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Kevin Kilbane's Champions League final verdict

Will Liverpool make it No 6 or will it be Tottenham who end up with a maiden Champions League? We...



Kevin Kilbane's Champions Leag...
Soccer

Kevin Kilbane's Champions League final verdict

Will Liverpool make it No 6 or will it be Tottenham who end up with a maiden Champions League?

We'll find out on Saturday night in Madrid and our own Kevin Kilbane is already in the Spanish capital.

He joined us to preview the all-Premier League final.

The recent head-to-head trend has gone in Liverpool's favour.

"You look at the stats on it and Liverpool have won nine of the last 14 against Spurs," said Kevin.

"Spurs have only won one of those. So recent history suggests Liverpool will win this game. But there have been a lot of close games in the last couple of years, the way that it's gone.

"If we look at the game in the last few months at Anfield, Tottenham were more than in that game. They could've won it and had great chances to go and win the match."

Full-back Battle

He also picked out the full-back area as the key to winning the final.

"I think the game will be won and lost in the full-back areas," he said.

"Can Tottenham stop Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Roberston getting forward? I think what we're going to see is a congested midfield. Both sides are going to play quite narrow - man for man almost in the midfield areas.

"And it will be full-back against full-back and it's who's going to come out on top in those areas that will win the game."

Harry Kane, Champions League Tottenham forward Harry Kane, left, controls the ball during a training session at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Friday May 31, 2019. English Premier League teams Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are preparing for the Champions League final which takes place in Madrid on Saturday night. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Kevin also touched on the Harry Kane issue as the Tottenham player aims to regain a starting spot after two months out.

"Personally, I would probably start him. He's probably done enough training, enough of the work in the last 4-5 weeks, I'd imagine now," said Kevin.

"I think Harry Kane will be a focal point certainly."

As for a winner, he's predicting Liverpool to "just about shade it".

You can listen to the full chat on the podcast player below:

Kevin Kilbane's Champions League final verdict

00:00:00 / 00:00:00

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Andy Robertson Champions League Football Harry Kane Kevin Kilbane Liverpool Off The Ball Tottenham Trent Alexander-Arnold