I’m thinking Matip. Konate wins every header and is fast , but I just think he’s a year away from being 100% trustworthy. Just a little to raw and can see a terrible foul at the worst possible time if he starts. I reckon Henderson will be working extra hard on TAAs side along with Matip. Besides that I’m thinking Thiago(Ketia) and Fabinho in the mid with Henderson.
Champions League Final: Liverpool v Real Madrid | Hala Madrid!
- Thread starter PoTMS
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
Can only beat whats in front of them. They can't be blamed because Juve, Ajax and Bayern all lost games they should win.
With regards the final Madrid have nothing but history and mentality vs Liverpools skill, technique, fitness, tactics and mentality. That said thats all they had vs City and it was enough.
Just feel Liverpool will be a step too far and I can genuinely see the tie being dead at half time if Liverpool turn up full tilt with a fit Thiago.
Madrid will need their front 3 on fire and Vini to roast TAA if they are to get anything. The only way I can see them win is some kind of miracle 3-2 or 4-3 where they bury 3 or 4 of 5 chances.
Just feel Liverpool will be a step too far and I can genuinely see the tie being dead at half time if Liverpool turn up full tilt with a fit Thiago.
Madrid will need their front 3 on fire and Vini to roast TAA if they are to get anything. The only way I can see them win is some kind of miracle 3-2 or 4-3 where they bury 3 or 4 of 5 chances.
You've seen us in the last few games. We lose our cool in the first half and are usually a goal down. I don't see this changing next week.
Liverpool didn't beat any of the top four in the league this season. Real Madrid have beaten two of them yet people think Liverpool are going to blow them away?
Vinicius is such a strange player but he has shown intelligence and he is relentless, which means Trent has to be switched on all game and use a great deal of intelligence in weighing up when to go forward and what the fallout is if he’s caught upfield - a real cat and mouse battle because if Trent can break free, Real are going to be extremely vulnerable to his passing and general extra man presence.
Vinicius not only breaks wide, he goes on diagonals behind the fullback, too, which takes them out of the game so succinctly because tackling someone like him from behind is a sure fire way to cards, which you obviously don’t want in such high stakes game because then Madrid use him extensively knowing he’s then got a free run at his full-back.
It’s an age-old problem with these kind of wingers where you commit more bodies, you create a domino effect on that side of the pitch as spaces invariably open up due to the sway over - I don’t think it’s pace you need on the inside over intelligence and calmness; Vinicius has shown pace doesn’t negate or curtail him as he’s opportunistic and just waiting for a lapse in concentration and he’s in like a shot. Benzema’s shadow runs and the sheer amount of times they connect as a duo tells you they have a very clear understanding and chemistry, so it’s a really important job to read both Vinicius’ actions and the follow up from Benzema. Vinicius is deceptive because he looks clumsy and a bit haphazard, but the sheer amount of times he gets to where he wants to and then completes the action with a pass/cross, makes it clear he’s dangerous even if he’s not the epitome of elegant wing play.
I don’t think it’s all one way traffic; for me, either one of these players can determine this match in a single moment over the 90, but in terms of intelligence and instincts as well as doggedness, Vinicius is a step up on Trent - who’s not good defensively - so it’s Trent that will need more assistance to contain the threat, which theoretically compromises someone else on the inside or further up the flank tracking back for the double team.
Very interesting contest, I think. Proper knife edge stuff.
I can't even begin to imagine how this game will go.
Seems like Fabinho will be fit to play but Thiago won't. Big blow for Liverpool given the form he was in.
Madrid haven’t lost a CL final since the early 80s, they’ll find a way. Their plot armour is too strong.
Wait..what? City was two draws i know, but not a single win against Chelsea or Spurs?
No.
They did beat city and Chelsea in the fa cup and league cup though .
Nope drew home and away with both.
And if you offered me that outcome I would have snapped your hands off repeatedly. Two trophies in the cabinet.
And we have one more cup game left against a top four side.
Ah man, the nerves have kicked in just now. Can't focus on anything else. It might be my SIXTH champions League final but you don't get used to it. 
Did not get this feeling last week as I'd already pretty much resigned myself to losing the league. But this is different.
Did not get this feeling last week as I'd already pretty much resigned myself to losing the league. But this is different.
So do I however it doesn't really bode well for you lot that your only high level win is the one against city in the fa semi.
Maybe you lot add Madrid to that as well, let's see.
All Madrid comeback came in Madrid. That will be out of picture in Paris. Liverpool will be extra motivated to not end the season with just domestic cups & Kiev will be in the back of their minds too. Madrid already won their & lucky in playing this final. They should have gone out to City.
To determine who has the advantage at mentality and motivation, just imagine a picture of angry Klopp showing all his teeth. Ancelotti's eyebrow can be iconic but it is hopeless if it is to compete against that.
