Liverpool will bid to get over their Premier League disappointment by lifting a seventh European Cup this weekend as they take on Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
An unprecedented quadruple may no longer be on the table, yet Jurgen Klopp’s men will be highly motivated to get the job done in Paris and end what has been a remarkable season on a high.
In this competition, they have faced some stiff competition which included last season’s champions of Italy and Spain, making it even more impressive that they won 12 of their 13 Champions League fixtures.
It was less straightforward for Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid who suffered defeat in one of their two ties against each of PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City in the knockout stages en route to the final. They showed great character to weather storms and launch memorable comebacks, yet many are predicting Liverpool’s intensity and quality to be too much for them in this game.
While Liverpool can boast being the stronger side in most areas, there is still a vulnerability to their game that could cost them dear this weekend, and the same is a consequence of their infamous high defensive line.
Their high line has caused plenty of debate in recent years, though its benefits can’t be ignored.
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Many opponents Liverpool face retreat into their own defensive half when they are without the ball, aiming to remain compact and with a view of restricting space for Liverpool to exploit.
In response, Liverpool’s central defenders push high to the halfway line, sometimes even beyond it, penning the opposition inside their own half. When Klopp’s side loses the ball, they counter-press and are very good at it, with the defensive line so high.
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