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Champions League final live updates as Liverpool take on Real Madrid in Paris

mirror.co.uk, 28 May 2022, 16:00
Liverpool face Real Madrid in the battle of the big guns in the Champions League final in Paris as Jurgen Klopp's side chase a seventh European crown against Carlo Ancelotti's Spanish giants

Liverpool will look to put their Premier League title heartache well and truly behind them by winning a seventh European crown in Paris.

Jurgen Klopp 's side fell agonisingly short as Manchester City's final day turnaround against Aston Villa prevented the Premier League trophy from heading back to Anfield.

But the Reds will now aim for Champions League glory at the Stade de France - with the most successful club side in European football history standing in their way.

Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid side launched dramatic comebacks against Chelsea and Manchester City on their route to the final and are chasing their 14th European triumph - and we already have their lineup.

Stay tuned for all the latest team news, goal updates and latest news from the biggest game in European club football.

18:25Nathan Ridley

Pundits praise Madrid

Ex-Real Madrid striker Michael Owen, Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand and Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard have heaped praise on the Spanairds while pitchside at the Stade de France.

"I have a strong view tonight that Liverpool will win and will win well, but you can't count out this Real Madrid team," Owen began on BT Sport. "You look at their fixtures through this tournament and how they got through - it has been unbelievable. They knocked out three big favourites."

Ferdinand went on to say: "Madrid's character they have shown - that experience counts for so much. In these games there's going to be a moment where their backs are against the wall - and you need to pull something out the hat and they do not panic. Liverpool can blow teams away, but Real will look to stay in there and give themselves a chance."

Gerrard added: "Real are a very dangerous opponent - its very rare for them to be underdogs and they have had weeks to prepare for this."

18:13Nathan Ridley

Gerrard in the building

Aston Villa manager Steven Gerrard is on punditry duty for BT Sport to give his analysis of the game.

A Champions League winner himself 17 years ago, he knows all about how to get one over on a Carlo Ancelotti team in the biggest game club football has to offer.

Oh, and he had a good spell with Liverpool.

18:08Felix Keith

Klopp's three key decisions

The Champions League final is nearly upon us and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is hours away from naming his starting XI.

Klopp has plenty to think about for the match against Real Madrid, with both fitness problems and tactical dilemmas no doubt playing on his mind in the build-up. Liverpoolhave already won two trophies this season and a third is one match away, provided Klopp makes the right decisions.

Liverpool have a deep squad packed full of quality and they have needed everyone to pull their weight to get them to this stage. The final will be Liverpool's 63rd game of a gruelling season, but all the players on the bench will still be unhappy to be left out of the club's biggest match of the season at the Stade de France.

Klopp's three key decisions.

17:54Nathan Ridley

Bale on the bench

While David Alaba and Valverde return to the starting XI for Real, Gareth Bale is back on the bench after almost two months out injured.

The winger scored a sensational bicyle kick when Los Blancos beat Liverpool in the 2018 final and will be hoping to feature again, all while staying for Wales' World Cup qualification play-off final against Scotland or Ukraine next month.

17:42Nathan Ridley

White party in Paris

It isn't just Liverpool supporters who're enjoying themselves in Paris, with Real Madrid fans flocking the French capital, too.

Wonder what they'll make of Ancelotti's starting XI...

17:39KEY EVENT

Real Madrid lineup

Real Madrid have announced their team in typically early fashion.

It's a defensive setup from Carlo Ancelotti, with box-to-box midfielder Federico Valverde expected to play on the wing.

17:31Tom Victor

Liverpool in UEFA row

Liverpool's players are upset at not being allowed to bring their families onto the pitch if they win the Champions League final, according to reports in Spain.

The Reds are set to take on Real Madrid in Paris, where they will seek revenge for events four years ago in Kyiv. Back then, the Spanish side won 3-1 thanks to two Loris Karius mistakes and a stunning goal from Gareth Bale. When Liverpool won the competition 12 months later in Madrid, their players were able to celebrate with their partners and children on the pitch. However, UEFA appear to have ruled out similar scenes at the Stade de France.

More here.

17:22Colin Millar

Ancelotti's leaked team talk

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti's pre-match team talk to his players ahead of the Champions League final has found its way into the public domain.

Nobody knows how to coach a team in the showpiece of Europe's premier club competition better than the experienced Italian. This is Ancelotti's fifth Champions League decider as a coach - more than anyone else - and he has guided his sides to three victories in his previous four attempts.

Ancelotti has lifted the tournament twice with Milan - in 2003 and 2007 - alongside his 2014 triumph with Los Blancos in his first spell at the Spanish giants. Of course, the one time his side did fall short was against Liverpool - when his Milan side remarkably blew a three-goal advantage at the break to eventually lose on penalties.

Read the full story.

Alex Richards

Paris is Red

Liverpool fans have been making every effort to get to Paris.

And one group of fans actually crossed the Channel on a speedboat, after their flight was cancelled.

Paddy OToole, decided to take matters into his own hands by getting a rib boat across the Channel from Jersey. With the help of his friend, Gary Brennan, the group of 12 set off in a Redbay Stormforce 950 straight to Saint-Malo to get to Paris in time for the game.

However, they're among the 30k+ Liverpool fans in Paris without a ticket for tonight's game.

Alex Richards

Tonight's squads

Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara trained with the team at the Stade de France on Friday night.

The Spain international was forced off in Sunday's victory over Wolves with an Achilles problem but returned to work with the squad on Thursday and was present for the light open session in the stadium.

Will he be OK to start?

For Madrid, Gareth Bale is set to be on the bench, likewise Eden Hazard.

Liverpool provisional squad: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Salah, Mane, Diaz, Kelleher, Gomez, Konate, Tsimikas, Milner, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Elliott, Jota, Firmino, Minamino.

Real Madrid provisional squad: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Mendy, Kross, Modric, Casemiro, Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius, Lunin, Fuidas, Alaba, Vallejo, Marcelo, Asensio, Vazquez, Ceballos, Camavinga, Jovic, Bale, Hazard, Rodrygo, Mariano.

KEY EVENT

Welcome All!

Paris is a sea of red with over 50,000 Liverpool supporters having made the journey to the French capital for tonight's Champions League final.

Jurgen Klopp's men are in European football's showpiece event for the third time in five years, and looking to claim a seventh European Cup.

But standing in their way are the most winningest club in the competition's history, Real Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have trodden a treacherous path to get here, ending the hopes of Chelsea and Manchester City en route to the final at the Stade de France.

Will they end a third English side's hopes tonight? Or will it be a magnificent seven for the Reds? Keep up with all the build up and much much more, right here...

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