Liverpool aim to end their grueling season against Real Madrid in the Champions League final and coach Jurgen Klopp has some important decisions to make.
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Jurgen Klopp talks about “revenge” for Real Madrid
The Champions League final is about to arrive and Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp is about to name his starting eleven.
Klopp has a lot to think about for the match against Real Madrid, with physical problems and tactical dilemmas certainly playing in his mind during preparation. Liverpool have already won two trophies this season and a third is in a game, as long as Klopp makes the right decisions.
Liverpool have a deep squad full of quality and they need everyone to throw their weight to reach this stage. The final will be Liverpool’s 63rd game of a grueling season, but all the players on the bench will still not be happy to be left out of the most important match of the club’s season at the Stade de France.
Mo Salah is not the only Liverpool star to seek revenge after Fabinho’s Real Madrid repressed Ibrahima Konate and Luis Díaz’s proven path to the Liverpool Champions League final.
Klopp has been here before and has made the right calls, so he can use his experience and intuition. If he is fully fit, much of his XI is self-selected, but there are still three major selection headaches for the Reds coach. Here Mirror football he glances at them.
Matip o Konate?
The first, and probably the most important, of the decisions comes to the defense, where Klopp has to choose between Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip to play alongside Virgil van Dijk. Both have played well this season and played the role admirably, but only one can get the nomination in the Champions League final.
Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher summed up the riddle well Blood Red Podcast earlier this week. “I heard that Konate would play because of his extra pace to help Trent [Alexander-Arnold] on this side with Vinicius, “Carragher said.
“I think it’s been a 50/50 decision now. I was convinced that Konate would play, now I’m not so sure. I think he could look at his record and see that he’s never lost every time he’s played, and he’s Wrong in the last game, but this pace, the physique and the set pieces, can you imagine that he and van Dijk were going up for the ball every time? that in the end he climbs up for Matip just because he has a steady, quiet influence. “
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Jurgen Klopp has to choose between Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate (
Image:
John Powell / Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Carragher changed his mind a few minutes later, so this shows the difficulty of Klopp’s work. Matip is the most experienced and accustomed to big occasions. The 30-year-old is unperturbed, strong in the air and undervalued on the ball.
Konate has grown over the course of the season as he has progressed and, as Carragher alluded to, has not yet been on the losing side in 28 appearances with the club. He is also excellent in the air – and a threat to a set piece, as evidenced by his two-legged goals against Benfica – and, above all, he has the speed to cover the dangerous Vinicius Junior.
Neither player would disappoint him, but it’s still a big call for Klopp.
Should Salah start?
Mohamed Salah was only fit enough for the bench in Liverpool’s last game against the Wolves due to a groin complaint. The Egyptian rose from the bench to score what could have been a vital goal to help him secure victory on the final day of the Premier League season and has since returned to full training. But should I receive the settlement on Saturday night?
There would normally be no debate here. Salah is Liverpool’s talisman and has just won the Golden Boot and the Creator Awards after the end of the Premier League season. He is too desperate for “revenge” at Real Madrid for what happened in the final defeat of 2018 and has scored 33 goals in the Champions League with Klopp.
Virgil van Dijk calls his top five, but rejects Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate’s journey from Paris street football to the Stade de France
This is a pretty compelling case in favor of starting it in its usual place to the right of the three forwards. However, there is another one against his selection. He has not been as productive since the Africa Cup of Nations and his goal against the Wolves was only the fourth time he has found the net in 19 games since the Carabao Cup final. If he plays, the final will be his 60th match with the club and the country this season. This is a big workload and Klopp also has many other options to Sadio Mane, who is nailed to start, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Roberto Firmino.
You’d suggest this is a direct shoot-out between Salah, Mane, Jota and Diaz for three places. With Mane showing his skill in the middle recently, it seems like Jota is most likely to get lost.
Better midfield balance?
The midfield is where it is most of the doubts are for Liverpool. Fabinho has not played since suffering a hamstring injury against Aston Villa earlier this month, while Thiago has been limping out of the game against the Wolves. Both returned to training with Liverpool on Wednesday, but it will still be a risk to choose which one to start from the match against Real.
Klopp could have Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Naby Keita in midfield, but a game of that importance requires experience and balance. Most Liverpool fans would probably favor Fabinho, Thiago and Henderson as a top-trio trio, but is choosing two players returning from injury too far-fetched?
Both Thiago and Fabinho have been injured recently (
Image:
Jose Fernandez ATPImages / Getty Images)
Keita offers push and forward passes from midfield, while Milner has done several wrestling displays recently and would not be impressed by the occasion. Henderson can play as a midfielder, but is generally better when he is given more permission to roam and connect with Alexander-Arnold in wide positions on the right.
The royal midfield is full of experience, with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro all three likely starters, although Fede Valverde’s flexibility means he can also play central. Should Klopp go for his own more experienced trio, or opt for a mix with youth to try to outdo or outperform Ancelotti’s players?
Ultimately, midfield balance is likely to be decided by aptitude and availability above tactics. If Fabinho and Thiago have shown their willingness on the training ground this week, they expect both to start in Paris.
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