Skip to content

5 key battles to watch in the all-English Champions League final

John Walton - EMPICS / PA Images / Getty

If player-to-player matchups were the sole determining factor in a one-off fixture, Liverpool would have suffered a one-sided defeat to a stacked AC Milan side littered with world-class stars not named Djimi Traore in the famed Miracle of Istanbul.

An injury-riddled Liverpool would have also been stopped in their tracks by Barcelona in the semifinal second leg at Anfield in April. Instead, Jurgen Klopp's charges produced one of the memorable team displays of the 2018-19 continental campaign. Even though matchups on paper offer only a glimpse of the story, the Champions League final in Madrid will be highlighted by several compelling one-on-one battles between familiar foes.

Kieran Trippier vs. Andrew Robertson

Tottenham right-back Kieran Trippier has been a major letdown. Perhaps it's an enduring World Cup hangover, or perhaps the 28-year-old's footballing zenith was last season's stunning breakthrough.

Shaun Botterill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Either way, Trippier will have his hands full with Andrew Robertson. When afforded space, Trippier's capable of pinging quality deliveries into dangerous areas, though against a tireless, pressing team that smothers opponents, the England man won't be permitted such luxuries. Trippier's declining athleticism also poses a problem when tracking back to mark Robertson's frequent forays into attacking positions. Sadio Mane won't be far away, either.

Moussa Sissoko vs. Jordan Henderson

For an illustration of the leaps in quality that footballers can make in their late 20s, set your time machines to 2015 and cast your gaze on Moussa Sissoko and Jordan Henderson.

Shaun Botterill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Previously maligned, Sissoko and Henderson have enjoyed stellar 2018-19 campaigns, and the industrious midfielders will play a large part in their respective team's successes in Madrid. Sissoko has arguably been Spurs' best player, and with zero signings in successive windows, the Frenchman's versatility has been vital. For Henderson, hopes are that he can replicate the indefatigable and almost inconceivable display in the second leg against Barcelona. This is a matchup where endeavor outweighs artistry.

Dele Alli vs. Fabinho

While the core of Mauricio Pochettino's squad has enjoyed constructive hikes in quality over the past few seasons, 23-year-old midfielder Dele Alli hasn't progressed at the clip widely expected.

Warren Little / Getty Images Sport / Getty

He was poor in the semifinal first-leg defeat versus Ajax, and in the return fixture, despite recording a pair of assists on two of Lucas Moura's three goals, Alli completed just 75 percent of 38 passes attempted. Against Liverpool, Alli is likely to have midfield destroyer Fabinho lurking in his shadow and nipping at his ankles, and if the Brazilian's display against Barcelona is any indication, the former Monaco man will be up to the task of playing the agitator.

Heung-Min Son vs. Virgil van Dijk

Whether Pochettino opts for three-goal semifinal hero Moura or talisman Harry Kane up top, there's a certain inevitability to fellow attacker Heung-Min Son and his incessant sprints into dangerous areas.

Tottenham Hotspur FC / Tottenham Hotspur FC / Getty

Adept with either foot, part of Son's threat lies in the ability to attack from anywhere on the pitch, but there's arguably no defender better suited to snuff out the tricky South Korean than Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman received plaudits for a streak of more than a year without being dribbled past, but his penchant for making calculated decisions may be as important against a crafty player who's often the subject of punishable tackles in the penalty area.

Jan Vertonghen vs. Mohamed Salah

Much like the Son-Van Dijk matchup, Liverpool star Mohamed Salah may find that getting the better of Spurs defender Jan Vertonghen determines whether or not the effervescent Egyptian can make a decisive impact.

Visionhaus / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Salah, whose participation in the 2018 final versus Real Madrid was cut short at the half-hour mark due to a shoulder injury, lines up on the right side of Klopp's three-man attack and often profits from incisive runs at the intersection of the 18-yard box and touches in the opponent's penalty area. That's precisely the space Vertonghen typically gravitates toward, and the towering Belgian showed in the two league meetings this season that he's up to the unenviable duty of marking one of football's premier attackers.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox