CL Final Liverpool v Real Madrid (Paris)

[Buzzo]

Feels a bit flat given we are 6 days away from one of the biggest games you can play in club football so we need to sort that out.

[ame]https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1528496424131956736[/ame]

The fatigue I see in the players is more mental than physical, we are giving it our all.

Thiago (potentially, but realistically) out is a real problem.

Huge game.

Allison

Trent
Joel
VVD
Robbo

Fabinho
Keita
Hendo

Diaz
Mane
Salah

[Rich]

Feels a bit flat given we are 6 days away from one of the biggest games you can play in club football so we need to sort that out.

Feels like the players and the fans are running on empty.

Huge game, we've not been playing very well but grinding out unbelievable results.

[Buzzo]

Feels like the players and the fans are running on empty.

Huge game, we've not been playing very well but grinding out unbelievable results.

Yep, thats twice in a week we have won from 1-0 down. Massive amounts of guts.

The team pretty much picks itself now.

We saw the leadership that we miss at the back without VVD yesterday, and were reminded that Konate is young and has a mistake in him under pressure. Matip is a definite starter in this.

I also think Jota is a goalscorer, and a workhorse, but we do not seem as cohesive when he plays.

Diaz is the ace in the pack. We have to try and get the ball to him as much as possible.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Allison

Trent
Joel
VVD
Robbo

Fabinho
Keita
Hendo

Diaz
Mane
Salah

If that is our team, or if Konate is in for Matip, then it is still more than good enough to be a CL winning team.

That team still makes it a genuine 50/50 game against any team Real can put out.

Plus unlike yesterday the outcome is in our own hands in this game.

Going to be some cracking duels all over the pitch in this one.

[Charly]

Matip must start. Konate is a great prospect, but I cant really think of a reason to start him over Matip. I think VVD and Matip seem to have a better understsbding positionally.

Do we know if Fab will make it?

If we are missing Fab and Thiago, I do not fancy our chances. I dont think Jones and Keia should play in the same team, which leaves Milner, who just seems to be a yard too slow to each ball.

Firmino as a midfielder is a possibility, but he was awful yesterday. I think we desperately need a new false 9 to link our forward play a bit better, as Bobby seems to be in a downward spiral.

Elliott is our only other option (apart from Ox). I just dont rate him in midfield. He lacks any physical presence, but might do a job further forward.

The rest of the team picks itself... With Timmy being the only other player to be pushing for a starting position. Robbos experience cements his position.

At least we have 5 subs if things dobt go well.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Matip must start. Konate is a great prospect, but I cant really think of a reason to start him over Matip. I think VVD and Matip seem to have a better understsbding positionally.

Do we know if Fab will make it?

If we are missing Fab and Thiago, I do not fancy our chances. I dont think Jones and Keia should play in the same team, which leaves Milner, who just seems to be a yard too slow to each ball.

Firmino as a midfielder is a possibility, but he was awful yesterday. I think we desperately need a new false 9 to link our forward play a bit better, as Bobby seems to be in a downward spiral.

Elliott is our only other option (apart from Ox). I just dont rate him in midfield. He lacks any physical presence, but might do a job further forward.

The rest of the team picks itself... With Timmy being the only other player to be pushing for a starting position. Robbos experience cements his position.

At least we have 5 subs if things dobt go well.

Pace would be my reasoning given that Real will have Vinicus on their left flank trying to exploit any space left by TAA when he goes forward.

[Buzzo]

This was Klopp on Thiago.

[ame]https://twitter.com/AnfieldWatch/status/1528445972933664771[/ame]

[Rich]

I don't think Matip was particularly cool yesterday. Konate has been playing in Europe ahead of Joel and I think he'll get the nod on Saturday too, even just to have his pace at the back to counter Real's pacy attack.

Jota should be on the bench, he's looked out of sorts/rusty for months. If Salah is fit enough he starts.

[spud_gun]

The European Cup final.

Season defining game this. Win and this team become immortal. Up there with the absolute best we've ever produced. Loss....don't want to contemplate it tbh

[RichC]

We need to make sure we shore up the right side, I think whomever we play on that right side of midfield has to be fully aware of vinicius jr as the way we play Trent will leave space down that side.

[Tribute]

Konate will need his pace if they exploit Trent's side as he's always targeted. Matip might read the game better but the physical presence of Konate might be preferred by Jurgen.

Midfield is where this will be won or lost. A full strength midfield and we would be too strong for them... but without Thiago and if Fab's not fully fit or in his rhythm, this gets much more difficult.

Bobby was awful yesterday when he came on, yet (for those with short memories) he was absolutely fantastic against Southampton and looked back to his best. Still think he's above Diogo in the starting berths, but for me it's Sadio, Mo and Luis starting this.

Diogo has lost all his touch and poacher's ability in the last few months and as much as Mo has dipped as well, he still has a threat in him to score or create something from nothing... plus he's got a better understanding of the front three than Diogo.

It's going to be a nervy first twenty mins... unless we get a couple of early goals. On current form I can see this being cagey until the second half and we'll sneak a win.

Imagine ET and pens for this one - after the Carabao and FA Cup...

[Tribute]

Feels a bit flat given we are 6 days away from one of the biggest games you can play in club football so we need to sort that out.

I hope you starting this thread is a good omen, Buzzo...

[danperkins]

The issues we'll face vs Madrid is getting the ball from them in the midfield. I don't care how old people say Modric is or how slow Kroos is, they are masters in possession and they have pace to burn up top and on the flanks when they get fed.

In saying that they have massively struggled with teams that press high. City, Chelsea & PSG all gave them a tough time but much like us they have guts and know how to grind out a result, seasoned winners in that side. Some of those games they should have been dead and buried and were very lucky imo. I worry that we have look tired of late, especially Trent who is so important to us. We all know the ball Madrid will play is behind Trent/over the head between Trent & CB. It's the same ball teams have been playing all season. We were lucky that Neto went off yesterday imo as he is pace was killing us. Hwang came on and the same thing happened too. We were frantic yesterday which didn't help and I don't think we will be anything like like vs Madrid but a high tempo is key for me. Vinicius is as quick and has been brilliant this season. Trent is going to need some help from that midfield, Jota gave him nothing (Been so poor for awhile now) & we simply need to keep the ball away from Benzema. We have two top notch CB's in Matip and VVD so I'm confident in them.

Thiago is the problem, or the lack of Thiago I should say. Not only does he have the work rate without the ball, it's how quick and precise he is in possession which gives us such an edge in games & the passes he picks out nobody else in our team would even consider. Fab does what he has to do, Hendo will work hard and try be quick on the ball but just doesn't have the skillset & Keita is just so slow to release the ball in general but will press. Milner is the only other option and although he would give he is all, it might be a step too far for him imo. Our attack and defence when firing is sensational but we look ordinary and slow in that midfield without Thiago. Praying Fab is back and fresh anyways, that will be a huge plus but looking at teams Madrid have struggled against, it is teams that have pressed the life out of them and we can do that when we are at it. They will try pass the ball out from the back and that's a dangerous game vs us. Diaz, Mane & Mo if all fit hopefully will squeeze that defence and be up close and personal every time they try to play it out.

They played their strongest team vs Betis on the 20th and surprisingly enough they kept Benz and Vinicius on for the whole game, all the midfield lads got taken off. They were on cruise control though and have been for a few weeks & that is a big advantage they have over us.

[Exiled_red]

I don't think Matip was particularly cool yesterday. Konate has been playing in Europe ahead of Joel and I think he'll get the nod on Saturday too, even just to have his pace at the back to counter Real's pacy attack.

Jota should be on the bench, he's looked out of sorts/rusty for months. If Salah is fit enough he starts.

[Pablo]

Matip over Konate on Saturday for me. Both are brilliant, but in the bigger games I'd trust Matip's experience that bit more.