The Transfer Tavern is absolutely rammed this evening ahead of tonight’s big game in the Europa League between Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund.
The big European tie will see Jurgen Klopp return to his former stomping ground for the first time since leaving the club.
Their will be an intimidating atmosphere awaiting the players from Anfield as they step out on to the pitch at the Westfalenstadion at around 8pm this evening.
The millions of fans watching on their TV sets will hear a rousing rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone before the game as both sets of fans will sing their hearts out to build confidence in both of their sides.
Talented players will be on show in a game worthy of Champions League status rather than Thursday night football, but it will be a welcome boost to the viewing figures for Europa League football this evening.
Through all the singing and chanting that has gone on so far in The Tavern this evening our landlord has managed to come up with his COMBINED XI…….
[ffc-gallery]
PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE BEST COMBINED XI!
[/ffc-gallery]
Roman Burki
Burki has taken the number one spot from Roman Weidenfeller and has been fantastic between the sticks for Tuchel’s team.
The 25-year-old is a commanding presence for Dortmund and has made some key saves for the German side in the Bundesliga throughout the course of this season.
Burki knicks it over Mignolet, mainly due to the less mistakes that Burki seems to make compared to Mignolet.
Alberto Moreno
The 23-year-old has played a vital role at left-back for the club and is finally showing the form for Liverpool that encouraged them to sign him from Sevilla.
Found himself demoted to the bench at the beginning of the season by former manager Brendan Rodgers in favour of new signing Joe Gomez.
The Spaniard took his opportunity in the first team lineup when Gomez was injured and has made the left-back position his own.
Mamadou Sakho
The French centre back is enjoying his best spell at Liverpool since joining the club back in the summer of 2013 from PSG.
Sakho lies it all on the line with his performances and an example of this was when he suffered a clash of heads in this season’s Capital One Cup final defeat to Manchester City, where he argued with doctors who forced him off the pitch.
He has been a regular fixture in the back four since the arrival of Klopp and has made sure he is one of the first players on the Liverpool bosses team sheet for each game.
Mats Hummels
The big German centre half has been part of the Dortmund side since his arrival from Bayern Munich for £4 million in 2009.
Another who played a vital role in the success of the club under Jurgen Klopp which brought two Bundesliga titles and an appearance in a Champions League final.
Now a regular starter for the German national side, Hummels is attracting many admirers and could be the subject of a summer move away from Dortmund.
Marcel Schmelzer
Another player who is Dortmund through and through spending his entire career to date.
The 28- year-old is another who shone under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp and played a vital role in the successes the club had.
Has made well over 200 appearances for Dortmund and has managed to win 16 international caps to date for Germany his last coming in 2014.
Nuri Sahin
The Turkish international is in his second spell with the German side.
He impressed enough in his first spell in the Bundesliga that he earnt a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Appearances were limited in Madrid and loan spells away Liverpool and then back at Dortmund and impressed enough to secure a permanent deal to bring him back to the Westfalenstadion.
Emre Can
The impressive Can is another German international who has played in so many position’s for Liverpool this season.
His preferred role is just in front of the back four giving the side that extra bit of protection at the back when required.
Took a while to settle into life at Anfield following his move from Bayer Leverkusen, but his versatility has made him a firm favourite with the fans who recognise the effort he puts in week in week out.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
The most successful player to come out of Armenian football ever I think it is fair to say.
The attacking midfielder can change the game with a destructive pass and can score the odd special goal too.
The 27 year old has not looked back since joining the Bundesliga side back in 2013, he has been a key performer for the side this year as they head into the final weeks challenging Bayern Munich all the way for the Bundesliga title.
Philippe Coutinho
The mercurial Brazilian has been a firm fan favourite with the fans at Anfield since he joined the club from Internazionale in 2013.
His probing runs, pin point passing and goalscoring ability make him hard to leave out of any line up.
Coutinho will give 100% effort no matter what’s at stake and his link up play with the front men is second to none making him one of the best midfield players in the Premier League at present.
Marco Reus
The German international has been in fine form yet again for Borussia Dortmund this season.
Reus can play on the wing or as a striker and has become world renown for his versatility, speed and technique on the field.
Klopp was responsible for bringing Reus to Dortmund and since joining from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2012 has become a regular fixture in the German national side.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Well what can be said that everybody doesn’t know about one of Europe’s most prolific strikers.
Signing for Dortmund in 2013 from Saint-Etienne he has not looked back, and has bagged an impressive 52 goals in 91 league appearances for the German side.
He will no doubt be of interest to many of Europe’s elite, including a few English clubs who will be submitting an enquiry or two about the striker’s availability this coming summer.
