LIVERPOOL VS REAL MADRID: PREDICTED LINEUP

Liverpool have a chance to crown an incredible season by lifting their seventh European Cup/Champions League. Standing in their way is the most successful club in the competition’s history. It’s a real clash of European royalty. Here’s the predicted lineup for the match.

For the match preview, you can head over here.

Origi’s injury aside, Jürgen Klopp has a full squad available to choose from after midfield duo Fabinho and Thiago returned to training this week. This is the biggest game in club football so it goes without saying that the manager will pick his very best XI.

In goal will be Alisson Becker. The Brazilian has been truly magnificent this season and fully deserved the Golden Glove award for keeping the joint most clean sheets in the Premier League. He will have to be at his best again to deny a potent Real side.

In defence, three out of the four slots are pretty straightforward. Trent and Robbo will line up at full back, with Virgil taking up his usual spot in the heart of defence. The only real dilemma with picking tonight’s team is who partners the big man.

The manager has wrestled well with this throughout the season. He’s picked Konaté for some huge games (not least the FA Cup semi and final, as well as the Champions League semi) and has been rewarded with some excellent performances.

The Frenchman just turned 23 but has put in matured displays to pose a real selection headache for the manager tonight. He’s got the pace and physicality that maybe Joel lacks, but there’s a need for the experience and all round quality on and off the ball that the Cameroonian offers.

The Champions League final is unique in terms of the buildup and fanfare around it. It’s different to any other game a club can play and I’ve seen the occasion get to the finest players around. For that reason alone, I feel Joel is the better bet.

He’s used to this level having put in a fantastic performance against Kane and Son in the 2019 final. He’s also coming off the back of arguably the best season of his career. The pace of Vinicius in behind is a concern but this isn’t Matip’s first rodeo against pacy forwards.

In midfield, Fabinho will make his return from a hamstring strain. The Brazilian usually takes a bit of time to get up to speed when he returns from injury but the hope is he wouldn’t have lost much sharpness this time having only been out for two weeks.

To his right will be the skipper Henderson, who will lead the side out for the third time in Europe’s showpiece final. To the left will be Thiago. The Spanish midfielder is absolutely crucial to levelling the playing field in the middle of the pitch.

Real have some of the best technicians in midfield and Thiago will have to match them to prevent the likes of Modric from dictating the game. Hopefully he doesn’t suffer any ill effects from the injury he picked up last week.

Upfront, it’s pretty straightforward. The first choice front three at the minute is Diaz on the left wing, Salah on the right, and Mané through the middle. It is a front three that has pace, power and goals, and they are sure to trouble the Real backline.

With five substitutes allowed (six if it goes to extra time), it’s great to have almost a full squad available. Milner, Keita, Jota and Firmino are all likely to play a part at some point. Tonight is a massive game and these Reds usually rise to the occasion. Here’s to number 7.

Predicted team:

Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Salah, Mané, Diaz.

Subs: Kelleher, Gomez, Konaté, Tsimikas, Milner, Keita, Jones, Elliott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jota, Firmino, Minamino.