The five most influential Liverpool players in the Champions League this season

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Keaton Kular discusses five players that have been vitally important for the Reds’ during the journey to the Champions League Final.

Loris Karius

The German ‘keeper started the season playing second fiddle to Simon Mignolet in the Premier League but was given a chance at redemption by manager Jürgen Klopp in the Champions League.

Klopp made it clear that Karius would be his first-choice goalkeeper in the competition and this was an opportunity he has grabbed with both hands.

Assured performances during the group stage, keeping three clean sheets in six games helped rebuild the trust between Karius and the fans.

By the time the knock-out stage came around the former Mainz stopper had re-established himself as Liverpool’s undisputed No.1, due to his impressive performances in the Champions League and Mignolet’s loss of form.

Karius in a recent interview with The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe, said “The first knockout game against Porto was the moment I felt I was No 1. That was when it was made clear I was playing in all competitions. I played two or three good games in the Premier League and the manager told everyone, ‘that’s how it is now’.”

His six clean sheets in the competition now cannot be beaten this season by any other goalkeeper with Real Madrid’s Keylor Navas only keeping two on the Los Blancos’ route to the final.

Karius has already won the Champions League golden glove for this season and he’ll know if he can keep one more clean sheet on Saturday then it will be the most important one of them all.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Champions League campaign has been like a fairy-tale so far. The young Scouser had an incredible start on his European debut, curling in a wonderful free-kick against Hoffenheim during the first leg or the qualifying round, helping the Reds secure a vital 2-1 victory in Germany.

The youngster has shown no fear since his European debut, taking every game in his stride, showing his quality and maturity at the highest level.

Prior to the quarter-final first leg against Manchester City, Trent had struggled in Premier League fixtures against Manchester United and Crystal Palace when Marcus Rashford and Wilfried Zaha’s direct attacking style gave the young fullback a difficult time.

This was highlighted heavily in the build-up to the City games as he would be up against the inform Leroy Sane who was tearing apart fullbacks across the country with his raw pace and direct approach.

Alexander-Arnold put in colossal performances in both legs against City, keeping the German winger very quiet, proving his defensive credentials.

Talking about those battles with Sane to Chris Bascombe, Trent said, “You look forward to playing these type of games, these of opponents and testing yourself when you can. I got the opportunity to do that over the two legs and I tried to do the right things. Hopefully, I came out on top and I hope everyone sees it that way as well.”

The ultimate test, however, will face the youngster in Kiev when he faces Cristiano Ronaldo. If he manages to contain the five-time Balon d’Or winner, then the Reds will have a much stronger chance of winning.

James Milner

At the beginning of the season, 32-year-old James Milner was seen as a squad player, making most of his appearances from the bench. However, long-term injury problems for Adam Lallana and the departure of Philippe Coutinho meant the Yorkshireman was called upon probably more times than he thought he would be this season.

The influence Milner now has on the team’s performances cannot be understated. The experience and versatility he shows on the pitch has been hugely important during the long road to Kiev.

Lung busting performances by the midfielder have seen him cover the second most ground by any Liverpool player with 113.6km so far in the Champions League. Milner ranks behind only Firmino who has played in two more games than him in the competition this season.

Certainly, the most surprising stat of the season, Milner has set a new Champions League record with nine assists this campaign and will be hoping to add to that tally this weekend.

Barney Ronay of the Guardian said “Not only has Milner contributed more goal scoring assists than Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Andrés Iniesta and Xavi. He has done it having played fewer minutes than all of them, and while shouldering close to zero creative expectation, performing in effect as a defensive midfielder and occasional full-back.”

Liverpool will need him to carry that form along with his energy and experience into the final against some of the best midfielders in the world.

Mo Salah

The Egyptian King’s record-breaking season has helped Liverpool score the most Champions League goals as a team (40) this season, with Salah scoring 10 himself in the competition.

Salah has played in every Champions League game for the Reds this season, one of just three players to do so. The Egyptian has scored some significant goals at very important times during the knock-out rounds.

Goals in both wins over City including the ice cool chip over Ederson at the Etihad to effectively end the tie was a moment of quality only a truly world-class player could produce on such a big stage.

Then in the first leg against Roma at Anfield, the Reds went in at halftime ahead thanks to two sublime finishes from Salah against his former team.

Salah has proven he is player for the ‘big occasion’ so far in his Liverpool career. If he can produce in the final then he will surely havea chance of becoming the first African Balon d’Or winner since George Weah (1995).

Bayern Munich and Germany forward Thomas Muller has backed Salah to win the Balon d’Or, he said in an interview with the Daily Mail: “I think that Mo Salah was very impressive. Maybe if Liverpool can win the Champions League title, he’s a big candidate.

“The whole world is looking for a new Ballon d’Or winner. Leo Messi and Ronaldo are outstanding, but the performance of Salah this season was also outstanding. I think he has a great chance.”

Roberto Firmino

The Brazilian has enjoyed a stellar debut season in the Champions League, with a hugely impressive 10 goals, behind only Ronaldo (15) and level with Salah on the scoring charts and his eight assists leave him behind by only James Milner on the assists table for the competition this season.

The forward has been influential for the Reds throughout the competition so far, playing the most minutes of any outfield player in the tournament for Liverpool this season and is one of three ever-presents during the journey to the final along with Loris Karius and Mo Salah.

Firmino’s ability to not only score but create equally as effectively at the top-level has seen him produce the best football of his career to date.

The former Hoffenheim man admitted, during an interview for the Daily Mail: “It is my first season in the Champions League and I am one of the leading scorers, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah. This is my best year as a professional footballer.”