Freund: Dortmund should pressure Liverpool 'weakest links' Lovren, Sakho

Borussia Dortmund travels to Liverpool on Thursday with their Europa League quarter-final meeting finely poised at 1-1, and former BVB favourite Steffen Freund believes a positive approach can show up the Reds' shortcomings.

The retired midfielder identified defensive pairing Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho as "weakest links" that can be forced into errors, placing the emphasis on the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to make a quick start in Merseyside.

Dortmund needs to score at least one if it has any hope at competing in the competition's final four.

"A good start in the game would be very good," Freund said. "Dortmund should attack very early in the first 10 minutes. They should try to force Liverpool to make mistakes.

"The central defenders of the Reds are the weakest links - Dejan Lovren and Mamadou Sakho. If they are under pressure, they make mistakes."

As an ex-Tottenham Hotspur around the turn of the millennium, Freund is aware of the noise that can be made by the Anfield faithful, but warned Thomas Tuchel's ranks they can't be overawed by the occasion.

"Just don't be intimidated," he advised. "It's the last chance for Liverpool to make it in the Champions League next year. In the Premier League they won't qualify.

"It's a very special stadium. It's so tight, loud and emotional. But Dortmund should have got used to that kind of atmosphere from their own stadium. They have probably the best stadium in Europe."

Dortmund skipper Mats Hummels cancelled out Divock Origi's earlier effort in the first leg last week, an event that was somewhat overshadowed by the return of Reds' boss Jurgen Klopp to the team he managed for seven years.