Champions League final: FIFA 19 predicts Liverpool v Tottenham

Predicting the outcome of Saturday’s tantalising all-English Champions League final between Tottenham and Liverpool is no easy feat.

The Reds agonisingly missed out on the Premier League title by a solitary point to Manchester City and, having lost in the showpiece of Europe’s premier club competition to Real Madrid 12 months ago, you could argue Jurgen Klopp’s side have the edge.

However, on the flip side, the stars have aligned for Spurs. Mauricio Pochettino’s men escaped from the group stages despite gaining only one point from their first three games, survived a last-gasp VAR review against City in the quarters and then eliminated Ajax with an injury-time goal from Lucas Moura.

So, if recent form is not making it any easier to pick a winner, we at Omnisport decided to ask for a little help from the in-depth world of FIFA 19?

Setting up a CPU v CPU Tottenham v Liverpool scenario, we let the video game decide the outcome in Madrid for us! Take a look at how things transpired below…

THE TEAMS:

Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Hugo Lloris; Kieran Tripper, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose; Moussa Sissoko, Victor Wanyama, Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli, Son Heung-min; Harry Kane.

Subs: Paulo Gazzaniga, Ben Davies, Davinson Sanchez, Eric Dier, Erik Lamela, Lucas Moura, Fernando Llorente.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum; Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino.

Subs: Simon Mignolet, Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren, James Milner, Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi, Xherdan Shaqiri.

FIRST HALF

The teams made their way out onto the pitch to a rousing reception at the Wanda Metropolitano…

Jordan Henderson and Hugo Lloris led their teams out to a rousing reception at the Wanda Metropolitano…#UCLFinal #TOTLIV pic.twitter.com/YmoX5iUufM

— Omnisport (@OmnisportNews) May 30, 2019

Tottenham were on the front foot early doors and Dele Alli went close with this near-post header…

Close…but no cigar!

Tottenham started brightly and Dele Alli tried his luck with a front-post header.#UCLFinal #TOTLIV pic.twitter.com/E208xAI2EZ

— Omnisport (@OmnisportNews) May 30, 2019

Liverpool quickly grew into the game and virtual Sadio Mane proved just as effective as the real version when brilliantly heading home Mohamed Salah’s teasing cross after 20 minutes…

The Reds soon settled, though, and…

Sadio Mane’s thumping header put Liverpool in front! #UCLFinal #TOTLIV pic.twitter.com/QfxRRfENrn

— Omnisport (@OmnisportNews) May 30, 2019

But the Reds were quickly caught cold. Alli’s dummy run from a corner left Liverpool’s defence confused and Jan Vertonghen powered home Christian Eriksen’s centre!

But hold the phone!

Jan proved the man for Spurs as some slack Liverpool marking saw Vertonghen level things up!#UCLFinal #TOTLIV pic.twitter.com/tbKlkMSRd4

— Omnisport (@OmnisportNews) May 30, 2019

SECOND HALF

The teams remained level until the break, but Spurs’ computer-generated supporters were soon celebrating wildly after this long-range thunderbolt from Alli!

Ohhhhh yer beautyyyy!

Things truly turned around thanks to this thunderbolt from Dele Alli!#UCLFinal #TOTLIV pic.twitter.com/APKM1MRjLa

— Omnisport (@OmnisportNews) May 30, 2019

But, just like the real Liverpool, Klopp’s side threw the proverbial kitchen sink at Spurs, leading to this well-taken leveller from Salah.

Mo Salah, Mo Salah, Mo Salah…

But Liverpool weren’t done and the Reds’ Egyptian talisman made it 2-2!#UCLFinal #TOTLIV pic.twitter.com/ELNxrmoHOu

— Omnisport (@OmnisportNews) May 30, 2019

EXTRA TIME

That goal took the match into extra-time and, after a nervy opening additional period, Fabinho – of all people – had ice running through his veins with this cool finish in the closing moments!

Cometh the hour…cometh the man!

An unlikely goalscorer but Fabinho was the man to put Liverpool ahead deep into extra time! #UCLFinal #TOTLIV pic.twitter.com/gz6gHHzjHC

— Omnisport (@OmnisportNews) May 30, 2019

A desperate Spurs pushed forward in search of an equaliser that would force a dramatic penalty shoot-out…but Harry Kane’s header failed to find a way past Alisson.

Last chance saloon?

Harry Kane tried…but it wasn’t to be for Spurs…#UCLFinal #TOTLIV pic.twitter.com/1B6q9tu5uj

— Omnisport (@OmnisportNews) May 30, 2019

Jordan Henderson lifted the trophy and Liverpool were left celebrating Champions League glory after a 3-2 thriller!

So, there we have it…@EASPORTSFIFA reckons we’re in for a thrilling 3-2 win for Liverpool against Spurs in Madrid on Saturday!

Lift away, Jordan, lift away…#UCLFinal #TOTLIV pic.twitter.com/ULndDygnPf

— Omnisport (@OmnisportNews) May 30, 2019

So, there we have it. FIFA 19 reckons we’re in for a back-and-forth match in Madrid! Now it’s over to the real Tottenham and Liverpool to do battle for real…