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Liverpool have been as unlikely a finalist as we have seen in recent times but if you have been following their campaign closely, you'd know that none of their exploits is due to sheer luck.
Jurgen Klopp's side has struggled on occasion in the Premier League. But they have been a force to reckon with and then some in Europe and there are plenty of factors that have propelled them to the brink of Champions League glory.
Let's take a look at 5 of the main reasons why Liverpool have been dominant in Europe this season.
#5 Anfield, the fortress
When it comes to attaining success in Europe, you can't afford to slip up at home. And doing that requires a lot of consistency. Anfield has always been one of the most hostile places to visit for travelling clubs and their fans and this season has been no different.
It is at Anfield that all of Liverpool's most important ties were decided. The quarter-final tie against Manchester City was expected to go the Cityzens' way. But Klopp and his men had different ideas. They were rampant in the first leg at Anfield and put 3 past Ederson to pile up the pressure on Manchester City and they crumbled.
In the semi-final tie against Roma, Liverpool put as many as 5 past their opponents and nearly sealed a spot in the final after the first leg. Liverpool have been undefeated at home in the Champions League this season and that has gone a long way in helping them have a real shot at glory now.
#4 Coming out swinging every single time
As opposed to the pragmatic setup in which football seems to have got trapped, Liverpool are not really big on their defence. Though Virgil van Dijk's signing has greatly improved their defending, Liverpool still leak goals and the only way to counter that, as far as they are concerned, is to whack in as many goals as possible.
So no matter what the occasion is, Liverpool will come out swinging. This is the same mentality and attitude that helped them do the double over City in the quarter-final tie. This helped them in defusing an inspired AS Roma side as well.
The best part about this is that when Liverpool and their opponents are hunting for goals, it always makes for a thrilling watch with innumerous chances being created on either end. The AS Roma vs Liverpool second leg is a good example of that.
#3 The young and the old guard stepping it up
Liverpool will count themselves extremely unlucky as they will be without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the final and they are justified in feeling that way. Chamberlain is a player who is measured and made for the big occasion. His driving runs from midfield often creates the spark that fetches them goals at the other end of the pitch.
The Merseysiders have had some stellar individual performers. While the Fab 3 have been nearly unstoppable, players like Andrew Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Milner, in particular, have really turned up and stepped up to the task.
Milner, who shifted to his favoured central midfield role this season, now has the highest number of assists registered by any player in one Champions League campaign with 8. Robertson and Alexander-Arnold have been revelations this season and it would be fitting if they can keep it up for a bit longer and do the unthinkable against Real Madrid at Kiev.
#2 Results matter in the Champions League and that works in Liverpool's favour
If the point sounded vague, I'll break it down for you. Liverpool have had trouble only when pitted against teams that are too wary of Liverpool's attacking impetus. Manchester United did not allow Liverpool to get the better of them on both occasions and they managed to do so by parking the bus at Anfield and then pulling off a smash and grab at Emirates.
On both occasions, United defended deep and they could afford to come away with just a point at Anfield. At Old Trafford, once they got two goals ahead, they shut up shop and there are fewer teams better at doing that while in lead than Manchester United.
But in the Champions League, where teams are looking to score goals and take the game to the opposition, they play right into Liverpool's hands. Liverpool's main weapons like gegenpressing and breakneck counters find the perfect field to flourish on nights like these and once a team has committed too many players forward, they are always in danger of conceding.
And there is every chance they will concede once they do that because...
#1 The best attacking trio in Europe- Fab 3
Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah are 3 players that could send shivers down any defensive line's spine. Their unmatched speed and quality on the ball has torn apart teams like Manchester City, AS Roma and FC Porto in the Champions League.
Salah has been in sensational form this season and his ability to pop up in the right places in the box and to keep a cool head when presented an opportunity to score are assets that Liverpool have greatly benefitted from this season.
Sadio Mane is always running and so is Roberto Firmino. Firmino never gives up and is always chasing down the loose balls and putting in more tackles than most defensive midfielders and even centre-backs have this season.
Together, they make for as deadly a trio as any in the world and given that all of them are lethal in front of goal, Liverpool haven't had to worry about raking in the goals this season.
