Tottenham vs Liverpool: Jamie Carragher explains why Harry Kane should NOT start Champions League final

Tottenham vs Liverpool: Jamie Carragher explains why Harry Kane should NOT start Champions League final
Jamie Carragher says he would bench Harry Kane for the Champions League final if he was in Mauricio Pochettino’s shoes.Tottenham embark on the biggest night in their history when they face Liverpool in Madrid tonight – and Kane has declared himself fit after suffering ‘significant’ damage to his ankle in April.Getty Images - Getty3

Kane has partaken in full training ahead of the showpiece in Madrid

The England captain is Tottenham’s top scorer this season, but doubts surround his match fitness after two months without a competitive game.Pochettino has refused to reveal whether his star striker will start, with semi-final hero Lucas Moura likely to miss out if he does.And Carragher, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, would leave Kane out. “If I was the Tottenham manager, I wouldn’t start him [Kane],” the Sky Sports pundit told talkSPORT.“It’s the biggest game, he’s had so long out.“The other players in that position, Son and Moura, look at what they’ve done.“It’s a really difficult one. If Tottenham needed a goal and he came on for half an hour, I don’t think match sharpness would make a difference.getty3

Carragher admits Pochettino faces a ‘really difficult’ decision over Kane

“If you start him, there’s a good chance he’ll have to do 60/70 minutes. He won’t be at his best.“That doesn’t mean he won’t score a goal or won’t play well. In this heat as well, I think it would be a big call.”Liverpool have had injury concerns of their own, although they have been boosted by the return to fitness of Roberto Firmino.Getty Images - Getty3

Firmino has returned to fitness just in time for the Madrid showdown

The Brazilian has missed the Reds’ last three games with a thigh problem – but Carragher has no doubts the striker will slot back into Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI.“I think Firmino starts, I have no doubt about that,” he added.“The manager says he’s fit. If he’s fit, he’s one of the first names on the team sheet under Jurgen Klopp and he has been for the last few years. So I don’t think that’s a debate at all.

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“The only debate for Liverpool is whether it’s Milner or Wijnaldum in midfielder.“I think the manager will opt for Wijnaldum – he got two goals against Barcelona and he’s had a really good season.“The big issues are with Tottenham.”

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