Borussia Dortmund should target Liverpool’s ‘weak links’ of Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren in Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final, according to former player Steffen Freund.
The Anfield showdown is delicately poised with the Reds taking an away goal from a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
And Freund, who won the Bundesliga twice during a profitable spell at Dortmund, believes that the defensive duo, who shone in last week’s first-leg stalemate, are prone to errors when placed under pressure.
“A good start in the game would be very good. Dortmund should attack very early in the first ten minutes,” he told Sky Sports News.
“They should try to force Liverpool to make mistakes. The central defenders of the Reds are the weakest links – Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho.
“If they are under pressure, they make mistakes.”
Freund played at Anfield during spells in the Premier League with Tottenham and Leicester City, and admits that Dortmund’s star names will have to handle the occasion if they are to progress.
He added: “Just don’t be intimidated. It’s the last chance for Liverpool to make it in the Champions League next year.
“In the Premier League they won’t qualify. It’s a very special stadium. It’s so tight, loud and emotional.
“But Dortmund should have got used to that kind of atmosphere from their own stadium.
“They have probably the best stadium in Europe.”