Here’s our predicted starting XI for the UEFA Champions League final

Liverpool v Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final - here's our predicted starting XI

By
James Ridge
-
This is an image of a Champions League ball
We make a prediction of the starting 11 for the Champions League final - Photo: Janosch Diggelmann / Unsplash (https://unsplash.com/photos/HCXCAIuDqMw)

By James Ridge and Brad Cox

Liverpool’s quadruple hopes were ruined when Manchester City won the Premier League title on Sunday.

But that won’t stop Jurgen Klopp’s men from hunting down a third major trophy of the season – as they face Real Madrid in the Champions League final on Saturday.

The final takes place at the Stade de France in Paris, after it was originally scheduled to take place in St Petersburg, Russia.

Real Madrid’s route to the final has included three incredible knockout wins over Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Man City – but Liverpool remain the favourites.

Klopp’s men squeezed past Inter Milan in the round of 16, before easing past Benfica and Villarreal to progress to their 10th European final.

After the 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the season, who will be available for Liverpool in Paris next weekend? Here’s our predicted starting XI. 

Liverpool XI:

Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Keita; Diaz, Mane, Salah.

Thirteen-time European champions Real Madrid find themselves back in the Champions League final for the first time since their 3-1 win over Liverpool in 2018, completing a historic “three-peat”.

The eclectic Blancos have been spearheaded by a reinvigorated Karim Benzema, whose 44 goals and 15 assists in 45 appearances this season have made him a near shoo-in for this season’s Ballon D’or.

Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos offer the base for an exhilarating collection of silky, skilful youngsters to thrive under Carlo Ancelotti, with Vinicius Jr. experiencing a true breakout season, while Rodrygo has contributed to some truly heroic goals on the road to this season’s final.

Having already secured the league title in emphatic style, Madrid will be hoping to complete an unlikely double in a season many pundits wrote them off entirely. Here’s our predicted starting XI. 

Real Madrid XI:

Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Mendy; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos; Vinicius Jr, Benzema, Rodrygo. 

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR