Gary Neville believes that Kyle Walker and Ruben Dias would improve Liverpool’s team for the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
Neville was speaking on Sky Sports Monday Night Football last night (17/05). He claimed that he would hypothetically swap the Manchester City duo for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joel Matip in Liverpool’s team for the final.
“I think Walker and Dias on that side are a better right hand side than Matip and Trent,” said Neville.
“If you said to me going into that Champions League final, against Vinicus and Benzema, who would I rather have on that side – I’d have Walker and Dias over Matip and Trent.”
Just one problem there Gary, Madrid already knocked them out!
Don’t quit the day job, Gary
It’s a quite bizarre claim from Neville, really. The Madrid pair of Benzema and Vinicius have already put paid to City’s Champions League hopes this season, so that pretty much answers that.
Not only that, but Ruben Dias’ panicked lunge to bring Benzema down in the area was the final nail in the coffin.
Granted, City’s meltdown happened after Walker had already gone off injured. He also missed the first-leg. Perhaps the right-back could have prevented Pep Guardiola’s side’s exit from the competition, but we’ll never know.
We may also never know how a Trent/Matip right-side would get on against Benzema and Vinicius. If Jurgen Klopp’s line-up for Saturday in the FA Cup is anything to go by, he’s heavily considering putting Ibrahima Konate in Liverpool’s team for the final.
Should Matip get the nod, expect him to handle Madrid’s attack a whole lot better than Dias managed. As Jamie Carragher expertly explained last night, Liverpool’s number 32 has been the best centre-back not named Virgil Van Dijk this season.
As for dropping Trent Alexander-Arnold for a Champions League final? Well, let’s just say Neville’s doomed spell in charge at Valencia now makes a whole lot more sense. Don’t quit the day job, Gary!
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