Cristiano Ronaldo and Mo Salah NOT the key to Champions League glory – Liverpool and Real Madrid must focus on defensive gaps

ALL the talk has been about Mo Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo but that’s not the key to who will reign in Kiev.

The game will be won and lost by how each team can exploit the gap between the other side’s full-back and centre-back.

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Liverpool have been sensational in Europe and Trent Alexander-Arnold, 19, and Andrew Robertson, 24, have been as important as anyone.

But they have a hell of a task ahead of them tonight to contain Real Madrid.

The full-backs are not going to win the game but a look at the two average position maps highlights just how pivotal they will be.

Marcelo and Daniel Carvajal push high up the pitch and I cannot see Zinedine Zidane changing tactics now. Why would he? He has back-to-back Champions League titles.

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But Real play so high up, with only one recognised sitting midfielder, the space left in behind is the area Jurgen Klopp will be targeting.

The turnover of possession is so important and there is no better exponent than Liverpool on the counter attack.

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Boss Zidane could shore that area up by playing Mateo Kovacic, who can sit and protect, but that would mean leaving out Luka Modric or Toni Kroos.

If not, you’re asking centre-backs Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos to go into areas, against Salah and Sadio Mane, that they would rather not.

While those areas are the ones where the Reds can take advantage, the same applies to Real.

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I expect both TAA and Robertson to play a bit deeper than they usually do.

At times they will play narrow and task Salah and Mane with tracking the marauding Marcelo and Carvajal.

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There will be times when the Kop full-backs go out wider to challenge the ball.

This is where communication is key — if it’s not spot on, Ronaldo and friends will make them pay.

Liverpool’s full-backs have to choose wisely when they push out. And when they do, the others have to come across — that is the key to keeping Real out.

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A lot of talk has been about the array of attacking talent.

But it’s not as simple as that.

The movement and communication of the defenders — and the spaces they leave — will be the biggest factor in who are crowned champions of Europe.

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