Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were runners-up last season after losing 3-1 in the final to Real Madrid in Kiev. Should they beat Spurs on Saturday it would be the Anfield club’s sixth European Cup/Champions League title.
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For Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham this is their first Champions League final. Spurs, who are without a trophy win since 2008, will be the designated “home” team at the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid.
The previous all-English final was in 2008 when Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties in Moscow.
How did they reach the final?
Both Premier League sides pulled off miraculous comebacks in the Champions League semi-finals.
Liverpool lost 3-0 in the first leg against Barcelona at the Camp Nou, but Klopp’s side hit back to win 4-0 in the return fixture at Anfield.
Spurs lost 1-0 at home in their semi-final first leg against Ajax. In Amsterdam though they won 3-2 to progress to the final on the away goals rule.
In fact Spurs were 2-0 down at half-time against Ajax (3-0 on aggregate) but up stepped Lucas Moura to score a sensational second-half hat-trick. The Brazilian’s winning goal came in the 96th minute at the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
UCL final TV channel and live stream details
The Champions League final will be shown live on BT Sport 2. BT’s coverage begins at 6pm on Saturday and the match kicks off at 8pm. BT Sport will also show the game live for free via its YouTube channel, app and website.
Team news and possible starting XIs
Tottenham team news
The biggest talking point for Spurs going into the final has been the fitness of star striker Harry Kane.
England captain Kane has been on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury against Manchester City in the quarter-final first leg on 9 April. He is back in training though and should be fit to play a part in the final.
Kane told the BBC earlier this week that he was “ready” to face Liverpool. However, Pochettino may name him on the bench and select Lucas Moura and Son Heung-min to start in attack.
Harry Winks, Dele Alli, Jan Vertonghen and Danny Rose are all fit to play having been named in the travelling squad.
Liverpool team news
Jurgen Klopp is definitely without midfielder Naby Keita for the final against Spurs. However, striker Roberto Firmino is expected to be fit after suffering with a groin problem.
After missing the semi-final second-leg against Barcelona Firmino and Mohamed Salah will likely return in attack alongside Sadio Mane.
Possible starting XIs
How the teams could line up at the Estadio Metropolitano, according to the Independent.
Tottenham possible starting XI: Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Sissoko, Wanyama, Alli, Eriksen, Son, Moura
Liverpool possible starting XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Mane, Salah, Firmino
(Image credit: Gabriel Bouys/AFP/Getty Images)
Pundit predictions: who will win the final?
Tom Doyle, London Evening Standard
“Liverpool should be slight favourites given their superb Premier League campaign, but it would be foolish to hedge your bets either way at this stage after watching those semi-final comebacks from both sides. Much will depend on whether the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Harry Kane are match fit, though neither side exactly lacked their star forwards in the last round. With so much at stake for both managers, expect a tight game which could likely be decided by a penalty shootout.”
Ben Burrows, Independent
“The psychology of a one-country final makes this one tough to call. Liverpool are clearly the better team - their league position illustrates that fairly neatly - and they arrive in Madrid in better form too. But Tottenham arguably shaded it the last time they met with Hugo Lloris’ calamitous error handling the Reds victory at the very end. Liverpool only really know one way to play and will go full throttle from the off regardless. Expect their attacking trio to give Tottenham’s back four all they can handle. Prediction: 1-3, Liverpool lift a sixth European Cup.”
Harry Edwards, Squawka
“With the pain of the 2018 Champions League final behind them and having Tottenham’s number this season, Liverpool should just edge the tie for number six. Prediction: Liverpool 2-1.”
Graeme Souness, former Liverpool captain
“Liverpool have the best chance of winning. They only lost one game in the Premier League, they have overall played a lot better than Tottenham and they have the experience of losing the final last year. But you can’t be sure because Spurs have been miraculous in the Champions League - they have nothing to lose and their attack is a constant danger.”
Glenn Hoddle, former Spurs manager
“I don’t expect Mauricio [Pochettino] to be playing a back three. They will play a back four and probably the diamond. I like the fact he’s trying to keep two up: Moura and Son [Heung-min] will be very interesting with the pace they’ve got. If Liverpool want to throw their full backs that high and leave themselves two v two, Spurs could be in for a very good evening.”
Teddy Sheringham, former Spurs striker and UCL winner with Man Utd, Bet Stars
“For me, I see two very evenly-matched teams, who are both very powerful going forwards. You would have to say that Liverpool are a little bit more solid in defence than Tottenham. That would be their one advantage for me, but when you have the firepower that both teams have, it’s all about who strikes gold on the night.”
Tottenham vs. Liverpool betting odds
As of 31 May, see Oddschecker for the latest prices.
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