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Thrilling football, scintillating performances, a great degree of drama and loads of emotions has got us this far in the UEFA Champions League. Top clubs from all around Europe battled each other in a bid to reign as the kings of Europe. But in the end, there are two who will lock horns on 1 June at the majestic Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
It all began with numerous top clubs, top players, all vying to win the biggest prize in club football i.e. the UEFA Champions League. After months of witnessing some extraordinary football, here we have our two finalists of the season- Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur, two teams who have crossed all the hurdles in order to reach the final.
Both these English sides have endured so much in their journey to the final and it will be quite astonishing to watch these two powerhouses battle it out for the spectacular prize. Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino have done incredibly well in guiding their respective teams to the final, but when it comes to analyzing the prospects, there is one certain team that shall walk in as the favorite.
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Spurs fans will hate to agree but Liverpool do hold an edge and it will take something utterly miraculous for the London-outfit to win the UCL. Here we list down 4 reasons as to why Liverpool will enter the match as favorites:
#4 Harry Kane’s probable absence
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur in the final of UEFA Champions league, things don’t get much bigger than this. The two teams will play their biggest match of the season and there is no doubt that these two English clubs will put all on the line to land the majestic Champions League trophy.
These big matches often become memories which are talked about for ages and history suggest that in order to win the big matches, you need your big players to play and perform.
When it comes to Spurs, Harry Kane is the man they circle their hopes around and his probable absence could hurt them. Pochettino has been utterly brilliant with his tactics as he defeated the likes of Manchester City and Ajax without their star striker but playing in the final is an altogether different ball game.
Liverpool are a perfect example for this as they lost Mohamed Salah in the first-half of last seasons' final against Real Madrid and thereon it was lights off for Jurgen Klopp’s unit.
Harry Kane’s participation isn’t confirmed and even if the mercurial Englishman makes it to the squad, lack of match practice will definitely make Mauricio think twice before naming him on the team sheet.
#3 Klopp’s experience
There’s no denying of the fact that Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino are two world-class managers who have outclassed every other manager in Europe this season. The two men who seem pretty different on paper are actually cut from the same cloth which is why they hold a strong urge to win.
Tactics will play a big part but so will the experience. The match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in the final of UCL promises to be a classic but when it comes to the biggest club match of the season, the experience does have a major impact.
Mauricio has been brilliant and his name in Tottenham Hotspur's history shall be written in bold letters. Despite Mauricio's brilliance, when it comes to UCL, Klopp holds a firm edge in terms of experience.
The upcoming final in Madrid is set to be Jurgen's 3rd European final and the German will hope to get his hands on the trophy this time around.
#2 Better defensive record
It is famously said that attack wins you matches, whereas defense wins you titles. Liverpool have one of the best back four in the world. The presence of Virgil Van Dijk gives them an edge over any side of the world and it is the balance in the Reds’ backline that makes them such a tricky side to play against. Premier League outfits have had a tough time dealing with Liverpool's defense.
Liverpool's defensive prowess is further enhanced by the presence of Alisson Becker. The Brazilian goalkeeper has been a dominant figure on the field and many call him as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League.
While Spurs too have an efficient defensive unit, the startling difference between both sides' defensive structure is pretty evident. Pochettino will have to devise something special to get past Liverpool's backline!
#1 Recent history
In football, confidence has a great degree of impact on the outcome. Many times a team with a plethora of world-class talents, comes up short in front of a relatively lesser opponent due to lack of confidence. While belief is a strong emotion, facts do hold a lot of importance and the fact is that Tottenham Hotspur is yet to beat Liverpool this season.
Liverpool completed a double over Spurs in the Premier League this season as both the encounters ended with a scoreline of 2-1 in favor of the Merseyside club. While both clubs have had an eventful run to the final, if it comes to recent matches between the two dynamic outfits then Jurgen Klopp's side take the cake.
Mauricio Pochettino will be wary of Liverpool's potent frontline and the Argentine will look to learn from those Premier League losses to the Reds as he bids to become the first manager in the history of Tottenham Hotspur to win the UEFA Champions League.
