3 finals in 5 years

[tombrown]

Diaz+Mane+Salah (+Jota) is a big improvement on Mane+Firmino+Salah

Can't disagree with most of your post, but i think this is doing a disservice to those 3 back then. The three were on fire, in fact that is where Fraudiolas famous quote of being scared of them came from. Today Diaz+Mane+Salah is an improvement on the current Mane+Firmino+Salah for sure, but not necessarily on the 2018 version. It took the break up of the trio by Ramos to give Madrid the edge. Of course we could survive such an attack better now due to our strength in depth.

 

[Frogfish]

Can't disagree with most of your post, but i think this is doing a disservice to those 3 back then. The three were on fire, in fact that is where Fraudiolas famous quote of being scared of them came from. Today Diaz+Mane+Salah is an improvement on the current Mane+Firmino+Salah for sure, but not necessarily on the 2018 version. It took the break up of the trio by Ramos to give Madrid the edge. Of course we could survive such an attack better now due to our strength in depth.

Holistic view : It's a big improvement because we now have 5 top quality forwards so if one or two aren't playing at the top level or tiredness we can sub on say Jota and / or Bobby. That is far better than subbing on Lallana & Solanke that were on the bench back then !

 

[Woland]

Look we'd have beaten them last time simply by swapping karius for Ali, and they're not even as good now.

 

[Modo]

So Matip or Konate, that's the question for me.
Personally I'd go Matip.

 

[The Nomad]

It's a tough one, Konate has played all the way through. I'd probably stick with him. Confidence booster going into next season.

 

[Woland]

Matip is possibly the best centre half playing footy right now so I'd have to agree. Feel bad for konate but he's young and is gonna be in more finals

 

[Frogfish]

Matip is possibly the best centre half playing footy right now so I'd have to agree. Feel bad for konate but he's young and is gonna be in more finals

Yep. This

 

[Hansern]

Konate played in the Kung Pao cup final and can play in the FA cup final. Matip plays the CL final. Sorted.

 

[doctor_mac]

Klopp has played Konate all the way through this competition and I think he will play him in the final. I'm sure he will, even though Matip has been a boss.

 

[The Nomad]

Klopp has played Konate all the way through this competition and I think he will play him in the final. I'm sure he will, even though Matip has been a boss.

My feeling as well.

 

[ctlovesred]

Konate has been mostly great in the CL. Benzema is another animal to anyone he's played against, though. I'd take the experience of Matip over the youth of Konate in this case. Plus, Matip gives us some unpredictability of our own going forward, which we will need.

 

[doctor_mac]

Konate has been mostly great in the CL. Benzema is another animal to anyone he's played against, though. I'd take the experience of Matip over the youth of Konate in this case. Plus, Matip gives us some unpredictability of our own going forward, which we will need.

Konate, it must be remembered, has been an absolute set-piece weapon. I also think about Vincius's pace behind Trent and think Konate's speed might be useful. I really do see the merits of Matip, and on balance, he would probably be the better call, but I just think this is like a Keheller in the League cup type commitment to Konate. I repeatedly expected to see Matip as the games got bigger, but Konate has played every game in the CL. I think Klopp would see it as a betrayal to not play the CB who partnered Virgil through this competition, and I think Matip will have been told from the start that the league will largely be his and the CL Konate's.

 

[ctlovesred]

Good point on the set piece threat of Konate. I wonder how loyal Klopp is to players in the various competitions, though. He may very well end up starting Konate but I doubt it will be out of some sense of justice. Other than Keheller, Klopp relied on his first teamers in that final IIRC. Either way, what a problem to have eh?

 

[Frogfish]

Matip or Konate. How nice to have options and not be worried about who starts. I do think Matip is more consistent though, Konate was awful (along with everyone else) in that first half vs Villarreal.

 

[bluebell]

What about Vinicius Jnr? One of the fastest footballers on earth. We saw what A Gordon could do on the right, and Vinicius is ten times the footballer. Real Madrid definately could smash us on the counter

 

[doctor_mac]

Good point on the set piece threat of Konate. I wonder how loyal Klopp is to players in the various competitions, though. He may very well end up starting Konate but I doubt it will be out of some sense of justice. Other than Keheller, Klopp relied on his first teamers in that final IIRC. Either way, what a problem to have eh?

Yeah, for sure it's a nice problem.

 

[rurikbird]

Konate, it must be remembered, has been an absolute set-piece weapon. I also think about Vincius's pace behind Trent and think Konate's speed might be useful. I really do see the merits of Matip, and on balance, he would probably be the better call, but I just think this is like a Keheller in the League cup type commitment to Konate. I repeatedly expected to see Matip as the games got bigger, but Konate has played every game in the CL. I think Klopp would see it as a betrayal to not play the CB who partnered Virgil through this competition, and I think Matip will have been told from the start that the league will largely be his and the CL Konate's.

There is no room for sentiment in the CL final, Matip is a slightly better CB at the moment and experience is what you need in a big game. If everyone is fit, Matip starts the final.

 

[Markeh]

Watch us play Virgil and Gomez together at the back now

 

[Modo]

Konate, it must be remembered, has been an absolute set-piece weapon. I also think about Vincius's pace behind Trent and think Konate's speed might be useful. I really do see the merits of Matip, and on balance, he would probably be the better call, but I just think this is like a Keheller in the League cup type commitment to Konate. I repeatedly expected to see Matip as the games got bigger, but Konate has played every game in the CL. I think Klopp would see it as a betrayal to not play the CB who partnered Virgil through this competition, and I think Matip will have been told from the start that the league will largely be his and the CL Konate's.

It's because we played Villarreal and Benfica.
Matip started every important group game.

 

[doctor_mac]

There is no room for sentiment in the CL final, Matip is a slightly better CB at the moment and experience is what you need in a big game. If everyone is fit, Matip starts the final.

Klopp is a sentimental man, and I'm sure he will play Konate. When there is so little between Matip and Konate, I just think Klopp is someone who believes in choosing with his heart as well as with his head. I could be completely wrong, but that's my reading.

 

[doctor_mac]

It's because we played Villarreal and Benfica.
Matip started every important group game.

Yeah, he played Matip against Athletico, which I completely understand, and maybe that's the clue he goes Matip. We'll see. I'd probably prefer, marginally, to see Matip start, but if Konate starts, I won't be concerned in the slightest.

 

[SummerOnions]

Pick Matip because who else will pass to Origi for him to score the second and decisive goal?

 

[rurikbird]

Klopp is a sentimental man, and I'm sure he will play Konate. When there is so little between Matip and Konate, I just think Klopp is someone who believes in choosing with his heart as well as with his head. I could be completely wrong, but that's my reading.

I think you are wrong here - for instance in the FA cup Kelleher played earlier rounds, but then Klopp said from a certain point “it’s Alli’s tournament,” which pretty much ended Kelleher’s season. Of course it’s much closer between Matip and Konate and I can see the arguments for the latter, but I really don’t think sentiments will play any role in that decision.

 

[rurikbird]

When Mo smiles and softly says "it's revenge time," you don't want to be his target...