Liverpool vs Tottenham : Final
The UEFA Champions League final is almost here. Ahead of the big clash between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on Saturday, we asked our expert writers and analysts for their predictions on how they think the match will go.
For me, one of the biggest storylines coming into this game revolves around the two managers. Jurgen Klopp has transformed Liverpool into serious contenders for both the Premier League and the Champions League and has made the club a European force once again. Mauricio Pochettino, meanwhile, has changed the culture during his five years at Tottenham. They are no longer a mentally fragile team.
Pochettino needs to find a way to deal with Liverpool's front three, especially the pressing game they play and their speed in transition. He has shown his ability to come up with specific tactical plans throughout this campaign, and he could do that again. But I still think Liverpool will win this game in a fascinating matchup.
The Premier League encounter between these two sides in March was very revealing. Liverpool dominated the early stages, but Pochettino's clever tactical tweaks levelled the playing field, earned them an equaliser and, in the end, Tottenham were unlucky to lose to a scrappy own goal in the dying moments.
I expect another war of the minds in the Champions League final. They know each other so well. Their strengths and weaknesses have been laid bare over their encounters in the past few seasons. And both of these managers are capable of adjusting on the fly to nullify each other.
The extraordinary resilience that Tottenham have shown in the Champions League this season makes me feel uneasy about writing them off, but I think Liverpool will have too much for them. Although it will be a close game, I have my doubts about Spurs' ability to live with the amount of energy in Liverpool's midfield, and I can also see Jurgen Klopp's full-backs causing damage on the flanks.
Liverpool have been so strong this season, and their players will be desperate to atone for what happened against Real Madrid in last season's final. I also think last season's experiences mean they will find it easier to handle the occasion. For me, it all points to a Liverpool victory.
I was impressed with how both teams overcame the odds in their semi-final second legs. Not just because they overcame deficits, but because they also did it without key men. Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino were missing up top for Liverpool against Barcelona, and Harry Kane was out injured for Tottenham against Ajax. So what role these guys play coming back into the final is a key storyline.
I'm also looking to see how Pochettino can slow up Liverpool's full-backs and limit their impact. We saw how vital Trent Alexander-Arnold was in the second leg of the Barcelona game. The way Liverpool's midfield controlled every aspect of that game too—passing, pressing, competing, transitional movement—was also significant.
So midfield and the full-backs are going to be the key areas for me. I predict a Liverpool victory, but I do think Tottenham can compete.
For me, one of the biggest storylines coming into this game revolves around the two managers. Jurgen Klopp has transformed Liverpool into serious contenders for both the Premier League and the Champions League and has made the club a European force once again. Mauricio Pochettino, meanwhile, has changed the culture during his five years at Tottenham. They are no longer a mentally fragile team.
Pochettino needs to find a way to deal with Liverpool's front three, especially the pressing game they play and their speed in transition. He has shown his ability to come up with specific tactical plans throughout this campaign, and he could do that again. But I still think Liverpool will win this game in a fascinating matchup.
The Premier League encounter between these two sides in March was very revealing. Liverpool dominated the early stages, but Pochettino's clever tactical tweaks levelled the playing field, earned them an equaliser and, in the end, Tottenham were unlucky to lose to a scrappy own goal in the dying moments.
I expect another war of the minds in the Champions League final. They know each other so well. Their strengths and weaknesses have been laid bare over their encounters in the past few seasons. And both of these managers are capable of adjusting on the fly to nullify each other.
The extraordinary resilience that Tottenham have shown in the Champions League this season makes me feel uneasy about writing them off, but I think Liverpool will have too much for them. Although it will be a close game, I have my doubts about Spurs' ability to live with the amount of energy in Liverpool's midfield, and I can also see Jurgen Klopp's full-backs causing damage on the flanks.
Liverpool have been so strong this season, and their players will be desperate to atone for what happened against Real Madrid in last season's final. I also think last season's experiences mean they will find it easier to handle the occasion. For me, it all points to a Liverpool victory.
I was impressed with how both teams overcame the odds in their semi-final second legs. Not just because they overcame deficits, but because they also did it without key men. Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino were missing up top for Liverpool against Barcelona, and Harry Kane was out injured for Tottenham against Ajax. So what role these guys play coming back into the final is a key storyline.
I'm also looking to see how Pochettino can slow up Liverpool's full-backs and limit their impact. We saw how vital Trent Alexander-Arnold was in the second leg of the Barcelona game. The way Liverpool's midfield controlled every aspect of that game too—passing, pressing, competing, transitional movement—was also significant.
So midfield and the full-backs are going to be the key areas for me. I predict a Liverpool victory, but I do think Tottenham can compete.