After a disappointing defeat to Napoli in their opening Champions League fixture this season, Liverpool will look to return to winning ways as they lock horns with RB Salzburg on Wednesday.
The Austrian champions, however, are easily one of the most unpredictable teams in Europe. Hence, the Reds need to be careful. And in this article, we will talk about three Salzburg stars the European champions need to keep an eye on in midweek.
Dominik Szoboszlai
Dominik Szoboszlai has emerged as one of the most important players at RB Salzburg within the past 12 months. He burst onto the scene last season and is now the creator-in-chief for the Austrian giants.
Szoboszlai’s ability to create chances in midfield would be pivotal in Salzburg’s bid to breach the Liverpool defence. Besides, the Hungarian international is versatile too, which allows him to effortlessly switch between a central or a wide role even during a game.
Moreover, Szoboszlai can orchestrate goal-scoring opportunities from set-pieces. He also has the ability to march forward, and link-up with his teammates in the final third which could potentially cause problems for the Reds’ defence that fared so poorly against Napoli.
Zlatko Junuzovic
Zlatko Junuzovic can easily be deemed as the brains of the operation at RB Salzburg. The Austrian international has matured a lot since leaving Werder Bremen last summer. He is now a central midfielder, who generally prefers to stay deep and anchor the midfield.
Junuzovic’s composure and work-rate have been useful for Salzburg, especially following the departure of Diadie Samassekou and Amadou Haidara in the summer. Not to mention that the ex-Austria Vienne starlet is one of the most experienced members of the Salzburg side, having racked up over 400 league appearances during his time in Germany and Austria.
Liverpool, therefore, need to neutralise the threat of Junuzovic in midfield if they are to nullify Salzburg’s dynamic approach in the final third.
Erling Haaland
Arguably the most important player for RB Salzburg, Erling Haaland is currently a doubt heading into this fixture. But, the club is hopeful he can recover in time before Wednesday’s clash against Liverpool, which could only spell trouble for the Reds.
Indeed, Haaland is one of Europe’s most promising centre forwards, having already netted 11 goals in eight league games. The Norwegian also scored a hat-trick in his Champions League debut against KRC Genk earlier this month.
Son of former Manchester City midfielder Alf-Inge, Haaland is a physically imposing forward, who could prove to be a real challenge for Virgil van Dijk at the back, despite his lack of experience.
At the same time, it would be an excellent opportunity for Jurgen Klopp to take a closer look at the youngster, who could become a Liverpool target next summer if he can continue with his prolific scoring run this season.
