RB Leipzig vs Liverpool: 5 players to watch out for

#3 Thiago (Liverpool)

Thiago will not have too much time on the ball against RB Leipzig

Thiago has often been criticised for slowing Liverpool’s buildup this season. Much of the criticism is perhaps unfair as the Reds have used a new way to approach games.

In the absence of Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, Liverpool no longer have players at the back who can pick out Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah with their diagonals. They have subsequently adopted a more possession-based approach to build up and attack through the middle.

Thiago will not have too much time on the ball against RB Leipzig. At the same time, he will not be up against midfielders who will sit back and form two banks of four.

His distribution against a proactive team like Leipzig will be key, and if he can control the tempo of the game, Liverpool will have their openings.

#4 Yussuf Poulsen (RB Leipzig)

Yussuf Poulsen’s role in the RB Leipzig team is often overlooked. He may not be the most gifted of passers or the most clinical of finishers, but he strings play quite well and provides the work ethic.

Nagelsmann will want his team to press Liverpool from the front. To do that, the duo of Christopher Nkunku and Poulsen will have to work together in tandem to test a makeshift Liverpool centre-back pairing.

The Dane put in a stellar and selfless display against Augsburg in Leipzig’s last game and will need to do more of the same against Liverpool.

#5 Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)

Roberto Firmino is the most important part of Liverpool's attacking set-up

We have said all the good things about Poulsen. Roberto Firmino is pretty similar, except he is the most important cog in the Liverpool attack.

Thiago’s presence has helped Firmino stay in a more attacking role as he hasn’t had to come too deep to find the duo of Salah and Mane.

If Firmino can make it work in the penalty area on Tuesday, Liverpool will be hard to stop as the Brazilian is usually a good provider and a selfless player.

The only problem is he will be up against Dayot Upamecano, who is one of the best young defenders in Europe right now.