Liverpool right back Trent Alexander-Arnold says he won’t be intimated by Cristiano Ronaldo during the UEFA Champions League Final on Saturday. TAA says that he has a healthy respect for CR7 and the rest of his Real Madrid teammates, their opposition this weekend, but it’s not too much respect. He’s got the right attitude, and that’s clearly a product of stellar leadership by third year manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds have defied the odds all season long in order to get to this point, with the opportunity to grasp their sixth European Cup title imminent this weekend. It’s easy to understand why some might find Madrid intimidating, as they have won three of the last four Champions League titles. However, Liverpool are a side that just seems built for competitions like this.
โItโs not easy, but itโs possible,” Klopp said about going up against great white.
“And itโs cool playing against Real Madrid. Theyโre the defending champions, and theyโve won back-to-back titles in this competition. Theyโve done really well under Zinedine Zidane.”
โHeโs one of the top 10, top five players of all time. And now heโs the coach of Real Madrid, a hugely experienced team on the pitch. Thatโll be a nice challenge. Iโm glad weโre not playing against each other!
“Me against him, marking him or whateverโฆ Iโm very glad I can send my players onto the pitch.โ
Theย Sports Bank’s Liverpool FC Starting XI Prediction
ย LW –ย Sadio Maneย CF- Roberto Firminoย ย RW-ย Mohamed Salah
ย MF – James Milnerย ย MF-ย Giorgino Wijnaldumย ย MF- Jordan Henderson
LB- Andrew Robertsonย ย CB – Virgil van Dijkย ย ย CB – Dejan Lovrenย ย RB- Trent Alexander-Arnold
GK- Loris Karius
Injury report and team news for both teams:ย go to this link
Manager press conference videos: coming Friday
For a review of the Real Madrid Stadium Tour: go to this link
Odds: Real Madrid 4/6, Liverpool 6/5
Real Madrid starting XI Prediction:ย go to this link
Paul M. Banks runsย The Sports Bank.netย and TheBank.News, which is partnered withย News Now.ย Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times,ย NBC Chicago.comย andย Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly toย WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging communityย Chicago Now.
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