AFTER TOPPLING ROMA, REDS SHIFT FOCUS TO REAL

Liverpool manager Klopp promises fireworks in the May 26 final against Los Blancos at Kiev after beating the Italian side 76 on aggregate

Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp has said his team will be “on fire” for the Champions League final in Kiev as they look to stop an experience Real Madrid side from winning a third consecutive European title.

The Merseyside club will feature in their eighth European Cup final on May 26 after beating AS Roma 7-6 on aggregate in the semifinal on Wednesday.

It hands Liverpool an opportunity to end their six-year trophy drought and lift their first piece of silverware under Klopp’s management, having lost the finals of the League Cup and Europa League in 2016.

“We were in a League Cup final and didn’t win it,” Klopp said.

“People don’t tell me in the street since then: ‘Thank you for bringing us to the final.’ We were in the Europa League final too. Nobody tells me thank you. I see no trophies after these games. They don’t hang silver medals at Melwood. That’s a pity, but that’s the game. There’s still a job to do.”

Madrid, who overcame Bayern Munich in the other semi-final, return to the final for the fourth time in last five years.

Zinedine Zidane’s side have retained a core group of players including Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema, who have all been involved in lifting their last three European titles in 2014, 2016 and 2017. “You cannot be more experienced in this competition than Real Madrid,” the German manager added.

“I think 80 per cent of their team played all these finals. They are four times in the last five years and still together. They are experienced, we are not, but we will be really on fire.”

Liverpool were far from their devastating attacking best, however, and a nervy defensive display saw them lose their first match in this season’s competition, despite cruising in the first half having twice taken the lead.

Liverpool’s Sadio Mane was their most potent attacking threat and put them ahead after nine minutes, but a bizarre own goal by James Milner levelled for Roma. A Georginio Wijnaldum header put Liverpool back in front but Roma, who overturned a three-goal deficit to beat Barcelona in the last round, were given renewed belief when Edin Dzeko fired past Loris Karius early in the second half.

Nainggolan drilled in from distance after 86 minutes to make it 3-2 and smashed home from the spot but it was too late for the Italian side who lost the first leg of the semifinal 5-2 in Liverpool.

“We are deserved finalists 100 per cent,” said Klopp. “You don’t come without luck. We needed it only one time tonight. The boys deserve it, the character they showed, the football they showed — it was just crazy.”