Now’s not the time to be sentimental.
Liverpool have one game, one chance to win the Champions League and it should be approached with cold blood and a calculated head. Jurgen Klopp seems like a lovable character on the training ground but he hasn’t been afraid to make big calls in the past – he hasn’t been afraid to let his rationale rule his emotions.
And, ahead of the 7.45pm European final kick-off, the manager has named his squad tasked with bringing a sixth title back to Anfield and no less stopping Real Madrid from claiming a 13th.
Goalkeepers
Karius, Mignolet, Ward
Defenders
Clyne, Van Dijk, Lovren, Klavan, Moreno, Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phillips
Midfielders
Wijnaldum, Milner, Henderson, Lallana, Can, Jones, Camacho
Attackers
Firmino, Salah, Mane, Ings, Solanke, Woodburn
At this stage, after all those scintillating performances and head-turning scorelines, the Liverpool team basically picks itself.
The injury of Oxlade-Chamberlain and the fitness of Lallana means the middle distance runners of Henderson, Milner and Wijnaldum will automatically take up position in the engine room with coal on their faces so their front three can wine and dine and go dancing.
A lack of an alternative means Karius retains the number one jersey and a similar story of good fortune and befriending the bully on the playground, the colossal Virgil Van Dijk, sees the ticking time bomb that is Dejan Lovren somehow safe of any raised eyebrows on this night of all nights. Andy Robertson deserves his place and not just because of Moreno.
It leaves only the right back slot up for debate and, whilst Trent Alexander-Arnold has won the hearts of the Kop, whilst he’s been there through these biggest achievements and whilst he wrapped Leroy Sane in clingfilm and stored him securely in his back pocket at Anfield, his position is still the one most under threat.
The return of Nathaniel Clyne has seen some Liverpool fans call for the inclusion of the more experienced full back – to not take the risk on the 19-year-old when he has been suspect in other games like the Old Trafford pumping.
That day, Jose Mourinho unashamedly targeted the Liverpool right side of defence. Every single ball was sent down the throat of Marcus Rashford, whilst big Romelu Lukaku peeled out on Dejan Lovren and United peppered the opposition in that area until they wilted and wilt they did with Rashford scoring twice in the first half and Alexander-Arnold looking more and more unsure.
He’s recovered since that and has been called up to the England World Cup squad – but so has Phil Jones and Danny Welbeck.
What’s worrying Liverpool supporters most is the prospect of two of the best attackers in world football making hay on the Real Madrid left. It’s only Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Nathaniel Clyne in place of Trent. https://t.co/r3HO7FmWbo
— Mayor of Lagos…. (@MayowaOlubunmi) May 25, 2018
Marcelo and Ronaldo will murder Trent. I would start Clyne for thst reason.
— PM (@miodzioLFC10) May 25, 2018
Whoever it is, it’s going to be a tough night.
Am I wrong in saying putting emotions to one side, I would start @Nathaniel_Clyne tomorrow? Although @trentaa98 continues to surprise I can’t help@but think of Utd away and facing Gareth Bale 🤷🏻♂️
— Graeme M (@graeme_manley) May 25, 2018
Clyne, of course, is a risk in itself.
He’s only featured five times for Liverpool this season having been out until April and he’s only racked up 184 minutes since coming back.
Jurgen Klopp threw him on to see out the Roma game at the very end when it somehow fell onto a knife edge and he did start him against Chelsea in a game that Liverpool were targeting to win to secure Champions League next season so Clyne isn’t not an option anyway.
And, after seeing what happened at Old Trafford, after seeing Man City so obviously try something similar by sending everything down the left, maybe Jurgen Klopp won’t want to encourage the same sort of carryon when you could have Ronaldo and Marcelo coming at the teenager with every attack Real get.
