The best photos as Liverpool return to Melwood ahead of Champions League final

Jurgen Klopp and his staff oversaw an open training session at Melwood on Tuesday, as Liverpool head into the final days before the Champions League final.

The Reds held their UEFA Media Day ahead of their trip to Madrid this weekend, where they will meet Tottenham looking to bring home a sixth European Cup.

After a productive training camp in Marbella and a 3-0 friendly win over Benfica B, Klopp put his players through their paces in front of the media.

And the manager was able to call upon a near fully fit squad, with Naby Keita the only player ruled out for the final at this stage, while Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino trained separately.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, May 28, 2019: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino during a training session at Melwood Training Ground ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, May 28, 2019: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino during a training session at Melwood Training Ground ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Firmino’s return after four games out is a major positive, with Klopp stressing in his press conference earlier in the day that he “will be fine” for the final.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, May 28, 2019: Liverpool's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain during a training session at Melwood Training Ground ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, May 28, 2019: Liverpool's Sadio Mane (C) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (R) during a training session at Melwood Training Ground ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was also part of the training group at Melwood, and is likely to be named on a 12-man substitutes’ bench following a change in UEFA’s rules.

The likes of Vitezslav Jaros, George Johnston, Curtis Jones and Ben Woodburn have been drafted in from the academy, though Rhian Brewster is the most likely youngster to make the squad in Madrid.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, May 28, 2019: Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk (R) and Mohamed Salah during a training session at Melwood Training Ground ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

There were plenty of smiles throughout a relaxed squad as they got stuck into ball work, despite one of the biggest games of their careers looming.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, May 28, 2019: Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold during a training session at Melwood Training Ground ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The occasion will be hugely significant for Trent Alexander-Arnold, with the Scouser set to become the first player under the age of 21 to start in back-to-back Champions League finals.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, May 28, 2019: Liverpool's Dejan Lovren during a training session at Melwood Training Ground ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Dejan Lovren is likely to be another named on the substitutes’ bench, with Joel Matip favoured alongside Virgil van Dijk in the second half of the season.

Speaking alongside Gini Wijnaldum at Tuesday’s press conference, Matip insisted the pressure won’t get to him in “the kind of game you always want to play as a kid.”

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, May 28, 2019: Liverpool's manager Jürgen Klopp speaks to journalists in the mixed zone after a training session at Melwood Training Ground ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Klopp told reporters that there was a feeling of “pure excitement” throughout the squad as they look to avenge their loss to Real Madrid in last year’s final.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, May 28, 2019: Liverpool's Fabio Henrique Tavares 'Fabinho' during a training session at Melwood Training Ground ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

“We are all very excited about having the chance again,” he enthused.

“Last year we played it, and four years ago some of us played another final so we probably have more experience.

“It’s about dealing with the situation, and so far we have controlled our emotions. It’s pure excitement and we are looking forward to it.”


Liverpool Squad in Training on Tuesday

Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mignolet, Kelleher, Jaros

Defenders: Van Dijk, Matip, Gomez, Lovren, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Moreno, Johnston

Midfielders: Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Milner, Ox, Lallana, Woodburn, Jones

Forwards: Salah, Mane, Firmino (not full training), Origi, Shaqiri, Brewster