Europe’s second all-English final beckons as English football gets set for another display of domestic rivalry on the continent.
Tottenham versus Liverpool is a thrilling Premier League clash with both clubs operating on a similar model of utilizing young players playing high-speed, high-energy football. Jürgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino began their respective projects just over a year apart, although the reds have made some recent huge investments on the playing squad. Liverpool as favourites goes beyond the 26 points they had more than Spurs in the league, their individually better players and experience from a successive Champions League final is expected to deliver a sixth European Cup.
 |
| Mohammed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk in training. Image Credit: Dave Thompson/PA |
For Mohammed Salah, its another chance to stamp his legacy on the world stage and banish the demons of his injury-enforced exit from last year’s final.
Liverpool are also buoyed by the circumstances that got them there, navigating through a group of death and culminating in that incredible Anfield comeback in the semifinal.
As games between these two often go: tight and high-octane, it promises to be an electric final. Personally, the Champions League final always gives a tingling feeling of excitement and a top drawer tactical battle awaits.
 |
| It’s set to be a keenly-contested affair on the flanks. Image Credit: Simon Stacpoole- Offside- Getty Images |
The battle of fullbacks would be a tantalizing spectacle. Liverpool’s pair of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson- with 12 and 11 league assists respectively- a major component of Liverpool’s attacking play, come up against the equally dynamic Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier. These fullbacks epitomize the modern-day fullback in what is a great advertisement for English football.
 |
| Tottenham Hotspur players in training. Image Credit: Reuters |
Spurs have had a resilient season, however, as evidenced by their campaign from the group stages to quarter and semi final classics at Manchester City and Ajax. They can upset the Kopites on the grandest stage.
The Lily whites are motivated by a hunt for trophies to recognize their fantastic team, alongside a desire to do one better than Arsenal in the annual debate over North London’s finest. What better way to make a statement of intent than break an 11-year drought with the biggest honour of them all. The spectacular comforts of their new stadium and a first Champions League trophy would change the image of the entire club.
 |
| Seen here celebrating their semifinal triumph, Harry Kane is chomping at the bit to start. Image credit: Action Images via Reuters |
The match fitness of Harry Kane is in question, meaning Pochettino can stick with Lucas Moura and the approach that secured the incredible semifinal win in Kane’s absence. Pertinently, he won’t want to leave out the club’s fourth all-time goalscorer on its biggest-ever match.
It goes without saying that two of England’s biggest bottlers have changed their fortunes with some ballsy performances in this year’s competition. Either team would be ending a trophy drought and defining an era while the other ponders yet another fruitless journey.
The feeling of ending up second-best and unfulfilled is all-too-familiar between both finalists After going through blood, sweat and tears, they are playing to re-write their fortunes.