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The infant sacrifice must have been a success.
Unfecking real. Thiago and Fab both possibly available. What a difference that makes!
The asthma drugs in Paris really are much better.
The asthma drugs in Paris really are much better.
That's absolutely great news.Unfecking real. Thiago and Fab both possibly available. What a difference that makes!
The asthma drugs in Paris really are much better.
Read somewhere last week that he can match Seedorf and Eto'o as the only players with CL trophies for three different teams (even though Eto'o didn't have any game-time in one of his wins).
A final that Liverpool should be winning by two goal margin, knowing them they'll likely win with a late goal or win via penalties.
That's because we never have a straight forward final. It always has to be nervy and uncertain the whole way through. European Cup finals aren't supposed to be straight forward though.
Liverpool will start with high intensity and try to get the advantage in that period, then play on the break as the game goes on.
If They fail to take advantage of that period, Madrid will bring on the young guns in the second half and I can see Liverpool tiring as the game goes on and see Madrid wining.
If They fail to take advantage of that period, Madrid will bring on the young guns in the second half and I can see Liverpool tiring as the game goes on and see Madrid wining.
I genuinely forgot but who normally plays on the attacking right wing at Madrid along with Vini and Benzema?
This comment must have been saved as a draft in 2019.
Our last 6 games, we went behind in the 3th, 13th, 3th and 3th minute (Villarreal, Villa, Soton and Wolves). That's not really what we do anymore.
Valverde (not quite right wing though), with Rodrygo coming in as a sub.
Madrid will go into the final the fresher of the two teams. I'm just hoping some of the the Real Madrid veterans (especially Modric) can use all their experience to dominate much like they did the last time they beat Liverpool in the CL final.
This thread has now become a race to the bottom between Real and Liverpool fans trying to convince everyone how their team is in no way better
Valverde in the most important games ... he's actually a fantastic box-to-box midfielder but his stamina, workrate and all action style of play allows him to play anywhere. Rodrygo typically comes on and Valverde goes back to midfield when any of our starting midfielders are substituted. Asensio used to be the starter but his form has been inconsistent for over a year.
Liverpool have not been very impressive in both of their cup finals this season. If they keep playing that way, I expect a Madrid win.
Beating these Liverpool/City teams, who are in the middle of their peak, would be our bestest result this season, even if it wasn't the CL Finals. The amount of confidence it would give to our future stars - Vini, Rodrygo, Valverde, Camavinga and Militao - would be priceless! The cycle of having a fighting mentality would start again.
I’d be shocked if Ancelotti didn’t start Valverde to try nullify Liverpool’s left flank of Robertson and Diaz. Unleash Rodrygo in the final twenty minutes against a tired defence, then.
Seems like Fabinho is good to go for the game. He trained today. Thiago is touch and go. Weirdly I feel like Keita might be a better option for the energy he brings but Thiago is a class above our other midfielders.
I've heard quite a few people say Carmavinga should start to try and match our energy.
We outplayed Chelsea in the FA Cup final. The Carabao was more even but Chelsea missed some sitters.
It's worth noting that Chelsea created over 40 chances against Madrid across both legs, and City largely outplayed them. Madrid got through on moments/Benzema. I thought they were awful in Paris against PSG. Didn't create anything.
Real Madrid couldn’t beat Villarreal home or away in the league this season or even manage to score once against them across the two games. Liverpool scored five times against them home and away and beat them in both games blowing them away in three halves of football out of the four yet people think RM stand a chance?
See, it works both ways this lark
Indeed but I'm not saying it in a 'Liverpool didn't do this thus Real Madrid will win' kind of way. It was in response to the people who are adamant that Liverpool will steamroller them. All the evidence suggests otherwise.Real Madrid couldn’t beat Villarreal home or away in the league this season or even manage to score once against them across the two games. Liverpool scored five times against them home and away and beat them in both games blowing them away in three halves of football out of the four yet people think RM stand a chance?
See, it works both ways this lark
Yeah I think it's dangerous to write Madrid off. They've shown that over and over again this season. They only seem to need five minutes in a game to turn it around.
I was jesting. Both statements are funny. The bottom line is that the two teams are reasonably evenly matched across a one off game. No-one‘s getting steamrollered unless we’re talking about major changes to the balance of the game such as a player getting sent off, a series of contentious refereeing decisions going one way, etc.
I think it’ll be a narrow win one way or the other, and I wouldn’t bet against it going to penalties either.
I would too but then I draw myself back to my fears before the 2018 final where on paper your energetic midfield looked like it might overrun the pedestrian Madrid one but Kroos and Modric’s technical ability shone through in the end. There are four more years in those legs now, however, but I’d still be tempted if I was Ancelotti that they can repeat the trick on Saturday.