3 key strategies Liverpool could implement to beat Real Madrid

Jurgen Klopp is the new sunshine man in Liverpool. He has given millions of Liverpool supporters a reason to smile after more than a decade of frustration.

Liverpool are one match away from winning the biggest prize in club football which they last won in 2005 by beating AC Milan on a crazy night in Istanbul. Every Anfield faithful would like to see a repeat of that night in Kiev on 26th May, 2018.

However, winning the trophy for the 6th time is not going to be easy for Liverpool by any means. The might of Real Madrid stand between them and the trophy. Real are on the verge of winning their 3rd successive Champions League crown and almost always triumph on big Champions' League nights.

They are also the most successful club of all time, indisputably. We would like to have a look at 3 key strategies which could help Klopp’s Liverpool to get the better of Real Madrid in the final.

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#1 Using a 4-2-3-1 formation

Liverpool have been defied the odds to reach the 2018 final

Liverpool have mostly played with the 4-3-3 formation in this season so far. However, if their talismanic playmaker Adam Lallana is fit to play, Klopp could think of tweaking their formation and play with a 4-2-3-1 instead.

James Milner and Jordan Henderson could play as a double pivot in the midfield to take care of the perennial counter attacking threat of Madrid. Milner should constantly switch wings to give support to the Liverpool fullbacks and Henderson should play crucial lateral passes to the wings.

Lallana, having the experience of playing more than 100 games for Liverpool, could play as the central attacking midfielder with Mohammed Salah and Sadio Mane in the wings and Roberto Firmino as the lone striker.

This would mean that Lallana could slow the game down at times to give the Liverpool defence more time to reorganise. Also, he could play those vital final passes to Salah and Mane for them to have shots at the Madrid goal.

Liverpool have been lacking a creative influence at the centre of the pitch and Lallana could provide it.

However, if Lallana does not play, Liverpool would have to stick to their tried and tested 4-3-3 with Henderson, Milner and Wijnaldaum in the midfield.

All stats via transfermarkt

#2 Salah vs Marcelo

Liverpool talisman, Mo Salah

Mohamed Salah has been a revelation this season. The PFA player of the year has scored 44 goals in 52 matches for Liverpool and Real would be wary of him.

Usually Salah likes to cut inside from the wings to the penalty box, but against Real he should also try to beat Marcelo and go near the touchline before delivering a cross.

Zidane knows that Salah is the key man for Liverpool and therefore, the Real Madrid defenders would try to crowd the penalty box and stop Salah’s incisive runs.

Therefore he should try to dribble past Marcelo and deliver crosses into the penalty box. Those crosses could help the likes of Firmino and Mane to score.

#3 Deal with the counter-attacking threat of Real and Marcelo's overlaps

The Liverpool team celebrate a goal

Liverpool conceded 6 goals against Roma over 2 legs and their defence is definitely not something to write home about. Therefore, they would have to be extra cautious against the deadly counter-attacks of Real Madrid, especially through Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo has scored 44 goals in 43 matches for Real this season and would be eager to increase his tally in the final. Benzema too, would be hungry for more goals after having scored a brace against Bayern in the semifinal.

Milner should track back and provide adequate support to the Liverpool defenders in stopping the surging runs of the Real forwards. This is going to be very crucial in determining the fate of the final.

Also, Alexander-Arnold should properly deal with the attacking threat of Marcelo, Real's left back, who poses a perennial attacking threat through the left wing.

The Liverpool fullbacks should try to stay in their own half as much as possible. However, occasional overlaps would be a good idea.