Jurgen Klopp faces test of nerve as Real Madrid threaten unseen Liverpool plan

Warning: there now follows a history lesson from more than half-a-century ago. But bear with us, it'll be worth it.

Back in the 1970 World Cup, Italy topped their group but had failed to convince by scoring only one goal, with part of the issue being manager Ferruccio Valcareggi's reluctance to play his squad's chief creative players, Sandro Mazzola and Gianni Rivera, in the same team.

So, in the knockout stages, he hit upon a solution. Mazzola would play the first half before being replaced at half-time by River, who could then dictate play against tiring opposition. And with hosts Mexico seen off in the quarter-finals and West Germany dismissed in the last four, the controversial staffeta - Italian for relay - was working.

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Come the final, though, Valcareggi lost his nerve. Mazzola stayed on for the second half and Rivera was only introduced with six minutes remaining for another player, by which point Italy were heading towards a 4-1 defeat.

What, then, does all of this have to do with Liverpool?

Let us introduce the tale of Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate, the two centre-backs who have spent much of the season vying to be Virgil van Dijk's centre-back partner.

Except, in reality, they haven't.

When Liverpool