As soon as Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League final, Mo Salah didn't wait around to reveal who he would like to join them in Paris.
We have a score to settle. pic.twitter.com/MWxfhIIW78
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) May 4, 2022
The Reds do have a score to settle with a Manchester City side that have twice pipped them to Premier League titles by a point over the past four seasons but it was obvious Real Madrid and the anguish of having the 2018 final ruined by the impact of a Sergio Ramos challenge was at the forefront of his mind.
He's got what he's wanted and Liverpool are favourites to win a second Champions League title in four seasons on Saturday night which will be live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player from 7pm.
But with this particular Real team, who revel in defying conventional wisdom, is it a case of be careful what you wish for?
"In any other game, you're looking at the quality of players in their squads and Liverpool you'd have them favourites all day long," former Ireland, Sunderland and Manchester City striker Stephen Elliott told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast alongside ex-Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers and The Independent chief football writer Miguel Delaney.
"But this is Real Madrid we're talking about and they're an absolute powerhouse in world football and it's no coincidence they won so many Champions League titles and European Cups over the years.
"Because as a club, no matter who's playing for that team, you always sense that they're going to be there or thereabouts and stay in big games.
"There's an energy which comes from their supporters and being a Real Madrid player, knowing the history of the club and that speaks for a lot when you're going into a final of a European competition and one that they've been in and been successful in so often.
"It's not going to be an easy game for Liverpool. I know people are saying they're favourites but I see this game going right into the early hours, possibly a penalty shootout.
"Some of the players Real Madrid have, they might be getting on in years but they've still got quality. (Karim) Benzema straight away comes to mind.
"His goalscoring record this year has been phenomenal and with (Luka) Modric and Toni Kroos, there are still players there that at any given moment in a game can change it.
"I think it's going to be a really tough game and it'll be tight and I expect it to go right into the early hours."
Rogers, who started and won numerous cup finals during his playing career, though pointed to the Liverpool press as key to stifling the Real threat at source.
"The energy Liverpool have in their press, if they can win the ball in dangerous areas and punish them, it's about taking your chances in finals and if they have that conviction with those chances, I think they will win the game," he said.
"Real Madrid will be licking their lips for this game"
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) May 27, 2022
Stephen Elliott is expecting tomorrow's #UCLfinal to potentially go all the way to penalties #RTESoccerPodcast #RTESoccer #LIVRMA #LFC
📺 Full preview: https://t.co/pSWDCdd2aU
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"But if Real Madrid can stay in the game, it will be very, very dangerous for Liverpool because they have that know-how and have serious quality players who may feel it's their last opportunity to win a Champions League final."
While Madrid are rarely underdogs, the fact that they are this time suits them, Elliott added.
"It could go any way and Real Madrid will be licking their lips for this game because they'll be liking the fact that no one really expects them to win it," he said.
"They'll be wanting to prove everybody wrong to say, 'We're Real Madrid, we're a big team and we're in this final for a reason' and the fact that they're still in the competition tells you everything about them.
"They looked like they were going out on many occasions in the Chelsea and City game but they just keep rolling their sleeves up and finding a way to get the job done and I don't think it will be any different on Saturday."
Watch Liverpool v Real Madrid in the Champions League final live from 7pm Saturday on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, and follow our live blog on RTÉ Sport Online or the News Now app
Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
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