Chelsea vs Liverpool: 5 key battles that will decide the match

#3 Sadio Mane vs Marcos Alonso

Sadio Mane is Liverpool's highest goalscorer this season

Liverpool boasted arguably the most potent attacking force in European football last season, and one third of their attacking trio is Sadio Mane.

The 25-year-old has been a revelation since signing from Southampton for a then club record fee, scoring 37 goals in all competitions since 2016.

So far this season, the Senegalese attacker has contributed four goals to the Liverpool cause, and together with partners-in-crime Salah and Firmino will seek to continue wreaking havoc on European defences.

Mane will however not have it easy, as he comes up against Marcos Alonso who has been on a steady rise since donning the blue of Chelsea.

The 27-year-old Spanish international had a spectacular campaign last term, but was cruelly left out of Spain's squad for the World Cup. He continued from where he left off last season, contributing one goal and two assists from six Premier League matches, and was deservedly called up to the Spanish national team last month.

Alonso is an attacking outlet for Chelsea, as his bursting runs down the left channel provides a real threat to opposing defenses, and beyond his attacking duties, Mane will have to do a lot of tracking back to keep the left-back in check.