Champions League final: Liverpool vs Real Madrid – what to look out for

Clash of Titans: Liverpool against Real Madrid

Champions League final: Liverpool vs Real Madrid – Fan activity livening up preparation in Paris to host the 2021/22 UEFA Champions league final getting intense as the Reds take on Real Madrid at Saint-Denis's Stade de France.

The 2021/22 UEFA Champions League final will take place at Saint-Denis's Stade de France today, Saturday 28 May, kicking off at 21:00 CET. Built to stage games at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, the Stade de France was also the venue for the 2000 and 2006 UEFA Champions League finals, as well as the UEFA EURO 2016 showpiece.

The final chapter of this season's UEFA Champions League offers plotlines everywhere you turn – from revenge for Liverpool (not to mention a treble chase) to a battle of the mind, potential record-breakers and a high-octane head-to-head duel.

Four years may have passed since Madrid beat Liverpool in the 2018 final, but for Mohamed Salah, the memories are fresh.

Liverpool’s talisman went off with a shoulder injury barely half an hour into that Kyiv showpiece, and made no secret of his desire to meet the Merengues again this time round. Once the fixture was set, he tweeted simply: “We have a score to settle”.

Four years may have passed since Madrid beat Liverpool in the 2018 final, but for Mohamed Salah, the memories are fresh.

Mentality monsters vs monster mentality

Jürgen Klopp reprised his infamous moniker for his players after the semi-final second leg win against Villarreal: “I told the boys before the game that I wanted the headlines to be the 'mentality monsters' were in town.” He most certainly got his wish.

But then there’s Madrid, indefatigable Madrid – has a team ever demonstrated such character, such belief, to come this far? Something will have to give.

Carlo Ancelotti will become the first man to coach in five European Cup finals – and possibly the first to win four – but he won’t be the only one at Madrid with records in their sight.

Karim Benzema, Luka Modrić, Dani Carvajal, Isco and Marcelo all have the chance to draw level with Cristiano Ronaldo on five Champions League titles, while Benzema has other personal milestones on his radar – not least going third on his own among the competition’s all-time top scorers, as well as chasing Ronaldo’s 17-goal best for a single season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold vs Vinícius Júnior

The Madrid media shone the spotlight on Vinícius vs Phil Foden in the semis, two of the game’s most outstanding young talents.

But on final night, Madrid’s thrilling 21-year-old forward will have Trent Alexander-Arnold on his flank – a player who is so often the Reds’ creative heartbeat even from right-back; a player who is evolving the position altogether.

Keep a particularly close eye on events on that side of the pitch, but be warned – blink and you’ll miss it.

Real Madrid and Liverpool face off in the last and most crucial match of the 2021-2022 season: the Champions League Final. There are two main questions about both team’s starting lineup. Who will Ancelotti start on Real Madrid’s right wing? And also, will Thiago and Fabinho be ready enough to start?

Real Madrid predicted XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy, Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Valverde, Vinicius, Benzema.

Liverpool predicted XI: Allison, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Mane, Salah, Diaz.

In the end, it’s likely that both coaches keep it simple. Ancelotti will likely start Valverde to make Casemiro, Modric and Kroos’ job easier during the first part of the game, as Rodrygo is also a very efficient player off the bench.

On the other hand, Klopp said during the pre-match press conference that both Fabinho and Thiago have recovered in time and confirmed that they will be ready for the game, so one could assume that they will feature alongside Henderson, given that they are crucial starters for the German coach.

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