by anfieldadorer » Tue Feb 22, 2005 11:58 am
Liverpool v Bayer Leverkusen - Key battles
Feb 22 2005
Phil Barnett assesses where the game tonight will be won and lost
Daily Post
Sami Hyypia v Dimiter Berbatov
Having scored three goals in the competition so far this season in one of the least creative sides involved, Berbatov is a striker Hyypia and company must be careful not to under-estimate.
Useful at set-pieces and with a keen eye for goal, the 23-year-old Bulgarian sent shockwaves around the Bernabeu stadium by putting Leverkusen 1-0 up in their group-stage meeting in November before Raul's equaliser in the second half.
Dietmar Hamann v Bernd Schneider
An all-German showdown in midfield could be key to the outcome of the match. Schneider has firmly established himself as Leverkusen's main man with his combative yet creative style.
His Champions League performances so far this term have been influential as Leverkusen beat Real Madrid, Roma and Dynamo Kiev to top spot in the 'group of death'. Schneider is the man charged with making things happen for Klaus Augenthaler's side and links up with Berbatov to good effect.
A lot of responsibility will fall on Hamann's shoulder's in Steven Gerrard's absence and he will hope to deny his compatriot space to manoeuvre.
Luis Garcia v Diego Placente
Former Barcelona man Luis Garcia quickly won over the Liverpool faithful with his sparkling performances at Anfield following his summer switch. Injury and a subsequent loss of form then prevented him from cementing his place in November, but
the skilful attacker will be keen to show what he can do on the big stage. Argentinian defender Placente is a versatile option for Augenthaler and may be deployed to keep Luis Garcia quiet should Benitez hand him his favoured free role.
Milan Baros v Sascha Dum
Reds striker Baros will look to capitalise on Dum's lack of experience. Baros represents little in the way of aerial threat but has a knack of contorting his body to pounce on the ball in the penalty area.
Dum - just 19 - only made his first team debut at the weekend when Jens Nowotny was carried off with another suspected cruciate injury in his side's 4-2 win over Nurnberg.