Champions League: Ranking 5 Liverpool players who could be decisive in the final

Liverpool will play their most important game of the season when they face fellow English club Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League final in Madrid. Jurgen Klopp has taken the Reds into the Champions League final for 2 consecutive seasons, but Liverpool lost to Real Madrid in the 2017/18 final.

Hence, they cannot afford to lose another final of the biggest event of European football. Spurs might be the underdog in the tie, losing to Klopp's side at their home and away Premier League games. However, Spurs also have top players who can trouble the favorites Liverpool.

They put up a valiant fight when they visited Klopp's men at Anfield and were arguably the better side in the second half. Pochettino's men also want to avoid losing 3 times a season to Liverpool.

This time, the match could possibly be expected to be centered on the flanks due to the scintillating wingers on both sides such as Lucas Moura, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah. Here we will take a look at 5 of the Red's stars who could be decisive in the battle.

#5 Fabinho

Liverpool FC v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Premier League

Fabinho has improved significantly under Jurgen Klopp in Liverpool's recent matches. Many had doubted if he would break through into the Reds' regular starting XI after a slow start. He started just once in his first 4 matches for Liverpool.

Klopp even chose Jordan Henderson to play the holding midfield role ahead of him on several occasions despite the Englishman naturally being a central midfielder. However, his steady improvement has been evident since his standout performance against Cverna Zvezda in the Champions League group stage.

He played a key part in making a miraculous comeback against Barcelona in the semifinal. Now, he will have a huge task stopping Spurs' midfielders such as Moussa Sissoko and Christian Eriksen.

Sissoko has been such a revelation for Spurs after his stunning turnaround. Eriksen, on the other hand, is considered to be one of the best offensive-minded midfielders in the Premier League.

#4 Mohamed Salah

The Egyptian superstar has turned out to be a phenomenon for Liverpool since joined from AS Roma before the start of the 17/18 season. He broke numerous individual records in his debut season for the Reds after he racked up a massive 32 league goals from 36 appearances.

He endured some difficulties at the start of this term which led to speculation about him being a mere 'one season wonder'. Nevertheless, he still retains his Premier League Golden Boot award despite only managed to net 22 goals.

His reputation as one of Europe's deadliest wingers will surely instill fear to Spurs's backline. A lightning-quick and agile forward who is capable of scoring as well as providing assists, Salah will be Liverpool's main goalscoring threat alongside Sadio Mane in Madrid.

#3 Andy Robertson

The Scottish star joins Virgil Van Dijk and Allison Becker as Klopp's most successful defensive signings. The trio has played a key role for transforming Liverpool into an impregnable force this season.

Bought for just €9 million from Hull City in 2017, the 25-year-old has become arguably the best left back Europe. An energetic and pacey defender who excels at both defense and attack, he can cause a lot of trouble for Spurs.

This campaign, he has racked up 11 league assists and has deservedly cemented his place in the PFA Team of the Year. He will be up against Lucas Moura (should he start) who was Spurs' semifinal hero. Everybody knows that the Brazilian is a tricky winger who will not be easy to deal with.

However, given Robertson's excellent performances against teams such as Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the Scottish international is almost guaranteed to be up for the fight.

#2 Trent Alexander-Arnold

The Liverpool academy graduate has been nothing short of phenomenal this campaign. He has become increasingly popular since Jurgen Klopp called him into The Red's senior team in 2017/18 season. Nathaniel Clyne gave him a fierce competition for the right back slot, forcing Arnold to make just 19 appearances in Alexander-Arnold's debut season.

This season, he has become one of Klopp's most impressive players from right back and has completely ousted Clyne from the club, let alone the starting XI.

A quick defender with superb vision, Alexander-Arnold racked up massive 12 assists in the Premier League alone, arguably the best among right backs in the league. He will be deployed head-to-head against the explosive Heung-Min Son in the final. The Korean has established himself as one of Spur's best players this campaign.

#1 Sadio Mane

The former Metz player has had a successful career since he joined Austrian club Salzburg in 2012. It wasn't too difficult to adapt to a new club despite has switched team for 3 times. However, he seems to have developed the most under Klopp's system.

The Senegalese star is now at the peak of his career, as he recently won the Premier League Golden Boot award alongside Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The 27-year-old racked up a massive 22 league goals this campaign, the best in his entire career as a professional footballer.

An explosive, lightning-quick winger who can score goals with ease, Mane will be Liverpool's most dangerous threat in Madrid. Spurs might have a plethora of top-class defenders such as Jan Vertonghen, but their right back slot has been their weakest link.

Kieran Trippier has under-performed this entire season and can be beaten with relative ease. Thus, Liverpool will most likely grab a goal or two if Mane can capitalize on Trippier's weakness.