Isco starting for Real Madrid and other deciding factors against Liverpool

LIVERPOOL’S CHANGE IN APPROACH

When the Reds are at full throttle, they’re nigh on impossible to defend against. Their devil-may-care attitude is endearing and ever so effective. It’s that fearlessness and vigour in attack which sees oppositions scrambling at the back.

But is that how they will approach this game, the biggest and most important of their lives? Every Liverpool supporter will hope that they produce the kind of ruthless attacking football which has brought them so far but that’s easier said than done.

The Reds are fully aware that they face arguably the most daunting team in Champions League history simply on the basis of their track record. Madrid are looking to secure their third title on the trot and fourth in five years. The competition has never before witnessed this level of utter domination.

As such, the Merseysiders may feel compelled to curb their natural instincts and practice caution but nothing would hurt them more. It was when they tried to see out a result at Rome in the semi-finals that they lost 4-2 and only just sneaked through to the final 7-6 on aggregate.

Every time they’ve taken their foot off the gas against quality opposition this season, they’ve looked vulnerable. Madrid are strongest on the counter but are still adept at breaking down teams, more so than Liverpool, it could be argued.

Adopting anything less than their usual enthusiasm in attack would invite Madrid onto them and give the defending champions the upper hand.

PERFORMANCES IN FULL-BACK ROLES

Much has already been said about the battle between Mohamed Salah and Marcelo. The concern is that while the Madrid left-back is one of the best full-backs in the world in attack, his ventures forward regularly leaves space in behind him to exploit. On current form, no one is more equipped to take advantage of that than Salah.

On the other hand, Marcelo’s advances may force the Egyptian to track his runs and if he doesn’t, that could leave young Trent Alexander-Arnold faced with the double threat of the marauding left-back and Cristiano Ronaldo.

As such, the duel between the two is being touted as the most mouthwatering individual battle in the final and rightly so. In fact, all four full-backs on show share the same strengths and weaknesses in some capacity.

However, Alexander-Arnold has the added aerial threat of Ronaldo to contend with. There’s only one winner in that duel.

How the full-backs on both sides perform on the night will have a huge part to play in the final result.

ISCO STARTING THE GAME

Madrid’s game against Villarreal last week felt like a dress rehearsal for the Champions League final and if that’s true, Isco will start against Liverpool in a 4-3-1-2 formation in behind Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

The inclusion of the Welshman from the start is debatable but even in the event that Karim Benzema line-ups alongside Ronaldo instead, the system remains the same. Isco’s presence means Madrid are bound to dominate the middle of the park while retaining a threat on the break.

A midfield three of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos will command possession, especially with Isco dropping in and getting involved as well. The Spaniard also links the midfield with the two forwards up front and his ability to slide throughballs into their paths will be key in an opportunity to counter-attack.

Playing Isco does mean that Madrid will be reliant on their full-backs for genuine width and keeping tabs on Liverpool’s will be tricky. However, the attacking midfielder’s inclusion will provide the most avenues to goal from open play and Los Blancos are bound to create more chances with him than in his absence.