Jordan Henderson must again muscle out Radja Nainggolan as Liverpool to look to finish Roma

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  • The first leg left little doubt that both teams can score, but it left a plethora of question marks over which Liverpool and Roma players can defend.

    The focus will be on the back-lines at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday night, with Roma knowing that conceding just one goal against this high-octane Liverpool attack will very likely spell the end of their Champions League campaign.

    But though Jurgen Klopp’s men have improved at the back since Virgil van Dijk’s signing, they still aren’t the most well-oiled unit in the world.

    Below we’ve picked out the key men as Roma attempt to overhaul a 5-2 deficit.

    RADJA NAINGGOLAN V JORDAN HENDERSON

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    Jordan Henderson will forever have his detractors but last week’s bossing of Radjia Nainggolan will forever be ammunition for the captain’s fanclub.

    At the base of midfield Henderson was a pillar of strength up against the three of Nainggolan, Daniele De Rossi and Kevin Strootman which ran over Barcelona at the Stadio Olimpico in the round before.

    For his size, the Liverpool captain can too often fail to impose himself in the centre and his ‘Hollywood’ long balls sometimes end up closer to L.A than his intended target.

    If he keeps it simple and brings the physicality again, though, Liverpool should sail through.

    Nainggolan was in actual fact one of Roma’s most effective players in a miserable hour at Anfield before they finally woke up.

    Patrolling the areas just behind hitman Edin Dzeko the Belgian threw his weight around as a touch of panic set in during the early stages.

    He was ultimately outshone and outmuscled by Henderson, yet was the catalyst behind that late Roma rally.

    As well as being Roma’s Rottweiler he is a creative force and the Giallorossi need him at his very best to achieve the improbable.

    KOSTAS MANOLAS V DEJAN LOVREN 

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    After the first leg brought seven goals and a comedy of errors at the back it’s only right to draw out two of the worst culprits ahead of the second game.

    No visiting defender covered themselves in glory at Anfield – Federico Fazio and Juan Jesus were equally atrocious – but you’d have expected better from the de facto leader of the group.

    Manolas, of course, was the man who scored that famous header to vanquish Barcelona in the quarters. Last week his head was more often in his hands.

    He made a mess of the initial ball – and was sucked into midfield – for the gilt-edged chance that Sadio Mane missed, and then the Greek showed his former team-mate Mohamed Salah too much space for Liverpool’s opener.

    As for Dejan Lovren, he has settled into his role as Virgil van Dijk’s deputy since the Dutch centre-back arrived at the club in January.

    The wobbles returned though when he failed to cut out Nainggolan’s pass for the Dzeko goal that sparked Roma’s mini-revival.

    Though the Giallorossi cannot afford a single mistake at the Stadio Olimpico, if they score first, Lovren will be under the microscope again.

    ALISSON V LORIS KARIUS 

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    Last Tuesday’s first leg was a battle between a Liverpool goalkeeper and the man slated to replace him. Loris Karius though was the clear winner over Alisson.

    The Brazilian No1 looked tentative off his line and made a smattering of rash decisions. Only a Juan Jesus block kept out a Mane header and the delivery should have been dealt with by Alisson.

    One bad game should not tarnish his reputation – he has simply been outstanding in Serie A this season – and he needs to pull off his finest performance yet, as surely one goal will mean curtains for Roma.

    Since supplanting Simon Mignolet as Liverpool’s first-choice keeper, Karius has generally been solid if not commanding. Even if he proves the hero like Jerzy Dudek did in Istanbul 12 years ago, remember that the Anfield club swiftly snapped up Pepe Reina that summer.

    Another man who is clearly a confidence player – if he can’t handle West Brom, can Karius keep a desperate Roma out?

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