The countdown has begun for the Champions League title showdown between Liverpool and Real Madrid in Paris, with the excitement in the French capital already reaching fever pitch.
Jurgen Klopp's team will be eyeing revenge when they take on Carlo Ancelotti's Real in the title match at the Stade de France on Saturday, having lost the 2018 final in heart-breaking fashion.
It is Liverpool's third Champions League final in five seasons and they will be targeting their seventh European crown, while their opponents are aiming for a 14th title triumph.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah stated he had a few scores to settle from their previous meeting four years ago in Kyiv.
There, the Egypt forward made a tearful first-half exit after suffering a shoulder injury in a challenge with Real defender Sergio Ramos. Madrid went on to win 3-1.
-
Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah during training on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Liverpool take on Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Paris on Saturday. -
Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain during training ahead of the Champions League final. Getty -
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at training. Getty -
Mohamed Salah at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby, England. Getty -
Roberto Firmino and Curtis Jones battle for the ball during training. Getty -
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate during training. Getty -
Photographers at Liverpool's training session ahead of the Champions League final. EPA -
Mohamed Salah during training. Getty -
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp oversees the training session. Getty -
Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah at the AXA Training Centre. Getty -
Left to right: Fabinho, Andrew Robertson and Jordan Henderson. Getty -
Liverpool's Harvey Elliott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. EPA -
Liverpool midfielder Fabinho warms up at training. EPA -
Liverpool's Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane during training. EPA -
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah at training. EPA -
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk with manager Jurgen Klopp. EPA -
Liverpool winger Luis Diaz during training. AP -
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah at training. EPA -
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold. AFP -
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker attempts a save. Getty -
James Milner of Liverpool takes part in a training session. Getty -
Liverpool's Jordan Henderson and former player James Carragher enjoy a joke at training. AP -
Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold. AP -
Liverpool midfielder Fabinho at the AXA Training Centre. Getty -
Mohamed Salah looks on. Getty Images
"That was the worst moment in my career," the 29-year-old said this week. "I was really, really down in that time.
"I was like: 'We cannot lose this way.' I never felt that feeling before in football, especially the first Champions League [final] for all of us."
Adding to the spectacle will be the scores of Liverpool fans who have already arrived in Paris, with many more expected. Around 7,000 police will be on duty to marshal fans during Saturday's final where as many as 40,000 ticketless Liverpool supporters are expected.
The match was originally scheduled to be played in St. Petersburg but the French capital stepped in when Uefa stripped the Russian city of the match following the invasion of Ukraine.
Only around 20,000 supporters each from Liverpool and Real will officially be able to watch the match at the Stade de France.
-
Real Madrid's David Alaba, right, and Marco Asensio at Valdebebas training ground in Madrid as they prepare to face Liverpool in the Champions League final. All photos by Getty -
Karim Benzema and manager Carlo Ancelotti. -
Real's Casemiro, right, and Marcelo. -
Luka Modric, right, and Nacho Fernandez. -
Gareth Bale, left, and Alaba tune up for the Champions League final. -
Vinicius Junior trains with Fernandez, Lucas Vazquez, Benzema, Eduardo Camavinga and Jesus Vallejo. -
Benzema with Camavinga, Vazquez and Vallejo. -
Junior with Fernandez and Camavinga at Valdebebas training ground in Madrid.
