23 May 2022 09:47:14
Thiago out for the CL final is a hammer blow so i'm glad Fabinho is fit to return (as per Klopp) .

One thing i noted watching Madrid against City, is Modric and Kroos are losing their legs. Ancelotti actually hooked them both and put Valverde and Camavinga in midfield because they couldn't cope with De Bruyne, Foden or Bernardo's energy.

With that in mind I'd (controversially) play Elliott or Jones alongside Fabinho and Henderson. I mean i know it will be Keita in reality, but i think either of the 2 young lads would just be too much for their aging midfield to handle. Alternatively we could play Firmino in an advanced midfield role to basically just stifle Modric (he's fully capable of marking him out of the game) .

I'm sure Klopp has one more master stroke up his sleeve this season though and we're basically full strength minus Thiago and Origi.

Time to believe again lads, she's is coming home to Anfield again!


1.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 10:00:04
that's interesting cos I've never noticed either of Elliot or Jones to be the kinds of players that scream energy and running.


2.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 10:18:14
I remember the last time Keita played against Madrid.
Also remember everyone saying their midfield was too old last time as well. Going to be a tough game this one.


3.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 10:27:33
Faith, i'm really quite surprised by your comment mate. They have bundles of energy!

Jones presses with a similar intensity that Lallana used to at his peak. Sometimes i wonder what he's doing sprinting to close down the goalkeeper with 85 minutes on the clock! He plays with his heart on his sleeve every time, even if he does take too many touches at times.

Elliott for sure doesn't press with the same kind of aggression but he buzzes about a lot and pops up all over the midfield or out wide trying to get on the ball. Once he gets his confidence back he'll be kicking the door down again to start in my opinion.

Different players, but both have the energy to cause an aging Madrid team problems in my opinion. If Thiago was fit i wouldn't even think twice but as he isn't, I think we need to pick a midfield that can outrun them as we won't outplay them in my opinion.


4.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 10:45:44
Just saying I've not noticed it. Maybe I've missed it but when I think bundles of energy, pressing etc I definitely don't think of those two.


5.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 10:46:14
Very tough Mikey1985. Benzema is world class but i think people are underestimating Vinicius. He has the most goal contributions of any u21 player in Europes top 5 leagues. He'll be a real handful.

And even when Modric and Kroos were struggling against City, Camavinga came on and bossed it.

I think we'll win but i think it'll be very tight. Maybe even another penalty shoot out 😬.


6.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 11:24:58
As they say football is a funny old game.

We are worrying about legs in midfield against 2 players that have the combined age of 68 (36 and 32).

Despite our concerns about Modric and Kroos legs we were also happy to get rid of Salah and Mane as they are approaching their twilight years of 30.


7.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 11:50:58
Vini Jr is the one to watch yeah your absolutely right, everyone attacks down our right side as it is and this will be no different.
Not sure I would be playing Jones or Elliot though mate. definitely not starting anyway. Jones for me still looks a little lost at times, a bit unsure on what to do, playing him in a champs league final against probably the most experienced midfield in the world at this level will be suicide. Elliot is still very young for me, he looks great when he has experience around him looking after him but this game is too important to throw in a kid, even one as great as him. Be great to see him get some minutes though, once we are 3 up 😉
Nah I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this one goes to penalties, even if we are probably the better team on paper.


8.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 12:09:57
I wouldn't have Curtis involved, just not got any confidence in him in these sort of games. Gutted Thiago is out, that is a massive blow. He must be devastated. Fingers crossed salah turns up on Saturday.


9.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 12:15:22
Spot on JK23.


10.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 12:17:29
Modric and Kroos have never needed pace, their positioning and reading of the game more than counters that, Kroos in particular has never been the most mobile centre midfielder. The only way we win the game is by preventing those two any time on the ball.


11.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 12:25:12
Agreed MK. For that reason alone I would be playing Hendo to support Trent and Konate as he he the pace to recovery that Matip does not. A shame as I feel Matip’s going forward may be required. I think Keita is more effective on the right of the midfield but I would never do that for the reasons as above. I wouldn’t mind Jones playing but I think Milners experience may be called upon and I would be comfortable with that on the left of our midfield 3. Even at his age he offers far more going forward than most of our other midfielders.


12.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 12:26:42
Jk23, i'm not worried about legs. I'm suggesting that could be a game plan to counter Modric and Kroos. Let's be honest if it becomes a battle of who is the better footballers, their midfield trumps ours without Thiago.

I'd even rather Milner over Keita to be honest. He might be flagging by 60 minutes but he'll get right in the face of Modric and Kroos. We cannot afford to give them time. When we last played them we stood off Kroos a handful of times and he was creating goals from his own half.


13.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 12:41:28
I'd also play Konate, Westwood. I know he made a mistake yeaterday but his pace mopping up in behind Trent could be a deciding factor. Vinicius is absolutely rapid.

{Ed0666's Note - Konate makes me nervous every time he plays. He is not at the desired standard yet Mo where near actually.


14.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 12:47:39
Gutted for him.
Alli
Trent
Matip or konate?
Vvd
Robbo
Milly
Fab
Hendo
Salah
Mane
Diaz
Reckon that's the best line up for us currently now. Keita will no doubt start though. Salah needs to back up his talk.

{Ed0666's Note - no way would I start Milner as much as I love him


15.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 13:10:59
Honestly, it will be a great shame if we cannot start Fab-Thiago in the final. I don't even want to think about that possibility right now. I'll postpone my panic until we get news of their fitness as it's not good for the health.

On Konate or Matip - until yesterday I would have said Konate to match Vini Jr speed. But Jimenez gave him a mare yesterday. Although saying that, Matip looked shaky too at times.


16.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 13:28:03
Is it “official” that Thiago is out?
If he is, there’s no way that Elliott or Jones start a CL final in my opinion, way too stressful for them.
Elliott has hardly started half a dozen PL games lol.


17.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 13:37:41
Mk my comment was very much tongue in cheek. And I agree Modric and Kroos have never been superior athletes but are a yard ahead of most other players due to their footballing intelligence just like Thiago.

Even if Modric was 56 I’d still be a little concerned about him going into a CL final. I think this game has the ingredients to be amazing. I just really hope we have enough left in the tank for 90 more mins.


18.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 14:45:20
If Thiago doesn’t make it, Klopp could go with two sitting midfielders anyway, match Madrid.
Fabinho and Henderson.
Maybe have Bobby further up?
That could work for me, Bobby’s creativity to replace that of Thiago’s?


19.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 15:02:30
Spain manager said today that he’s spoken with Thiago and apparently the injury isn’t serious and he may be fit for the final. Sounded positive?


20.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 15:11:59
Is he definitely out?


21.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 16:35:22
No Magico, not definitely out but possible available.


22.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 18:06:57
Milner will be needed for pens. Best to go with Jones and high energy. I would go with Konate over Matip due to pace as well.


23.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 21:02:13
Rambo Benzema will play through the middle and, as good as he is, at 35 isn't very quick so I think we would be better prioritising experience over pace at centre back.


24.) 23 May 2022
23 May 2022 23:17:24
MK, not sure Thiago is out of the CL final cos he is facing a race to be fit and he could have continued but they took him off as a precaution, by some accounts. Let’s wait and see.