Leipzig kicked off their Champions League campaign with a last-minute defeat to Atletico Madrid. This was followed by a 3-2 loss against 10-man Juventus, but given their start to the Bundesliga season, there are plenty of reasons to think they can put three points on the board against Liverpool.

1) Big game? No problem

Leipzig were unbeaten in the Bundesliga after six matches of this season, with four wins and two draws. They have conceded only twice, in their game against Leverkusen in which they ended the Invincibles’ unbeaten streak.

Whilst their Champions League record this season leaves something to be desired, with a 2-1 away loss away to Atletico Madrid and a 3-2 home loss to 10-man Juventus, Leipzig will be hoping to bounce back and prove they belong up there with the best, despite an incredibly tough opening run of fixtures in Europe’s elite competition. Their victory over Leverkusen showed they’re not shy of turning up in a big game and that they can handle the pressure. Two goals from Loïs Openda and one from Kevin Kampl ensured Leipzig put an end to Leverkusen’s run, doing so in their own back yard at the BayArena too. There is no reason these heroics cannot be repeated against a very strong Liverpool side.

Loïs Openda celebrates getting the only goal of the game in Leipzig's most recent victory over Heidenheim. - IMAGO/Roger Petzsche

2) Home comforts

Three of Leipzig’s four wins against English teams in European competition have come at home. Despite the loss at home to Juventus last time out, Leipzig will be glad to not be facing Liverpool at their fortress Anfield, which is famously even tougher on European nights. Mind, the Red Bull Arena is itself no easy place to go and the 47,000 seats are sure to be filled for this thrilling encounter. Leipzig have been in sublime home form, experiencing only five defeats since the start of last season. Even then they were matches against Europe’s best in Leverkusen, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Eintracht Frankfurt and, most recently, Juventus.

Watch: Are RB Leipzig genuine title candidates?

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3) Robust at the back, clinical in attack

Marshalled by captain Willi Orban in the back line, Leipzig are as solid a defensive unit as they come. Die Roten Bullen may not contribute the same numbers in terms of goalscoring as rivals Bayern Munich, but their defensive record is the reason they’re tied for points with the league leaders. With only two goals conceded, theirs is the best in the league. 

Even if a team does make it through their defence, the ex-Liverpool man Péter Gulácsi is a brick wall between the sticks, recently excelling in a 1-0 win against Heidenheim in which his heroics were solely responsible for the preservation of his clean sheet. The low block has been something of a bogey tactic for Liverpool this season and in years gone by, being excellently implemented by Nottingham Forest in what was Liverpool’s only loss so far this season.

In trying to break it down, Liverpool have tended to overcommit men forward which can leave them vulnerable to counterattacks. This would allow the lightning-fast Openda and clinical Šeško to find space in behind, and with a combined 11 goals in all competitions this season, they’ll be sure to punish Liverpool with any chance they get. Also, with Xavi Simons pulling the strings and linking midfield to attack, they may be able to call on his international experience playing with Dutch teammate Virgil Van Dijk to identify a way to break Liverpool down.

Watch: Gulácsi claims another clean sheet as Leizpig win in Heidenheim

4) A step up for Slot

Liverpool remain in a period of transition and are still early in their new Arne Slot era. In the league, other than Manchester United, Liverpool haven’t yet faced opposition of the same calibre as Leipzig. They will also be coming off the back of a fixture against Chelsea, with their game against Leipzig being one in a very tough run of fixtures for the Reds that includes clashes with Premier League title contenders Arsenal, Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa. With keeping an eye on these games, Leipzig could look to capitalise on any attempt by Liverpool to save themselves for these tricky fixtures. This will be a true test for Liverpool’s new head coach.

Coach Marco Rose will face Arne Slot for the first time in his career as a manager. - IMAGO/Silas Schueller/DeFodi Images

5) Alisson injured

Liverpool’s star keeper Alisson Becker picked up an injury against Crystal Palace in their last Premier League outing. Caoimhin Kelleher didn’t come on as his replacement either, being sidelined due to illness, rather it was third-choice shot stopper Vitezslav Jaros. Whilst Kelleher did feature for the Republic of Ireland in the Nations League during the international break, it’s no easy feat to come in to such a big game with the pressure that comes with being the second-choice goalkeeper. Leipzig aren’t without their own injury problems, missing David Raum and Kevin Kampl, but not having Alisson is a huge blow for the Reds.

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