Guillem Balague: Liverpool's terrific trio more than a match for Ronaldo and Co

If football matches were decided on a simple player-by-player assessment and analysis then there really wouldn’t be much point in Liverpool even bothering to turn up for this weekend’s much-awaited Champions League final in Kiev.

But they aren’t, of course. No-one knows that better than Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

There is no question that the midfield of Liverpool is of less quality than that of Real Madrid. Especially bearing in mind the injuries suffered by the English side that has seen Adam Lallana and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ruled out and Emre Can facing a race against time to be in contention.

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Imagine for a second what would be the midfield if everybody had been fit and it might vary quite a lot to the one we will see in Kiev.

But even bearing that in mind, running through the two line ups, in my humble opinion only Virgil Van Dijk and Mo Salah would make it into the Real Madrid side ahead of anyone that is already there.

So it’s Madrid’s to win then? If only football was that simple.

Liverpool’s may not boast the greatest midfield of all time but what they have shown throughout this tournament is that they are one that knows exactly what they have to do.

They have shown a desire to track back and when they do win the ball, deliver it quickly as they look to create fluidity and continuity to their game.

At the back they are much stronger than they were, particularly with Van Dijk in there but if they decide to defend deep against this Real Madrid side it will not be a football match so much as a kamikaze mission.

Against Manchester City, Liverpool played an excellent high pressure game; concentrated and organised, so when they saw their chances, they grabbed them with both hands.

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I am convinced this is where the key to a potential success lies for Liverpool. Pressure high and to force mistakes in the passing specially in the early stages of Real Madrid construction of the move. There is absolutely no reason why they should not do the same thing against Real Madrid as they did in their matches with Manchester City.

Herein lies the mystery. The enigma that is Real Madrid; a team with so much quality that they can build from the back with short passes and no mistakes, and if they beat the first line of pressure can then be very dangerous with the space.

They can also play long to Ronaldo, Bale or Benzema or whoever happens to get the nod, which means they beat two lines of pressure.

That’s the bad news for Liverpool fans. The good news is that they also have it in their locker to be so dreadful, slapdash and slipshod on occasions when building from the back that just about everyone is exposed.

Trouble is you’re never sure which Madrid is going to turn up but Liverpool will need to be aware of it. If their first line of defence is breached then tracking back and making sure no spaces are left will be vital. It is also absolutely exhausting but the only way to defend against such team. Pressuring high is fundamental to their plans.

And especially of course when you have the attacking three that Liverpool have which against a disorganised Real Madrid – and believe me, this season they have on occasions been monumentally disorganised – can cause a world of pain.

If Real Madrid manage to impose their short passing game onto Liverpool and take control meaning Liverpool have to defend in their own box, then I can only see one result.

It is precisely there where Real Madrid are at their most dangerous. Around the box they have so much quality, they can beat defenders with one-twos, create stuff from nowhere and they can also hit you from the wings. They will also look to involve Ronaldo and hopefully benefit from the striking prowess of the man who I truly believe is the greatest finisher ever to lace on a pair of boots.

Liverpool are not without their weaknesses, and I can’t wait to see how they defend once Marcelo start looping in his murderous crosses or when Benzema or Cristiano create havoc on the left hand side. If that happens we will need to see another side to Salah, namely one that tracks back and puts in a shift in defence. Likewise with Mané on the right hand side.

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There will be times that they will have to do that and this tires you out. This is also not a Liverpool side equipped to control the game for long spells so they will need to be physically sharp.

If they win, and win it they can, it will almost certainly happen from the sterling, stand out team efforts of 14 players rather than a starting 11. And Real Madrid have got much more to offer from the bench.

It’s going to be hard but I believe it could all come down to mistakes in the end; mistakes forced by Liverpool.

Having spoken to Klopp, I see a man who is relaxed enough to think it is not the end of the world whatever happens. He genuinely feels that this is an occasion that is meant to be enjoyed and suffered in equal measure. And he sees in his players a team that he has maximised by creating chaos, but also by utilising the organisation to get the very best out of the individuals.

I agree with Van Dijk who said he thought Liverpool were in a perfect position to do damage to Real Madrid simply because they had not faced a side like Liverpool this season.

Against Bayern Munich they conceded a hatful of chances and were unable to defend either high or low. If they do that with Liverpool’s front three waiting to pounce it could cost them dear. This Real Madrid side is there for the taking.

Juventus showed that if you go after them without fear or trepidation then they are vulnerable because they can lose position and control and make mistakes.

And finally if football has taught us anything over the years it’s that on a one-off game absoultely anything can happen.

If Liverpool do win the Champions League then as great an occasion as it will be, as far as Klopp is concerned it will not be the ultimate culmination and fulfilment of everyone’s dreams but rather the continuation of a process along the road being trod by the German coach.

Much has been made of the front three and rightly so. Salah has enjoyed a fantastic season as have Mané and Firmino who have provided splendid support. But whatever happens on Saturday in Kiev it is in those midfield positions where Klopp will really look to improve his side once the dust has settled.

The engine room that guarantees better control and allows you to succeed and prosper both with and without the ball.

But before then there’s a match to play.