A selection of the key facts, figures and statistics ahead of the European fixture with Real Madrid…
For the final time this season, we’ve been busy trawling the record books to bring you all the facts, figures and statistics you need to know about an upcoming match involving Liverpool.
And it doesn’t come any bigger than this one: Real Madrid in the Champions League final.
The two giants of the game clash at the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev on Saturday night with one looking for a third straight success in the competition and the other enjoying their first appearance at this stage for 11 years.
Here’s what caught our eye:
• Real Madrid, who are the most successful team in the history of the competition, are looking for a 13th success while Liverpool are after European Cup number six.
• The two sides have met on five previous occasions, all in the European Cup, with Liverpool winning the first three but losing the most recent two – 2014/15 group stage encounters (0-3 at Anfield and 1-0 at the Bernabéu).
• Arguably the most famous previous meeting was the 1981 final when Liverpool lifted the trophy for a third time in five years with a 1-0 win in Paris.
• That victory was Madrid’s last defeat in the final of this competition, winning the following six, and represents the only time an English side has triumphed over a Spanish one to lift the famous trophy – the other three England vs. Spain finals ending with FC Barcelona beating Arsenal 2-1 in 2006 and Manchester United in both 2009 (2-0) and 2011 (3-1).
• Overall their European Cup final record reads: P15, W12 L3. Liverpool’s: P7, W5 L2.
• Liverpool inflicted Madrid’s biggest UEFA Champions League defeat at Anfield in 2009 when two Steven Gerrard goals and further strikes from Fernando Torres and Andrea Dossena secured a 4-0 last 16 victory on the night and a 5-0 victory on aggregate.
• Victory in Kiev would make Real the fourth team to claim three successive European crowns – and the first to do it twice, following their victories in the first five European Cup finals between 1956 and 1960. Ajax (1971–73) and Bayern Munich (1974–76) are the only other clubs to have lifted the trophy three years running.
• Manager Zinédine Zidane could become the first manager to win three European Cups in a row, having become the first to win in consecutive seasons last year.
• No members of Liverpool’s squad have previously played in a Champions League final.
• Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Luka Modrić, Karim Benzema, Dani Carvajal, Marcelo and Isco could all appear in their fourth for the club.
• Los Blancos have scored in their last 27 Champions League outings, their most recent blank coming against English opposition – a goalless draw against Manchester City in the 2015/16 semi-final first leg.
• Liverpool’s unbeaten record in this season’s competition was ended by the 4-2 defeat at AS Roma in their semi-final second leg, the Reds progressing 7-6 on aggregate. Their record since matchday one is: P12, W7 D4 L1 F40 A13.
• Madrid’s record in this season’s competition is P12, W8 D2 L2 F30 A15. They have kept only three clean sheets in their 12 matches compared to six by the Merseysiders.
• Ronaldo’s two goals against Juventus in 2017 made him the first player to score in three Champions League finals, following goals in 2008, for Manchester United, and 2014.
• Ronaldo has scored 15 goals in this season’s competition – five more than any other player. He has had 33 shots on target and 33 shots off target, both also competition highs.
• Liverpool are the top scorers in this season’s Champions League with 40 goals – a record for an English club. Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino (both ten goals) and Sadio Mané (9) have contributed 29 of the goals.
• James Milner set a new Champions League record with his assist in the semi-final first leg – his ninth in this season’s competition.
VITAL LIVERPOOL PREDICTS A 3-2 LFC WIN
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