3 KEY CLASHES IN ROME . . .

EDIN DZEKO v VIRGIL VAN DIJK

LIVERPOOL’S £75million defender has been impressive and added steel to his side’s defence but he is prone to sudden lapses, as was the case in the opening minutes away at Manchester City in the last round. Dzeko is a seasoned performer and will only need the slightest opening to cause problems.

Red roar: Van Dijk will need to keep Dzeko quiet

ALEKSANDAR KOLAROV v ALEXANDER-ARNOLD

YOUNG right back Trent Alexander-Arnold has withstood everything that has been thrown at him so far and kept Manchester City’s Leroy Sane on a tight rein in the quarter-final. Both full backs will be afforded licence to roam forward and it could develop into a game of cat and mouse. Kolarov is still a fine player and Alexander-Arnold will not want to give him too much space.

KOSTAS MANOLAS v MO SALAH

ROMA’S defending defied belief at times eight days ago, given how much space at Anfield they allowed their former player Salah to run into. If they do the same again tonight, the Italian club will be out of the contest within the opening 20 minutes. Manolas should know the intricacies of Salah’s game and he must somehow keep the fleet-footed Egyptian on a leash.