Liverpool aim to end Real reign

Real Madrid head into Saturday's Champions League final as defending champions and seeking their fourth European title in five years but opponents Liverpool give no indication of fearing Zinedine Zidane's side.

A third straight win for Real would be unprecedented in the Champions League era but despite the Spaniards' rich experience, Juergen Klopp's team are certainly not lacking in self-belief.

"We know that Real Madrid are a fantastic team with fantastic players but we also believe that we have a good team as well and we need to go and perform at the level I know we are capable of. I feel that if we do that then we can definitely hurt Madrid," said Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson.

It is a message that has clearly come from the top with Klopp firmly of the belief that while experience is an advantage, it is one that can be neutralised during the game.

"Experience is very important, and I'm pretty sure that in the second before the game Real Madrid will be more confident than we are. But that's not important because the game doesn't end in that second. It only starts," said the German.

"They are really strong but they've never played us. We are Liverpool. Not only a good team but we have in our DNA that we can go for really big things.

"And we are here because we are Liverpool. We've scored the most goals and had the most exceptional run to the final. They have more experience - but in the game it does not help all the time. We have to make it as difficult as we can for them."

It is eleven years since the Merseyside club's last appearance in a Champions League final and none of the side have experienced the continent's biggest game.

That could produce some nerves but Klopp believes his team have been prepared to cope with the occasion and the quality of the opponent.

'RONALDO FIT, BUT WE'RE NOT FAVOURITES'

Cristiano Ronaldo is fit and ready to shine again in a Champions League final, believes Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane. Ronaldo can join an elite group of just 10 other players to win five European Cups should Madrid win in Kiev.

The Portuguese became just the second player after legendary Real forward Alfredo di Stefano to score in three different finals by netting twice in a 4-1 rout of Juventus last season to deliver Madrid's 12th European crown. And he shrugged off fears over an ankle injury picked up in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Barcelona earlier this month by scoring on his return against Villarreal as Madrid wrapped up a disappointing domestic season in La Liga last weekend.

"He's fine. If he is just 140 percent it's no problem," said Zidane when asked if Ronaldo is 150 percent ready. "We'll have our final training session today and it is the last game of the season. You have to know something, he lives for games like this. We will see that tomorrow."

The contrast in experience between the sides couldn't be greater as Liverpool return to the final after an 11-year wait with no player in their squad who has previously played in a Champions League final.

However, Zidane rejected suggestions his side are the overwhelming favourites to become the first team to win three-in-a-row for 42 years.

“People can say what they like, but we are not favourites, nor are Liverpool," added Zidane. "As always in a final it is 50-50. We need to play very well to win the game and inside the dressing room we know we are not favourites.”

Real captain Sergio Ramos said his side have not lost any of their desire to keep winning Europe's biggest prize despite their near-monopoly of the trophy in recent years.

"There's no lack of motivation, we're hungry and the fact we keep winning it is another reason to want to win it again. The fact we can make history is a unique privilege," Ramos said.

"We have to treat tomorrow as if it's our first Champions League final. We can't look at the past, it's inevitable, but we don't like to. Being in the final is marvellous, we need to enjoy it."

FASTING OR NOT, SALAH IS 'FULL OF POWER'

Klopp also said that forward Mohamed Salah would be at peak fitness for Saturday's Champions League final regardless of whether or not he is observing the fasting rules of Ramadan.

The question of whether devout Muslim Salah has chosen to fast in the build-up to the encounter has attracted a lot of media interest.

Liverpool's physiotherapist Ruben Pons told Spanish radio station Onda Cero that Egypt forward Salah had been observing Ramadan during the team's recent training camp in Marbella but had chosen to interrupt his fasting three days before the final.

"As I understand it religion is a private matter so I have nothing to say about that but all is fine, you will see him in training, he is full of power, you need to be a day before the final," Klopp said.