Jack Hallows puts together a combined XI of players from Liverpool and their Champions League final opponents, Real Madrid.
This should be fun.
Liverpool will meet Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Kiev on May 26th and what better way to start getting in the mood – even if it is still three weeks away – than to put together a combined XI between the two.
Goalkeeper: Reader’s Choice
It was actually almost impossible for me to separate Navas and Karius for this article.
Both have had stellar Champions League campaigns thus far with Karius keeping six clean sheets and conceding just four goals at home in the competition. Navas meanwhile has on more than one occasion kept Real Madrid in their knock-out ties by making numerous vital saves.
Right Back: Dani Carvajal
Some may feel it unfair to leave out Trent Alexander-Arnold given his form in the competition so far but Dani Carvajal is undoubtedly a world class right-back. Rated on WhoScored as one of Real Madrid’s top performers in their Champions League campaign so far, it would be very wrong of me to exclude him.
Centre Backs: Virgil van Dijk & Sergio Ramos
Unquestionably the best centre back from each club. Both possess a rock solid winning mentality, have pace to boot and will win you more headed duels in 90 minutes than some defenders will in an entire season.
Imagine them both playing in the same defence?! Would be a terrifying prospect for opposition attackers.
Left Back: Marcelo
If we were judging solely on defensive contribution then I’d probably have Andy Robertson sitting at left-back for the Reds but given he only came into the team during the knockout stages and the importance of Marcelo to Real Madrid’s system, it’s impossible to leave the Brazilian out.
The left-back has contributed three goals and two assists during Real Madrid’s journey to the final, saving his biggest performances for crunch games against the likes of Juventus and Bayern Munich in the latter knockout stages of the tournament.
Central Midfielders: Toni Kroos, James Milner & Casemiro
The absolutely world-class pairing of Toni Kroos and Casemiro needs little explanation but you might be surprised to see that James Milner has been included over Luka Modric.
If you’re not a regular watcher of Liverpool I can understand the confusion but Milner has been absolutely incredible for the Reds on their way to the final this season. Leading the competition with a record assist tally, Milner has also disproven the entire “his legs are gone” narrative that engulfed conversations over his future last summer.
Given his performances in this season’s edition of the tournament, it’s impossible to leave him out.
Right Wing: Mohamed Salah
Is he the most in-form player in the world this year?
The Egyptian has scored and assisted a frankly ludicrous amount of goals for Liverpool this season and while he’s played down the ‘Salah vs. Ronaldo’ tagline that will accompany the upcoming final, it’s hard to escape the fact that the fixture will likely be decided by one of the two.
Left Wing: Cristiano Ronaldo
The man is an absolute freak. He’s having his ‘worst season ever’ yet he’s still managed to bang in 15 Champions League goals, scoring in all but two matches in the competition.
He may no longer be in his footballing ‘prime’ but he’ll forever be one of the greatest players to ever grace the game and it still shows frequently in his ability to create something out of nothing either for himself or on occasion, for a teammate.
Striker: Roberto Firmino
It seems almost bizarre that on reputation alone, Karim Benzema would probably be the one named in this combined XI but that’s just another confirmation of how underrated Roberto Firmino is in the footballing community.
10 goals and 7 assists in Liverpool’s Champions League campaign thus far just confirm his status as one of the most complete forwards in world football. Has only failed to register a goal or assist in two of his 12 appearances in the competition proper.
Final XI: Karius/Navas, Carvajal, Ramos, Virgil van Dijk, Marcelo, Casemiro, Kroos, Milner, Salah, Ronaldo, Firmino
Disclaimer: The only thing I’ve taken into account when working out this XI is form in this season’s Champions League. Both sides have taken the same route throughout the competition proper and seeing as it’s the Champions League final they’ll be meeting in, it seemed far more appropriate.
I’ve personally watched all of Liverpool’s Champions League fixtures this season live along with most of Real Madrid’s but I also chose to take a look at WhoScored’s ratings for each of both club’s players in the competition this season to help form this squad in the least bias way possible.
Disagree with the XI? Let me know yours in the comments below!
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