On Saturday, 41 years after their first meeting in the lovely city of Paris, Liverpool and Real Madrid will meet in Saint-Denis, just north of the French capital, for the 2021-22 Champions League final.

This weekend, the Reds are looking for a seventh triumph in Europe’s top competition, while continental veterans Los Blancos are attempting to win the trophy for a record-extending 14th time.

Jurgen Klopp’s side has eliminated Inter Milan, Benfica, and Villarreal en route to the Stade de France, while Carlo Ancelotti’s side has eliminated Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City.

Team News

Thiago Alcantara, who had begun to put together a steady run of matches and increase his fitness levels, was forced to leave the game against Wolves before the end of the first half after suffering an Achilles injury.

Klopp was initially gloomy about Thiago’s chances of appearing in the final, but he has since altered his mind, and there is renewed optimism about his availability for the match – whether he can play the full 90 or 120 minutes is a different matter entirely.

On a more positive note, Fabinho’s hamstring ailment is likely to improve over time after he resumed to team training on Wednesday, and Joe Gomez should be back in the squad after recovering fast from an ankle injury.

Following their FA Cup final knocks, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah were both fit enough to sit on the bench last weekend and will hope to return to the starting XI here, with the latter scoring the Reds’ second to share the Golden Boot with Son Heung-min.

However, cult icon Divock Origi has played his final game for the club after suffering a muscle injury in training, meaning the famed Belgian will not have a farewell 2019 moment ahead of his expected free transfer to AC Milan.

Real manager Carlo Ancelotti, on the other hand, will hope to have everyone healthy and available for his side’s 17th European Cup/Champions League final, with David Alaba returning to training in midweek after an adductor injury.

Eduardo Camavinga has been impressive off the bench during Real’s march to the final, but if one of the midfield trio suffers an injury before Saturday, the 19-year-old would only be able to beat Casemiro, Toni Kroos, or Luka Modric.

The Liverpool high line is designed for players like Vinicius and Rodrygo to rush in behind, but Rodrygo’s remarkable impact as a substitute may push Ancelotti to keep Federico Valverde somewhat more forward.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Diaz

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr

Head to head

Real Madrid and Liverpool have met eight times in European competition, with Los Blancos winning four times to the Reds’ three, and the most recent meeting ending in a draw.

After a 5-0 aggregate victory in the 2008-09 last-16, Alan Kennedy’s winner propelled Liverpool to the European Cup final against Real Madrid in 1981, kicking off a run of three straight wins for the Merseyside club.

However, Liverpool has lost four and drawn one of their last five matches against the Spanish champions, including the 2018 final, which Gareth Bale will remember for all the right reasons and Loris Karius will remember for all the wrong reasons.

Our prediction: Real Madrid 2-1 Liverpool

Both sides look very confident heading into the final. This final has the look and feel of an incredibly tight game. A lot will depend on the fitness of Fabinho and Thiago but Real Madrid come into this game fresh and fit, and most importantly have the mentality that they can’t be defeated in the Champions League this season.

Betting tip – over 2.5 goals

Liverpool and Real Madrid possess real quality going forward with their strikers needing just half a chance.

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