The wait is almost over.
After what has felt like an entire pre-season break since the end of the Premier League campaign, the biggest match in the club football calendar is about to kick-off in Madrid, as Liverpool and Tottenham compete for Champions League glory.
The three-week break for both sides might arguably favour Spurs, who were seemingly running on fumes in April and May. The big question for them leading up to today was whether or not to select talisman Harry Kane from the start, given that he has been absent since suffering an ankle injury in the quarter-final first leg against Man City more than eight weeks ago.
The England captain had declared himself fit earlier in the week, giving Mauricio Pochettino the tough decision of choosing between their star man who is lacking in match sharpness, at the expense of Lucas Moura, their hat-trick hero from the thrilling semi-final against Ajax.
Tottenham: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Eriksen, Winks, Sissoko, Son; Alli; Kane
Subs: Vorm Gazzaniga, Sanchez, Lamela, Wanyama, Dier, Walker-Peters, Llorente, Foyth, Aurier, Moura, Davies
For Liverpool, they have fewer injury concerns to worry about. Roberto Firmino has recovered from his late-season injury problems, meaning that Naby Keita is the only potential starter that they are missing. This has left Jurgen Klopp with an almost fully fit squad to choose from, with the only real question being which three he would choose in midfield from the options of Henderson, Milner, Fabinho and Wijnaldum.
Well, the speculation is finally over and the teams are in. Harry Kane starts up front for Spurs. Harry Winks also comes into midfield after a two-month absence. Liverpool leave Milner on the bench.
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mané
Subs: Mignolet, Kelleher, Lovren, Milner, Gomez, Sturridge, Moreno, Lallana, Oxlande-Chaberlain, Shaqiri, Brewster, Origi
