In a press conference ahead of the last Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp stated if it was not easy for the Reds to win both in domestic or European competition.
Liverpool itself had become a candidate for the Premier League champions, although it finally ran aground in the hands of Manchester City. Now the Reds look at the 2019 Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadio Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Saturday (1/6).
Klopp was not modest when he issued the statement. Liverpool are actually already familiar with failure at the end of the competition. Since Klopp, Jordan Henderson and his friends have felt failure in the three final parties: League Cup (2016), Europa League (2016), and Champions League (2018). That’s all not added to the failure to become champions of the English League this season.
The potential opponent, Tottenham Hotspur, is also no better. In the last few seasons, Tottenham have indeed succeeded in becoming a bully in the superiority of the Premier League top teams. Included in the 2015/2016 ‘anomaly’ season when they managed to sit in second place under Leicester City.
However, only up to that is the achievement of The Lilywhites. Their last trophy was when they won the League Cup in the 2007/2008 season. After that they continued to be a dark horse team. Every now and then they defeated giants like Manchester United at the domestic level or Juventus on the European scene, but they never really lifted the trophy.
Final After Two Dramatic Games
Tottenham and Liverpool managed to increase passion in the Champions League this season after what they did to their opponents in the semifinals. As is known, both teams managed to create a very impressive comeback in Champions League history.
Tottenham had to meet a group of young people full of enthusiasm wrapped in Ajax Amsterdam costumes. In the first leg when acting as the host, Hugo Lloris and his friends beat 0-1. In the second leg, until the first round was over, the conditions were even worse. Ajax were 2-0 up and were getting closer to the final in Madrid.
However, Lucas Moura’s action managed to turn things around. Relying on a fast attack, Mauricio Pochettino’s side were able to score three goals and then excel in the aggressiveness of away goals until the final whistle was blown.
Unexpectedly Liverpool also escaped the semifinals in a dramatic way. Entertaining Barcelona at Anfield, Liverpool had to bear the burden of the three-goal deficit resulting from their visit to Camp Nou in the first leg. Many parties speculate Barca will be qualify.
But, the combination of the bluntness of Lionel Messi and the foresight of Liverpool players in taking advantage of the opportunities made the Reds laugh at the end of the game. 4-0 score successfully secured the host and qualify for the final with a 4-3 aggregate advantage.
Adherents to the Attacking Philosophy
Applying the offensive strategy of football is key to Tottenham and Liverpool being able to get out of the pinhole in the semifinal. Spurs appeared more confident despite having left behind two goals in the semifinal second leg. Total in the match Tottenham released 24 shots with possession reaching 60 percent.
While for Liverpool, although their possession was not better in the second leg, they were able to appear more effective. Through Divock Origi’s foot, the Reds managed to open the advantage even though the game was not yet ten minutes old. Their fourth goal which was once again scored by Origi also began with the effectiveness and foresight of Juergen Klopp’s attack.
Whoscored statistics show, Tottenham and Liverpool are in the top five for the highest number of goals in the Champions League this season. The highest number of goals both come from open play situations.
In terms of number of shots, both of them are in the top four. The majority, the opportunities they created came from kicks in the penalty box.
the Motor Side of Wing Offensive
One obvious similarity between Tottenham and Liverpool is that both teams both rely on the wings to apply attacking football. A total of 73 percent of Tottenham’s attacks came from both sides of their wings. While the source of the Liverpool attack originating from the wing also reached 74 percent.
The data above is indeed supported by the presence of players in each team. Liverpool are supported by two fullbacks who diligently go up and send feedback to the heart of the opponent’s defense. In the Premier League, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson each contributed 12 and 11 assists.
While Tottenham’s attacking strategy was at Christian Eriksen. Although positioned as a playmaker behind the attackers, Eriksen is included in a row of players with the most number of accurate crosses in the Champions League this season. This fact shows Eriksen slick when he has to play wide.
Buying and selling attacks from the wing side is predicted to occur in the final match later. If the Liverpool trident consisting of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah really plays, the attack speed will be key.
Liverpool are famous for being capable of creating transitions from defensive patterns to building attacks. The insistence of their working midfielders like Fabinho or Georginio Wijnaldum, combined with the speed of the forwards, became the main weapon of The Anfield Gang.
As for Tottenham, their attacks are more varied. Unlike Liverpool, which is more direct when attacking, Spurs also involve the ability of individual players.
The Lilywhites is indeed filled with a number of names with the ability to be capable of qualified football. Besides Eriksen, their midfield also has Dele Alli and Lucas Moura who became heroes in the semi-final second leg against Ajax. On the front lines there is still the name Son Heung-Min, a South Korean wing striker who has recorded four goals in the Champions League.
Maybe there are those who argue if this is an anticlimax final. A party that brings together two teams from the same country, a team that almost lost in the semifinals, but actually escaped in a dramatic way.
But like a worldwide quote: “the best defense is to attack”, it could be a very entertaining final. This is due to Tottenham and Liverpool favoring open play and away from pragmatic forms of football.
For Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, the match at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium is more than just the 2018/2019 Champions League final match. This is the only trophy left for them this season.
Returning to the initial paragraphs, Tottenham and Liverpool have often stumbled and they haven’t stepped into the championship for a long time. This final is a plea for failure that has been felt by both clubs so far.
