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5 reasons why Liverpool will win this year’s Champions League final

By Shane McFarland

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Head coach Juergen Klopp of FC Liverpool and his players celebrate after the UEFA Champions League Semi Final second leg match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Anfield on May 7, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Head coach Juergen Klopp of FC Liverpool and his players celebrate after the UEFA Champions League Semi Final second leg match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Anfield on May 7, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MAY 14: (EDITORS NOTE: Image is a digital composite) Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold at Melwood Training Ground on May 14, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MAY 14: (EDITORS NOTE: Image is a digital composite) Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold at Melwood Training Ground on May 14, 2019 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) /

5. The dynamic duo of Trent Alexander-Arnold & Andy Robertson

Whether it is a sign of the times or the genius of Jürgen Klopp’s philosophy and style of play (maybe both), Liverpool have deployed their full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson more effectively than any team on the continent this season. Alexander-Arnold recorded more assists (12) than any other defender in the history of the English top-flight this season, while Robertson tied the previous record with his 11 assists, and as The Guaradian’s Jonathan Wilson makes note of, their 30 total contributions towards goals accounted for more than a third of Liverpool’s output this year, eight more than Huddersfield recorded all season. Think about that.

Whether it be from overlapping runs to create space and opportunity out on the wings for Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah to cut inside, their ability to drop crosses from outside the 18-yard box into threatening areas on a dime or create on their own with runs to the end line for equally devastating passes across goal, this is a duo like English football has not seen before.

One of the only saving graces may be if a fit Harry Kane returns to the Spurs’ lineup alongside Son Heung-min and semi-final hero Lucas Moura in a front three, thereby forcing Alexander-Arnold and Robertson to honor their defensive positioning more and getting forward less. Either way, the pairing of the young English full-back Alexander-Arnold and the Scottish captain Robertson will prove crucial in Liverpool’s quest for Champions League glory and could give Spurs fits if Mauricio Pochettino does not have an answer for them.

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