I find both of these teams very entertaining to watch.

Madrid won't be able to keep up.

Liverpool had Klavan and Solanke coming off the bench for their most important match in a decade. Madrid had Bale, Nacho and Casemiro.

The reason why Liverpool are so fragile at the end of games is because their forwards (mostly Mane and Firmino, but Salah doesn't slack) put in a tremendous amount of work to help defend the middle and even their own end. Injuries to Lallana, Can and Ox have made them incredibly fragile. Especially Ox. The flexibility of him and Milner essentially gave them a 12th starter at forward/mid.

Trent did a nice job with a young, but talented Sane. But you put in vets like Bale, Ronaldo and Benzema, and there's going to be trouble. Lots of it.

I just hope everyone left can stay healthy. It should be incredibly, incredibly entertaining.

I'll fight you on that one!

I'm not sure what gave you the impression that I thought otherwise. Firmino is not human.

I simply said that Salah doesn't work as much as the other two.

My bad.

I'll fight you anyway, if you want.

haha

I've always thought that Markovic could be a good player and that he deserved a real shot...if for nothing else to make him marketable. I don't think I've ever had anyone agree with me on that one.

Are those fighting words?

so nobody gets hurt.

Fantastic. And yes I WILL be using that going forward!

the final. But I wouldn’t want either to have their first run in months come in a game like that. Maybe for extra time or a very very late sub.

He made his decision to go to Juve. He can try and get his UCL final runout with them.

If Lallana were to be healthy, I'd have no issue with him coming in as a second half sub. Liverpool have lacked bodies that can control the ball and put in a late shift. And that's exactly what Lallana is/does.

To transition attack will be the deciding factor in my opinion.

is my question. Both teams like to sit back and counter.

Pool running at Toni Kroos and Ramos with Marcelo/Carvajal up in the final third might be the winner.

Then again, Pool's midfield is less than stellar. Should be an entertaining match.

If they can do that injury free, and hopefully worry free, their chances will be better. A big concern with the midfield is falling behind and/or needing to change tactics during the match. The lack of available options limits what they can do. Hopefully they'll just score 5 or 6 and it won't matter.

You'd have to make Chelsea the favorites this weekend with Liverpool coming off such an emotional high and intense match.

That would mean that they have to play for 3 points in their last match against Brighton. Sure, it's a match they should win, but they won't have the luxury to rest players. On the other hand, a draw against Chelsea should seal the deal.

Meanwhile, the only options to rotate at midfield appear to be Moreno, Trent and Woodburn - none of which (save Trent) do I see Klopp willing to play against Chelsea.

Then of course there is Salah's chase for the Golden Boot.

Liverpool likely have two matches that they will be playing to win. And only Lovren and Trent are positions in which there wouldn't be a massive drop if either picked up even a short term injury! Yikes.

I just had a crazy thought. Liverpool could actually be playing the UCL final for their spot in next season's champion's league!

May the good Lord be generous with red cards on Ramos.

Not that UCL was going totally stale but the main challengers (among many) to Madrid/Barca have been Atletico and Juve--great teams but not exhilarating stuff like Liverpool.

I expect them to be fine.

I have no clue how athletes deal with the pressure.

I just made myself a bloody mary -- medicinal purposes.

You gotta love shitty turnovers!

Chicken Kiev for all my friends!!!

the negronis I drink tonight will be negronis of profound sadness.

They are delicious cocktails.

that nobody wants good things to happen to Zinedine Zidane.

Boot to the throat.