'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Liverpool Football Club are in the Champions League Final, a statement unheard of for 11 years now. Considering their special attachment to the competition (cue, they have won it 5 times), this has proven to be a lengthy wait. Nevertheless, the Reds are back at this level again, thanks to Jurgen Klopp, and are now set to face Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid in the final at Kyiv.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. are certainly no ordinary opponents with this Madrid team in their fourth UCL final in 5 years, a remarkable achievement in itself.
It gets even better when one considers they have won each of their previous three finals, including the last two in a row. Nonetheless, Liverpool traditionally thrive as underdogs and the English side were propelled by several top performances along the way to reach the summit clash.
Trending
Before we look at the best 5 players, a special mention goes to January signing Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman infused calmness and confidence to the backline, which was sorely needed.
On combining this with his quality, the 26-year-old proved to be the defensive lynchpin for the Reds' march into the final with his quarterfinal performances against a blistering Manchester City attack particularly standing out.
Now, without further ado, let's take a look at the FIVE best players for Klopp in the UCL this season.
#5 James Milner
It has always been hard to understand James Milner's impact at Liverpool as a midfielder until this season. He performed admirably at left-back last season and did put in the winning cross for Dejan Lovren's header in the stunning Anfield night against Borussia Dortmund in 2016. However, this season, Milner has undoubtedly shown his worth.
The selflessness, the work ethic and versatility were always there but the quality playing in his preferred midfield role came to the fore this season. The 32-year-old was an epitome of consistency, especially in Europe, as he supported the full-backs or surged forward depending on the situation.
Milner's tenacity and quality were rewarded spectacularly as he now holds the record for most assists in a single Champions League campaign with nine. He beat the previous record held by Paris Saint-Germain's Neymar and Everton's Wayne Rooney, who had picked up eight assists while playing for Barcelona and Manchester United respectively.
This is a top achievement for any player and in the case of Milner, it is an indicator of his ability. The Englishman is key to Liverpool dominating the classy midfield of Real Madrid and the club vice-captain will definitely be up for it.
#4 Trent Alexander-Arnold
The 19-year-old local lad is set to face Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. in his first-ever Champions League final and he will be relishing the opportunity. Trent Alexander-Arnold's desire to embrace challenges is supported by his ability and his manager's belief in him. No wonder, the youngster finds himself as one of the best Liverpool players in the competition this season.
It all began in the final qualifying round when the right-back scored the Reds' first goal in this season's competition with a superb free-kick against Hoffenheim. He has carried on from then on until he faced the biggest test of the season so far in the quarterfinals against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. Trent was exposed for his inexperience against Manchester United and Crystal Palace in the league matches prior to the quarters.
However, Jurgen Klopp kept his faith in the Englishman to stop one of the best wingers in the league, Leroy Sane. City's tactics revolved around getting the ball to Sane, who was then expected to take on Trent with his pace and trickery.
However, over the course of 180 minutes, the Liverpool right-back was nothing short of exceptional as the City winger barely got through. Trent's performance was key to his side progressing and he continued the good performances against AS Roma in the semi-finals.
His top-quality displays have fetched him a spot in Gareth Southgate's World Cup squad as well, who labelled him as the "next best full-back in England". Before he boards the plane, the 19-year-old will be itching to test himself against the absolute best in Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid.
#3 Sadio Mane
The Senegalese international is supposedly having a bad season when he is posting career-best numbers. The 26-year-old has scored 19 goals this season, six more than the previous season. Out of those nineteen, 9 came in Europe's top competition. He was instrumental in qualifying for the group stages back in August and has chipped in with goals until December.
After a temporary slump in form, he roared back to life in the knockout stages, scoring a hat-trick against FC Porto in the first leg of the round of 16. He followed it up with another goal against Manchester City in the next round and one in each leg of the semifinal against AS Roma. Such consistency is remarkable in Europe's top club competition.
Further, Mane has tweaked his role to a quasi-no.10 since Philippe Coutinho's departure to Barcelona in January and is instrumental in the build-up as well. Thus, his performances go beyond the goals and assists statistics and the Liverpool no.19 is having a great season in Europe.
Mane has been the ace for Jurgen Klopp in this season's European campaign and can be expected to be so in the final as well.
#2 Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah is a given on almost every list related to Liverpool this season as his goalscoring exploits rest in the same league as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The innumerable awards won by the Egyptian this season are a testament to his performances this season. Naturally, he has been absolutely vital for the Reds' march into the Champions League final.
The 25-year-old has bagged a joint-club record 10 goals in this European campaign, also a record for an African footballer. After scoring 5 goals in the group stages with top performances against Spartak Moscow at home and Maribor away, Salah really came into his own in the knockout stages.
The former Chelsea man scored once against Porto before scoring in every leg against Manchester City, including the decisive equalizer in the second leg. He followed it up with a world-class performance against his former club AS Roma, as he scored and assisted twice in the first leg of the semifinals, effectively putting the tie to bed.
Such top performances have seen him being spoken in the same breath as Cristiano Ronaldo, whom he will face in the final. Hence, there is no doubt that Salah's impact this season has been nothing short of phenomenal. However, he is not the best Liverpool player in Europe this season, thanks to the next person on this list.
#1 Roberto Firmino
A huge question mark rested on Roberto Firmino when Klopp decided to trust the Brazilian with the no. 9 role for the season. 10 months and 27 goals later, the 26-year-old has not only established himself as the main man upfront but also as one of the best forwards across Europe. To that end, his all-action displays in the Champions League played a huge part where he has been involved in more goals than any other player with 18.
Firmino was the top scorer for Liverpool with six goals in the group stages. He carried the good form into the knockout stages with a goal against Porto and scoring the winner at the Etihad against Manchester City.
In the next round, he along with Salah became the only players to score and assist twice in a Champions League semifinal. In total, he has scored 10 goals, same as Salah, but has picked up a whopping 8 assists, only one behind all-time record holder James Milner.
Even in games where Firmino does not score, it is his work-rate, trickery and willingness to be Liverpool's first line of defence that stand out.
Be it dispossessing opponents in their own half or creating chances for his team-mates or scoring no-look goals and following them up with inspired celebrations, the Brazilian is the complete package for Liverpool and has been the Reds best player in Europe this term.
Agree with our list? Disagree? Who would make your list? Sound off in the comments below!
