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Liverpool will arguably have their biggest test of the season when they travel to Camp Nou to play against Barcelona. The Catalans have been crowned LaLiga champions recently and they have also gone smoothly at the Champions League so far.
It is no secret that Barcelona are the favourites to win this tie. The Catalans are still unbeaten at this season's Champions League and would look to attack Liverpool relentlessly to gain a goal advantage as soon as possible.
Everybody knows how scary Barcelona are at the Camp Nou but, Liverpool are also a team to beat this season. If Barcelona have megastars such as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the Reds also have equally exciting stars who would help them a lot to keep the Catalans at bay and to salvage the precious away goal at Camp Nou.
#5 Sadio Mane
The Senegalese superstar has been on fire and is in the race for the Premier League Golden Boot this season. He has also been equally good at the Champions League by scoring 4 goals from 10 appearances at the competition.
He was the key for Liverpool to go far in the Champions League last season. The 27-year-old's tremendous pace, energy, and finishing capabilities would cause havoc at Barcelona's defense. He is a major counter-attack threat who could leave Barcelona with substantial damage if the Catalans are not cautious enough with their attacks.
Ernesto Valverde has had quite a hard time to find a reliable right back so far. Hence, Mane should be able to expose Barca's questionable right flank to secure a vital away goal for Liverpool. However, Mane is pretty much a straightforward winger who rarely creates an assist for his teammate. Hence, Mo Salah could be a more crucial player for the Reds.
#4 Mohamed Salah
The Egyptian megastar has been Liverpool's biggest firepower in recent seasons. He has developed a lot under Jurgen Klopp and is now a strong Ballon d'Or contender for a reason. Some people might have believed that Salah would be just a one-season wonder for Liverpool but the player has proven them wrong so far.
He is currently the top goalscorer at the Premier League and he also surprisingly has an excellent record of assists. An agile and pacy winger who can beat most defenders in 1 on 1 situation, he would cause Barcelona a lot of trouble in Liverpool's counter-attack.
It is safe to say that he could be as decisive for Liverpool as Messi is for Barcelona but, I do not expect him to take much of the actions at this match because the Catalans would press Liverpool heavily. Hence, the result should be more dependent on Liverpool's defense rather than the Red's attack.
#3 Alisson Becker
The Brazilian goalkeeper has successfully proven his worth to Liverpool so far. He even seems to have performed much better at the league than Kepa Arrizabalaga who is currently the world's most expensive shot-stopper.
He has also done well to replace error-prone Loris Karius at Liverpool's post. Becker's superb reflexes enable him to be excellent at stopping both long and close-range shots. His passing accuracy also has stood at a high 79.8 percent at all competitions. Overall, he is an error-free goalkeeper with no visible weaknesses.
Many would expect him to be tested a lot either from long or close range by Barcelona's deadly attackers at Camp Nou. Hence, he might need to perform at his best and make Liverpool's damage a bare minimum. Jurgen Klopp would also need his pinpoint passes to build an attack from behind.
Liverpool surely would not want him to make a mistake this time because Karius's goalkeeping error from previous Champions League edition had cost them enough. However, he should not have much trouble if both Van Dijk and Robertson perform at their best.
#2 Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool seemed right in breaking the world record fee for the Dutchman. The former Southampton star has successfully transformed the Reds' fragile defense into an impenetrable wall at such a short time.
The 27-year-old has deservedly won the PFA Player of the Year award due to his consistently outstanding displays in the Premier League. A tall, imposing and no-nonsense defender with excellent fitness, he would be one of the most critical parts for Liverpool to keep Barcelona attackers at bay.
He would also surely be the main threat for Barcelona at dead ball situations. Barcelona are expected to dominate the Reds at Camp Nou. Hence, Van Dijk's excellent passing could also be crucial for Liverpool to build a swift counter-attack from behind.
This time the Dutchman would have the task of stopping one of the world's deadliest strikers -- Luis Suarez -- and the duels between the two could be one of the match's most exciting moments to watch.
#1 Andrew Robertson
The Scottish star should be one of Liverpool's most successful transfers in recent seasons. Bought for just €9 million from Hull City in 2017, Robertson has now turned into arguably the best left back in the Premier League. This season he has racked up 11 league assists and has claimed his place in the PFA Team of the Year deservedly.
An energetic and pacey defender who can create key passes for his teammates with ease, Robertson is expected to cause a lot of trouble at Barcelona's defense. His defensive work also should not be underestimated as he has been an integral part for the least-conceded team in the Premier League.
He will have arguably the most difficult and most important task of his life in this game as he must stop Lionel Messi by any means necessary. Assist king Jordi Alba will also support the Argentinian wizard from the left flank. Hence, Robertson would need to be extra cautious and Liverpool's fate at the Camp Nou might depend heavily on his display.
