more games than Dortmund. There’s no doubt their European exploits have been lengthy having entered in the third qualifying round but it sounds like an early excuse.
The 17-year-old is USA’s next great hope. There’s been plenty of hype surrounding him but the dynamic midfielder has backed it up with an ability to conjure scoring opportunities. He came off the bench in the first leg and was effective – so much so Alberto Moreno tried to fold him in two. He flourished against Schalke so will Tuchel be tempted to start him?
