Tomorrow night, Liverpool take on Real Madrid at the Stade de France in the Champions League final.
The Reds are hoping to add ol’ big ears to their domestic cup double while Los Blancos will do everything in their power to claim their 14th European Cup.
More importantly (well, not really), the highly-anticipated clash in Paris will bring the curtain down on the Dream Team campaign for 2021/22.
It goes without saying that any gaffers with transfer remaining should use them to bring in as many Anfield residents as possible.
With that in mind, let’s run through Liverpool’s team news ahead of tomorrow’s final.
On Wednesday, Jurgen Klopp said of Thiago Alcantara’s (£2.7m) Achilles problem: “He will be training this afternoon, he did some stuff this morning – it was not planned he was doing the [outside] session with the players.
“It’s surprisingly good. After the game, I was not positive but we got the news that night it didn’t look that bad.”
Elsewhere in midfield, Fabinho (£3.1m) has not featured since May 10th when he suffered a thigh injury against Aston Villa.
The Brazil international has surprised some with his Dream Team returns this term having amassed 121 points by virtue of eight goals in all competitions.
The 28-year-old has travelled with the squad to Paris but it’s not yet known what role, if any, he will play.
In more positive news, Virgil van Dijk (£6.6m) will start against Real Madrid after sitting out Liverpool’s last two league fixtures.
The big question is who will partner the imperious Dutchman, Joel Matip (£7.0m) or Ibrahima Konate (£4.9m)?
Both centre-backs have played 630 minutes each in the Champions League this season.
Instinctively, it feels likely Klopp will give the nod to Matip as the more experienced option.
So what is Liverpool’s most likely starting line-up?
Given that Thiago seems like more of a slim hope than probably starter, we reckon the XI will look something like this…
Liverpool’s best Dream Team performers this season:
- Mohamed Salah (£7.3m) – 331 points
- Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.9m) – 298 points
- Virgil van Dijk (£6.6m) – 249 points
- Andy Robertson (£6.2m) – 238 points
- Joel Matip (£7.0m) – 236 points
- Diogo Jota (£4.7m) – 225 points
- Sadio Mane (£5.6m) – 211 points
- Alisson (£4.5m) – 185 points
- Fabinho (£3.1m) – 121 points
- Roberto Firmino (£4.2m) – 116 points
The Egypt international has a 33-point lead over Liverpool’s playmaking right-back and, barring anything obscenely freakish, the pair will finish as Dream Team’s top two assets for 2021/22.
Good luck to all gaffers who need a big haul from their Liverpool contingent to snatch mini-league victory from the jaws of defeat!