3 things Real Madrid must do against Liverpool

Real Madrid have come up short in La Liga this season. They have shifted their focus and now look at Europe's Premier competition.

Up against them, however, are a Liverpool team that has taken no prisoners. Ruining the best defences both domestically and in Europe, they have one of the most formidable attacking lines in the world right now.

For Real to get their 13th Champions League title, they will need to be at their best, particularly in defence where they have been poor.

Here we analyse 3 things that will ensure Cristiano and co. end up.

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#3 Shield Marcelo and defend set pieces well

Marcelo will need to be at his defensive best against Salah

Marcelo Vieira is widely considered as the best attacking left-back in the world. Having formed a devastating partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo over the years, the Brazilian has provided width on the left flank.

However, Jurgen Klopp has identified Marcelo as the weak link in Real's defence

Marcelo is often caught out in defence and on Sunday, he will be up against arguably the best attacker, Mohamed Salah. Salah is in the form of his life with 44 goals to his credit this season and against an attacking fullback like Marcelo, he will have his moments.

Playing Casemiro and perhaps Mateo Kovacic could nullify Salah and help Marcelo to focus on his attacking game

Marcelo will need the help of his teammates to win his battle with the Egyptian.

Much of Real's defensive woes have been from set pieces. They struggled to deal with the likes Mario Mandzukic and were constantly bombarded with crosses by Bayern Munich. Keylor Navas hasn't been all that convincing either.

The likes of Mane and new £75 million man Virgil van Dijk are competent in the air and could cause problems. Therefore Zidane will need his players to be vigilant at set-pieces.

Zidane will definitely have to address this issue ahead of the final.

#2 Engine room battle and counter threat

Kroos will be key

Midfield duo of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric haven't particularly influenced matches this season. However, the result in Kiev could well be decided in the middle of the park.

Modric and Kroos will need to be at their best, pulling the strings and exerting control. Controlling the ball in midfield will help Madrid starve the likes of Salah and Mane of possession.

Liverpool's front three have bagged 29 goals in Europe this season, so cutting the supply to them will be important.

Liverpool are one of the most dangerous teams in Europe on the counter-attack.

They break in numbers, with Jordan Henderson and James Milner spraying passes. The fullbacks overlap, while the wingers drift inside.

To weather the Scouse storm, Zidane will have to start Casemiro, The Brazilian defensive midfielder will protect the back-line and will be tasked with breaking up Liverpool's attacks.

Zidane has been known to approach attacking teams with caution, and he will need to do so against Liverpool.

#1 Play a two-man strike force

Bale or Benzema?

Like Real, Liverpool's issues have been at the back. Even after the signing of Van Dijk, Liverpool's back line has not looked assured.

Zidane will look to deploy his preferred two-man strike partnership, with either Gareth Bale or Karim Benzema likely to partner Ronaldo up front.

Liverpool commit men forward in large numbers, which means full backs Robertson and Trent-Arnold are often exposed. In such situations, the pace of Bale or Ronaldo could cause Liverpool some serious headache.

With Vazquez and Isco on the flanks, Real will look to isolate the Reds' centre-backs 1-v-1 and this could lead to openings for Los Blancos.