Tottenham Hotspur team news: How Spurs could line-up with and without Harry Kane in the Champions League final

The Champions League final is the biggest football match in Tottenham Hotspur history and Harry Kane is doing all he can to be fit for it.

England captain Kane, 25, has been incredible for Spurs since his breakthrough in 2014 and represents just how far the club has come in those five years.

Harry Kane lays injured after a challenge on Fabian Delph

An ankle injury against Manchester City in the same competition in early April saw him miss the end of the Premier League season but now he might come back for the clash with Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid.

It’s touch and go with manager Mauricio Pochettino coy on his star man’s fitness, while Kane himself reckons he’s ready and raring to go.

TUNE IN! Listen to LIVE commentary of the Champions League final on talkSPORT

“I feel good,” said the striker.

“I started to feel my way back with the team at the end of last week and there have been no problems so far.

“For me this week now is to get the fitness as high as possible.

“Then it’s down to the manager. Like I said, I feel good. The manager will assess it and decide whether I’m ready to go or not. But so far, I feel good and ready.

“I did a lot of work on my own to get me into a good place to go back with the team.

Mauricio Pochettino has a big decision to make ahead of the Champions League final

“Since I’ve been with them, I’ve been full training, doing everything.

“I’m at a place now where I’m ready to go for any game but again, it’s down to the manager.”

But how will Tottenham look on Saturday night if Kane is named in the first XI?

Is this how Spurs could look on Saturday?

In the two clubs’ first meeting this season, Pochettino favoured a diamond formation and while Liverpool won, and could have scored more had it not been for Michel Vorm, it’s something he could go for again as it allows his team to be flexible in and out of possession.

With Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko in central midfield, Spurs can get full-backs Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose high up the pitch while keeping four players deep, with Dele Alli also driving into space further forward, while Heung-Min Son and Kane will stretch the Liverpool backline by shifting slightly wider.

Lucas Moura celebrates scoring his incredible tie-winner against Ajax

In defensive phases, the formation allows Tottenham to protect their back-four but also get Sissoko and Alli pressing opponents and helping the full-backs out with extra cover while keeping two men in the centre of the pitch, with Eriksen filling in where needed. Heung-Min Son and Harry Kane can both lend a hand or stay forward, keeping the Liverpool midfield and defence on their toes.

But what happens without Kane, if he’s only fit for the bench?

Is this how Tottenham will look if Kane doesn’t start?

In this case we could see Spurs go with a back-three, which is bold against Liverpool.

It will help ease pressure when they have possession and give more protection against counter-attacks, especially with the quick Colombian Davinson Sanchez in the middle.

Meanwhile, in defensive phases it will allow the wing-backs and the right and left centre-backs to stymie Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, with Sissoko and Eriksen covering the centre of the park.

Can Spurs stifle Mohamed Salah in Madrid?

Lucas, Spurs’ hero in Amsterdam, would come in up top alongside Heung-Min Son, with Dele Alli providing probing runs between them, which should be enough to worry the Liverpool defence and keep them on their toes with their pace and pressing.

It’s never going to be easy against Liverpool but Tottenham’s never say die attitude in the Champions League shows they’re not going to go down without a fight – with or without Harry Kane.

Tune into talkSPORT for LIVE commentary of Liverpool vs Tottenham in the Champions League final – FULL DETAILS HERE

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