Steven Gerrard watches Liverpool train and makes Champions League final prediction

Steven Gerrard watched Liverpool and Real Madrid train on Friday in Paris and then made his scoreline prediction for Saturday’s Champions League final.

The Aston Villa boss, a Liverpool icon, who saw his side pass up a 2-0 lead on the final day of the season against Manchester City, has pinned his colours to the mast.

The Reds needed a favour from Gerrard to continue their hunt for the illustrious quadruple. And Gerrard looked to be on course to help the Reds lift the Premier League title only for City to scored three times in five minutes. That meant it was City who lifted the title despite Liverpool’s win over Wolves.

On Saturday though Jurgen Klopp’s men get the chance to lift an unprecedented treble. The FA Cup and League Cup are already in the bag with Real Madrid blocking their path to more Champions League glory.

But Gerrard is sure that Klopp’s men have the talent to make it two Champions League wins in four years.

“You can feel the atmosphere building,” said Gerrard. “I’d like to wish everyone at Liverpool the best of luck, and I hope they get the outcome that everyone wants.

“I’m getting excited for the game and the fans are building up nicely outside the stadium. Hopefully it’ll be a fantastic game and I predict a 2-0 Liverpool win.”

The Reds face Real Madrid in a rematch of their 2018 encounter at the national stadium in Paris. The showpiece was moved there from St Petersburg in late February, following Russian’s invasion of Ukraine.

Klopp though did have reservations about the pitch. Speaking at the ground immediately before his players trained on the newly-laid grass.

“Usually when I say the pitch looks new, that is good news. This pitch is new since yesterday, which is not the best news. But it will be the same for both teams,” he said at his pre-match press conference.

“I saw the refs with their session and the good news is, the ball drops normal.

“You can see the lines where they put the pieces of the pitch (together), which is what we aren’t used to.

“That someone thought it was a good idea to bring the pitch the day before to the stadium is an interesting idea.

Klopp: Pitch not perfect

“But it didn’t kill my mood a per cent. I am really happy we are here, I would have played the game on petanque.”

UEFA confirmed a new pitch had been laid but did not comment further.

“I think both teams are technical teams and you would wish – in a dream world – that the pitch is the best you ever saw in your life,” added Klopp.

“That’s obviously not the case. You will hear the same from (Real Madrid boss) Carlo (Ancelotti).

“Definitely, if you win you don’t care about the pitch, that is easy to say. I don’t know how bad or good it is, I only saw it. Maybe it’s perfect but it looks not perfect.

“But I hope no one makes a story about ‘Klopp moaning about the pitch’ – I’m fine. I saw it and it could look different but let’s get a feel of it.

“Normally these kind of sessions are for media, we are made to come. But today I am really happy we are here so we can feel it and pass a few balls on it.”

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