Champions League final: Paul Merson rates Liverpool chances as he makes quadruple prediction

Paul Merson has explained why he thinks Liverpool will prove too strong for Real Madrid in the Champions League final – and has cast his thoughts on how many trophies the Reds will win this season.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are through to a third Champions League final in five seasons, having overcome a pretty stiff test of nerves in midweek. That’s after seeing a 2-0 lead wiped out by a resurgent Villarreal side, though Luis Diaz stepped off the bench to save the Reds.

That 3-2 win sealed a 5-2 aggregate triumph and sets up Mohamed Salah to get his shot at redemption. To that end, the Egyptian King has sent Los Blancos a fierce message ahead of their Paris showdown.

Now Merson reckons Liverpool, and Salah, will prove too strong for Carlo Ancelotti’s troops. They have outwitted Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City to reach the final. As such, some reckon the manner of those dramatic triumphs means their names are on the cup.

However, Merson reckons Liverpool will have win the famour trophy for a seventh time. He also reckons City’s shock loss to Real Madrid will also have a catastrophic effect on the Premier League title race.

“The quadruple is well and truly on for Liverpool now because I don’t know how Manchester City pick themselves up after this week’s disaster,” Merson told the Daily Star.

“What happened to City against Real Madrid, I’ve never seen anything like it. They were as comfortable as it gets and then… wow. Rattle someone sometimes and they break. That’s what happened to City. They had the Champions League final in their hands and threw it away.

“This affects them hugely now. I don’t know how they recover against Newcastle this weekend. And Liverpool play first at home to Tottenham so they have the chance to