Our best matching defender?
Smalling v Firmino
- should be fine with Smalling's good form, physical tussle battle.
Valencia v Mane
- should work, matching power v power, pace v pace, Tony V could put Mane out of the game.
??? v Salah
- is the tricky question.
Lindelof? no.
Bailly? promising and reassuring, but his match fitness and actual fitness is worrying.
Young? not so good defensively.
Shaw? better defensively and have the pace to match Salah, would be a big test and if he pass, could even be perma starter.
Darmian? he seriously could do the job, if he just focus on defending, match fitness is uncertain though.
Ok this is hard
just go with 5 at the back and fast break hit 'em hard,
Valencia---Lindelof---Smalling---Bailly---Shaw/Darmian
*Lindelof to play as the extra supporting defender, while both Bailly and our LB nullify Salah.