WATCH: Innovation Champions - Liverpool's well-rounded defence ready to blossom in UEFA Champions League

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WATCH: Innovation Champions - Liverpool's well-rounded defence ready to blossom in UEFA Champions League image

Liverpool's push for the Premier League may look like it's going down to the wire, but domestic glory is not the only pressing issue on the agenda at Anfield.

The Reds face Portuguese giants Porto in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, and while they'll be hoping to see their esteemed front three fire them to final four, they are safe in the knowledge their backline is more than capable of guiding to a tantalising tie against Barcelona or old foes Manchester United.

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Record signing Virgil van Dijk has certainly made his presence felt on Europe's premier club competition. He is second in the UCL for aerial involvements; perhaps the most crucial of those coming against Bayern Munich in the last round, when he powered a header home to help the Reds clinch a place in the last eight.

Alongside the vaunted Dutchman, full-backs Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold have seen their stock rise and rise.

The talented pair lead the Reds for sequence involvement, and have made crucial contributions in both attack and defence; Jurgen Klopp's men rank first for Expected Goals at home in the UCL this season (12.6).

Watch the video above for the statistics and full breakdown. 

Throughout the 2018-19 season, the 'Innovation Champions' series will highlight the Intelligent Movement of Europe's top teams. Follow the series on Facebook at Nissan Football Lab.

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