Tottenham Hotspur will take on Liverpool in the Champions League final and despite everyone pitching the Anfield outfit as favourites, Spurs are anything but a walkover side.
Despite failing to bring in a single player during the past two transfer windows, Mauricio Pochettino has worked wonders with the current bunch of players. And on the other hand, there is Liverpool, who have been in exceptional form during the 2018-19 season but right now they have nothing to show for it.
And if Tottenham Hotspur can beat Jurgen Klopp’s side at the Metropolitano next month, then it could be a major setback for Liverpool.
According to John Aldridge, the fact that there is such a huge gap between the end of the domestic season and the Champions League final might eventually end up benefitting Tottenham Hotspur.
“The three-week gap between the end of the Premier League season and next Saturday’s Champions League final probably works against Liverpool ahead of their showdown with Tottenham in Madrid,” Aldrige wrote.
“Liverpool were in great form as they won their last 10 league games and even though there were some tired legs on show in the last couple of matches, Jurgen Klopp’s men would have gone into a game against a clearly jaded Tottenham as warm favourites if the final was played a week later.
“However, a 20-day gap without a game is a long time for a footballer and it means both sides may take some time to get up to speed in the final, with a long preparation period ahead of a massive game bringing back miserable memories for me.”
He has pointed out that it was Tottenham Hotspur who perhaps gave the toughest fight to Liverpool in the Premier League this past season so Pochettino has an idea on how to dismantle this Liverpool juggernaut.
“There is a strong argument to suggest Liverpool deserve a trophy after an incredible season of consistency from Klopp’s players, but that is not the way football works and in a one-off game, Tottenham have a real chance to create history of their own,” he added.
“There is no question that Mauricio Pochettino’s men are a serious threat to Liverpool in Madrid and they confirmed as much with their performance in the Premier League game at Anfield in March.
“Spurs were arguably Liverpool’s toughest opponents at Anfield in the league season and if Moussa Sissoko had taken a golden chance to fire his side ahead in the second half of that game, it could have been the away team celebrating at the end.
“Tottenham took that game to a Liverpool side who were pushing forward in their desperation to keep up with Man City and it is a game that will encourage them to believe they can get what would be the greatest win in the club’s history.”
