Expect some sparkling fare from two great clubs who between them have claimed almost a third of all European CupsIls sont les meilleurs.Sie sind die Besten. Related: Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino: shy, strong-willed – and a complete striker Related: Joker, thinker, friend, dictator: the many faces of Jürgen Klopp Related: ‘I don’t feel like an underdog’: Jürgen Klopp eager for Real redemption Continue reading...
Liverpool’s task in Kiev on Saturday is finding a way of beating a team who feel totally at home in Champions League finalsSaturday’s Champions League final in Kiev promises to be that rare event, a meeting of outstanding teams that lives up to its billing, though the television trailer advertising that the contestants have 17 European Cups between them is economical with the truth.The figure is correct; it is just that Liverpool’s total of five is dwarfed by the Spanish club’s dozen. Not many teams can make Liverpool feel inferior in Europe but Real Madrid can. The current holders of the trophy have a habit of making everyone feel inferior. No one else is in double figures. No one else...
Supporters saw Jürgen Klopp’s men do enough in beating Brighton and will hope the real fireworks are to come against Real Madrid in the Champions league finalEven though Mohamed Salah ended up with the Golden Boot award and a Premier League scoring record this was not quite up there with his finest performances of the season. Liverpool supporters will be hoping he is saving the mesmeric, catch-me-if-you-can stuff for Real Madrid in Kiev, for this was a more workmanlike display, albeit one good enough to find plenty of holes in the Brighton defence. Related: Liverpool clinch fourth after Mohamed Salah kickstarts romp against Brighton Related: The Dozen: the weekend’s best Premier League photos Continue reading...
Somehow, with no title race since 2014 and Manchester City all but wrapping up this one in October, it has still been enthrallingAnd now the end is near. And so we face the final curtain or at best a rather demob-happy, oddly tension-free final flutter of a curtain that fell some time ago for most of English football’s top tier.Sunday’s final fixtures of the Premier League season will be played out in the usual conjoined fashion, simultaneous kick-offs designed to offer last-day drama and a level playing field to the final jostle for air and space. Related: Farewell then Yaya Touré, Manchester City’s clanking midfield giant | Barney Ronay Related: Arsène Wenger quiz: 22 questions on his 22-year reign at...
A wake is in store in Swansea, Klopp faced with a juggling act and a swansong for Conte and Benítez?Sign up now to The Fiver, our daily football emailThis feature, you will note, is called ‘10 Things to Look Out For’ rather than ‘10 Things to Look Forward To’. Thank goodness for that, because there might not be much to look forward to at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday. The match between Swansea and Stoke is likely to be a wake, with both clubs wondering how the hell they got into this mess. A number of players will be making their last appearance for both sides, seeing no contradiction in the belief that they are far too good to play...