Tomorrow night brings the first all-Premier League Champions League final since Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties in Moscow, back in 2008.
It’s a match between two clubs starving for a trophy, and it’s simply going to be massive for whichever side claims the long awaited piece of silverware. Let’s run through some of the major storylines for the epic showdown at the Wanda Metropolitan Stadium in Madrid; starting first from the Liverpool perspective. (Tottenham Hotspur side coming shortly)
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur UEFA Champions League Final FYIs
Kickoff: Saturday, June 1, 8pm, Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid
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Exclusive interview/match preview with LFC UCL legend Vladimir Smicer: part 1 part 2
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Manager Press Conference Videos and Quotes: Mauricio Pochettino Jurgen Klopp
-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has lost six straight Cup finals; going back to his stint with Borussia Dortmund. It’s unfortunate that his recent record in trophy matches just happens to synergize with a recent narrative surrounding the club.
Liverpool have done a great job being a formidable runner-up in the past year. They lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in last year’s UCL final, and broke the Premier League record for points accumulated by a second place finisher this past season.
In fact, only two sides in the entire PL era surpassed the the 97 points they accrued this year- Manchester City (98) this season and last (100).
-Virgil van Dijk, the reigning PFA Player of the Year, hopes to use the pain from last year’s loss to Madrid as motivation to not have the same negative emotions when the final whistle sounds in this one.
“I took a lot of experience from it; hopefully I can use that,” the Dutchman is quoted by the BBC.
“Losing a final is painful.”
-The primary scapegoat for last year’s loss was goalkeeper Loris Karius, who was directly responsible for two of the three goals that Madrid scored. Karis has since been replaced by Alisson, the Brazilian #1 who was on the Reds’ UCL semi-final opponent, AS Roma last season.
Alisson felt bad for what happened with Karius, and offered some support for his predecessor.
“I was saddened. We know the feeling of making a mistake in a competition as big as the Champions League.”
“It’s something that can stick with you for the rest of your career,” Alisson told ESPN,”but in life we always have the chance to make it better. I try to stay aware of everything.”
“When I do something well, I don’t let it get to my head. And when I make a mistake, I don’t let it either.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, also contributes to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.