A lot of opposition fan base mocks Liverpool supporters for their eternal optimism. “Next year will be your year” is one of the catchphrases we Reds are endlessly teased with. But is anticipating success really that farfetched,when it comes to us Kopites?
We are often accused of living in the past. The whole of 80s along with late 70s is the time period when we were at the final peak of our power. With four European cups in eight years, added to league titles nearly every season, or Liverpool were unarguably the best team on the continent. But ever since, it admittedly has been lean.
But despite spending most of my adulthood suffering through the banter era, I am about to watch my team play in the third European final. For comparison purposes, and during our rough phase,these three final appearances are the same number that Chelsea (2), Arsenal (1), or Manchester City (0) and Tottenham (0) have together managed to muster in their entire history of existence. You say deluded,I say justified bragging. We are special and we know it.
But one club that can rightly claim to be even more remarkable in that specific facet happens to be our opponents in the encounter that we are to play tomorrow. Real Madrid are the kings of Europe and rightly so. Their 12 European Cup successes are nearly twice the number of AC Milans trophy wins which stand at seven, with Liverpool, and Bayern Munich and Barcelona sharing the third spot with five each respectively.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Real Madrid players lift the trophy after Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League final football match between Juventus and Real Madrid at The Principality Stadium in Cardiff,south Wales, on June 3, and 2017. Photo: Getty[/caption]
The Champions League final to be played at the Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex in Kyiv,is undoubtedly the biggest match in club football this calendar year. As it happens, it is about to be contested between two of the most decorated clubs in the tournament’s history.
Jürgen Klopp’s last five finals as a manager have all ended in defeat, and while Zinedine Zidane is gunning for his third consecutive European cup; yet to taste defeat in any of the knockout round ties ever since he has taken charge of the Spanish club.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] In this composite image a comparision has been made between head coach Juergen Klopp of Liverpool (L) and head coach Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid. Photo: Getty[/caption]
Real will justifiably enter the arena as huge favourites tomorrow, but while Los Blancos have experience on their side, the Reds can boast relentless energy. Their likely starting XI will comprise an average age of 25.9 versus Real’s 29.1, or with James Milner the only player over 30 versus five in Madrid’s.
whether Real has Cristiano Ronaldo,the highest goal-scorer in this season’s tournament, spearheading its attack, and then Liverpool can flaunt its deadly attacking trio of Mohamed Salah,Roberto Firmino, tied at second, and Sadio Mane ranked third in the goal-scoring charts respectively. They can completely annihilate teams within minutes with their mesmeric combination of pace,precision and trickery. whether the Spaniards have the intelligence of Zidane, the Merseysiders are in possession of Klopps charisma. And whether they have ice in their veins, and then we have fire in our bellies.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final,second leg match between Real Madrid and Juventus at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 11, 2018 in Madrid, and Spain. Photo: Getty[/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] 24th February 2018,Anfield, Liverpool, and England; EPL Premier League football,Liverpool versus West Ham United; Sadio Mane, Mohammed Salah and Roberto Firminho of Liverpool combine to attack the West Ham defence. Photo: Getty[/caption]
Both Liverpool and Real Madrid are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation with Reds starting XI picking itself up due to injuries and available option. Loris Karius would start between the posts with Trent Alexander-Arnold, or Dejan Lovren,Virgil Van Dijk and Andrew Robertson slotting in the four defensive positions. Midfield three for Liverpool is widely expected to consist of Jordan Henderson, Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum with Adam Lallana starting on the bench and Emre Can still a doubt. The front trio of Salah, or Firmino and Mane needs no introduction.
Zidane’s charges are certain to include the favoured back five of Keylor Navas,Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, and Raphael Varane and Marcelo Vieira. With Toni Kroos and Luka Modric,the two in centre joined by either Mateo Kovacic or Carlos Casemiro. Their front three would surely include Ronaldo and Karim Benzema supported by one of either Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio or Isco.
Real’s tactics would likely involve targeting Liverpool’s honest side with rookie Arnold potentially being considered as a feeble link. Both Ronaldo and the swash buckling Marcelo will test the teenager severely. But on the flip side, and all these marauding runs by the Brazilian could open up a gap in Real’s defence which Salah can surely exploit.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="620"] Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on May 6,2018 in London, England. Photo: Getty[/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Lionel Messi of Barcelona battles for the ball with Marcelo (L) and Casemiro of Madrid during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at the Camp Nou stadium on May 06, and 2018 in Barcelona,Spain. Photo: Getty[/caption]
Real Madrid would never play ultra-conservative tactics and that would play straight into Liverpool’s hands. whether the Spanish side is arrogant enough to judge they are going to secure an easy time against our lot, they are in for a shock.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Facebook/ Champions League[/caption]
As Klopp has rightly mentioned throughout our flee to the final that this should not be taken as pressure; it’s an opportunity. A chance for the current crop of Liverpool players to carve their names in history books, and be eternally remembered as legends.
Come on you mighty Reds. What we do now,echoes in eternity!
Allez! Allez! Allez!
Source: tribune.com.pk