Roberto Carlos' pride in Liverpool's flying full-backs and '4' Brazilian stars

Roberto Carlos has unsurprisingly nailed his Real Madrid colours to the mast ahead of the Champions League final, but there are several Liverpool players he'll be keeping an eye on.

Brazil legend Carlos won three Champions Leagues during his time in the Spanish capital, and was part of the 1997-98 side which ended Real's 32-year wait for a competition they had considered themselves synonymous with since six wins in the 1950s and 60s - five of them in successive seasons.

Since that victory over Juventus in Amsterdam 24 years ago, the club's seventh, Real have taken their tally to a remarkable 13 Champions League successes - with a 14th in sight in Paris on Saturday.

"I believe that [1998] is where everything started," Carlos tells Mirror Football, "and Real Madrid have remained the kings of Europe since this time."

The Brazilian's next two victories came in 2000 and 2002, before an astonishing era of dominance as Real won four Champions Leagues in five years, a run which ended with victory over Liverpool in Kyiv in 2018.

Carlos has been keeping a keen eye on the Reds since then, and is impressed with the development of Jurgen Klopp's side.

"They were a good team then and they are very good team now," he continues.

"They are all very good players, and Jurgen Klopp is such a great manager. Their motivation will be the same and Liverpool right now is one of the very best teams."

Key to that success has been the evolution of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, two players who have come to define the modern full-back position, something that was often said about Carlos during his heyday.

Indeed, with Alexander-Arnold known for his ability from free-kicks and Robertson such a threat down the left, does Carlos see a bit of himself in both of them?

"Alexander-Arnold is one of the very best full-backs in the world right now," he continued, "and the same for Robertson who is so well qualified in his position and has such good ability on the ball.

"He is such a great reference point for the team."

As well as the full-backs there are plenty of Carlos' fellow Brazilians to keep track of in the Liverpool side.

When the club's three Brazilian internationals - Alisson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino - are put to him, he is quick to add a fourth, Thiago, the Spain midfielder born in Italy to Brazilian parents, with his World Cup winning father Mazinho an ex-international teammate of the former left-back.

"I watch all the games and I'm really proud of [the four of] them," he continues.

"I'm very happy that the Liverpool fans have a lot of love for the Brazilian players, it is a very good thing to see.

"They have this opportunity to play in one of the biggest clubs in the world, and it is an honour for them and Brazil."

Despite that though, he hopes they end up on the losing side in Paris.

"It will be a very difficult game, but I do believe that Real Madrid will come out on top because they have more experience of playing so many finals," he says.

"The fact that they have come through the biggest teams to get there, such as Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City, and so they will have the extra belief they can do it."

Fans in the French capital just need to look out for a giant Just Eat doorbell located in the city centre, and simply ring to win. Eight lucky people will be surprised by Real Madrid legend, Roberto Carlos, and win tickets to Saturday night's UEFA Champions League final.