Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly has been highlighted as a weak point in Senegal's team ahead of England's World Cup last-16 tie against Aliou Cisse's side. The African team came second in Group A after beating Ecuador in their third match.
Coming into the tournament they were seen as potential dark horses but that was somewhat negated once Sadio Mane was ruled out due to injury. Despite his absence they still progressed comfortably past Qatar and relied upon defensive solidity to overcome an exciting Ecuador team.
With a host of names well known to Premier League watchers, including Koulibaly and Chelsea's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, Senegal pose as a dangerous challenge for Gareth Southgate's men. They aren't infallible though, and domestic knowledge could help the Three Lions.
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Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has picked Koulibaly out as a point for England to attack, saying, "As a defence, you have to make play predictable, you have to be solid and you have to work together, making sure there’s no holes, communicating with your keeper, your full-backs and your midfield.
"Koulibaly will get exposed one v one without the help he needs around him and that’s when the likes of Marcus Rashford can exploit him."
The 31-year-old hasn't been able to transfer his form from Naples to London since the switch over the summer but does still represent a sizable task for England's attackers to bypass. He is well known for getting consistent bookings, picking up 25 across three seasons in Italy, but hasn't been carded in Qatar yet.
He could be up against Chelsea teammates Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount - Conor Gallagher is still unlikely to feature - but Rashford's three goals in three games is the threat. The Manchester United forward also isn't certain to play as Southgate ponders over selection, but he direct threat could cause Koulibaly some issues if he isn't protected.
"I remember our old Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger getting us to do one v ones in training using the whole pitch," Keown explained. "There was a lightning-quick Thierry Henry against me. I’ve got no full-backs or midfield in front of me and Thierry, with his space and skill, just went past me.
"I walked in and said to Arsene: 'Don’t ever do that to me again.' I’ve spent my whole career playing so I don’t get into that situation by working with the rest of the defence.”
"That was how I was so successful, making sure the unit was always solid and no one was left isolated."
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