UEFA sup cup thriller: Top three battles featuring Van dijk, Pedro, Salah Jorginho

There will be an all-English UEFA Super Cup for the first time in history with Champions League winners Liverpool facing Europa League holders Chelsea in Istanbul.

Jurgen Klopp and Frank Lampard go head to head for the first time in their managerial career as both side eye an early piece of silverware which would serve as a momentum boost heading into the new Season.

Chelsea will be desperate to turn things around after a 4-0 trashing at old trafrod few days ago, However it’s the reds who are favourites.

There will be quality on the pitch throughout, but what are the key battles that could determine who lifts the trophy at the end of 90 mins?

We select three that would be pivotal.

 

Mohammed salah vs Emerson

Two season wonders they say? Mohammed salah has scored 55 goals in 75 premier league appearances in two seasons at Liverpool.

And on Wednesday night the Egyptian king could prove too much for Emerson to contain.

Salah has already began the season in blistering form with a goal and assist against Norwich and Wednesday could be a long night for Emerson should he allow the Egypt foward get the better of him.

 

Jorginho vs Fabinho

A lot of the game is likely to be played in the middle of the park, and who shines most out of Fabinho and jorginho could prove vital.

The young duo are two of the Premier League ‘s two most in-form midfielders, and their importance to their respective teams cannot be understated.

The game is sured to be played at a rentless pace  with Joginho deployed in a number 6 role and it would be up to Fabinho to extinguish the threat of the dynamic Italian.

It should be an enthralling match-up between two prodigiously gifted footballers, and keeping each other quiet will be very much the order of the day.

 

Virgil Van Dijk vs Abraham

Tammy Abraham look set to have won the number 9 role ahead of Olivier Giroud in Frannk Lampard new side and should the manager trust him again on Wednesday night he could be up against the best center back in the World.

The young striker produced and encouraging performance against Harry Maguire and Lindelof at old Trafford with his hold up play and ability to drift inside from wide areas.

And another massive challenge would come his way on Wednesday night when he comes up against van dijk.

Good luck to him however.

Date: August 14 2019.

Stadium: Vodafone Park, the home of Besiktas in Istanbul.

Referee: Stephanie Frappart.