After completing successful comebacks in the second legs of the Champions League semi finals, both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are now set to face each other in Madrid.

In what is going to be the first all-English Champions League final since Chelsea vs. Manchester United in 2008, the two sides are now looking to end their search for silverware. For Spurs, a win would mean their first ever Champions League trophy; for Liverpool, it would mean that they would be kings of Europe again.

Winning the Champions League would also help Liverpool justify spending a huge amount of money last summer, notably on goalkeeper Alisson Becker, whose transfer from AS Roma broke the record for the most expensive goalkeeper.

Similarly, a Spurs win would signify a new era for the club after their move to the newly built Tottenham Hotspur stadium. Of course, silverware would also help Spurs keep their best players at the club, as well as in-demand manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Head to Head

Of course, the two sides are no strangers to each other this season, having twice squared off in the Premier League. Liverpool came out on top both times, with the scores ending up 2-1 on both occasions.

It is no surprise then that Bleacher Report favours Liverpool to win it the final, stating that the Reds will have the psychological edge. They also state that although both clubs are waiting on some of their star players to return from injury, Harry Kane’s return may even prove to be a disadvantage for Spurs. The article states that the 25-year-old would make Spurs more predictable, as they are a lot more direct with Kane in the side, and much easier to defend against. It is even argued that the Spurs have made it this far in spite of the Englishman’s absence with Son Heung-Min and Lucas Moura taking centre stage. In contrast, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah’s return to the Reds could prove advantageous, especially as the former has scored against Spurs in each of their last two meetings.

Common Ground

The clubs do have a lot in common. Both Liverpool and Spurs emphasise play high intensity football and they are known for breaking fast.

Naturally, managers Jürgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino are often compared in the media. An article by ESPN Australia details how both were once hailed as the “brightest minds in the Premier League”, owing to their success in introducing a new era focused on pressing football.

They’ve also been largely credited with moving away from a defensive way of playing that was popularised by Jose Mourinho. 

In fact, Klopp’s Premier League debut back in 2015 was against Spurs, where he introduced the German-based “gegenpressing” style he would become known for.

Odds Are..

It should be noted that the Reds have only lost to Tottenham Hotspur once since Klopp became Liverpool manager. Past performances suggest they are clear favourites to win at the Wanda and bwin Champions League Betting Odds rates Liverpool as the most likely to lift the trophy for the sixth time at the expense of Pochettino & Co.

Although Tottenham are certainly no strangers to beating the odds, miracles only happen ever so often.

Posted on May 14th, 2019 by scott
Filed under: Article