Liverpool host Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday night as Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield for the first time as head coach. It’s the battle of two unbeaten teams with Arne Slot’s taking maximum points from the first three games while Bayer won against Feyenoord and Milan before being held to a 1-1 draw against Stade Brest.
In the clash of the two giants, we’ve picked out three key battles to watch.
Virgil van Dijk vs Victor Boniface
Victor Boniface scored 21 and created 10 in 34 games across all competitions in his maiden season as a Bayer Leverkusen player and he’s already off the mark this season with nine goal contributions (eight goals and one assist) in 13 games. But against Liverpool, he’s coming up against the best current central defenders in football in Virgil van Dijk. In the Premier League, as noted by WhoScored, the Dutchman has the fewest times dribbled past per 90 among defenders (0.10) this season. He’s also won 37 aerial battles this season in England, the most of any defender, three more than Newcastle United’s Dan Burn.
But as we know, Boniface is a different profile to those in England. Strong, quick and agile, Boniface ranks in the 98th percentile for Non-Penalty Expected Goals plus Assisted Goals (0.85 per 90). The Nigerian also ranks highest for Shots Total per 90 among Europe’s top five leagues (5.45), and will surely get a large number of shots off towards Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal.
Jeremie Frimpong vs Cody Gakpo
With the injury to Nordi Mukiele, Jeremie Frimpong will find himself in a defensive role at Anfield, countering Cody Gakpo, with Martin Terrier coming into the line up the position that the Dutchman would usually occupy. Not as effective defensively, Frimpong’s pace will be important given he will be up against his compatriot, or Mohamed Salah, but his defensive positioning could prove problematic for Leverkusen.
Gakpo has five goals and two assists in 15 games for Liverpool this season and although not as prolific as Salah, will still prove a threat against a Leverkusen team that has kept just three clean sheets in the Bundesliga and Champions League this season (Stuttgart, Feyenoord and Milan)
Dominik Szoboszlai vs Robert Andrich
Dominik Szoboszlai is a player whom Bayer Leverkusen will know well from his time at RB Leipzig, but the Hungarian has developed his game immensely over the last 18 months and is establishing himself as a key player for Liverpool. Across Europe’s Top 5 leagues and European competitions over the last year, the 24-year-old ranks in the 97th percentile for touches in the attacking penalty area (3.31) and averages 3.97 Shot-Creating Actions per 90.
It will be Robert Andrich’s task to keep Szoboszlai, and the Germany international was not only integral for his national team alongside Toni Kroos, but was one of Bayer’s key players last season as they went unbeaten in the Bundesliga, clinching their maiden title while also helping his side to the Europa League final, losing to Atalanta in the final.
