Tottenham Hotspur will perhaps play in their biggest game in recent times when they face off against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League final.
The Merseyside club will have a shot at redemption having learnt from last year’s defeat in Kyiv, while for Spurs, this final is more of unchartered territory.
Both the clubs pulled off miraculous comebacks in the semi-finals, and are only one step away from lifting the most prestigious accolade in club football.
Tottenham team news
The fitness of Harry Kane seems to be the only worrisome issue in the Spurs dugout after the star striker took a heavy knock in the quarter-final clash against Manchester City.
The likes of Jan Vertonghen, Dele Alli and Danny Rose will be 100% fit and are expected to start after working through minor issues in training.
Spurs left-back Ben Davies and centre-back Davinson Sanchez are nearing full fitness as well, with the former returning from a hernia operation.
Victor Wanyama also remains a doubt after suffering a knock in the semi-final game against Ajax.
Predicted Tottenham lineup vs Liverpool
Defence
Hugo Lloris will start in goal for the North London club with the first-choice centre-back pairing of Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld in front of him. Kieran Trippier and Rose will occupy the full-back spots, although Serge Aurier is back from injury and available for selection.
The resolute Lilywhites defence will face a tough task against the energetic trio of Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, and Sadio Mane.
Midfield
The Argentine manager is likely to use the double pivot of Winks and Sissoko to provide more protection to the back four. Trippier has been the weak link, who often leaves space behind him to get exploited by the opposition. And with Mane to play on the left, the Senegalese footballer will run riot if the English full-back commits the same mistake again and again.
Having someone like Sissoko on the right-flank to cover for Trippier seems like a wise choice. The full-back can then move freely in the opposition half and pose an offensive threat, pegging the Reds back into their own half, thus reducing the chances of conceding.
Winks is more likely to start alongside the Frenchman, providing the offensive threat in the Tottenham lineup to push back the Liverpool press.
Attack
The quarter of Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, Lucas Moura, and Son Heung-Min should feature in attack, as they seem to have the perfect balance to hit Liverpool on the counter.
Eriksen and Alli can also provide the creative impetus when Spurs have the ball with Son and Moura making the movement to upset the Liverpool defence that has been watertight more often than not.
The likes of Kane and Llorente could be used in the second half. Kane isn’t match-fit yet, so it’s unlikely Pochettino will take the decision to start him.
