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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Alex Smith

How Ramadan will affect Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in Champions League final

Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane could be fasting during both the Premier League climax against Wolves on Sunday and Liverpool's Champions League final against Tottenham .

The holy Islamic month of Ramadan runs from May 5 to June 4 this year, with the European finale in Madrid scheduled for June 1.

According to religious beliefs, Muslims must not eat or drink between dawn (Suhur) to dusk (Iftar) in order to cleanse the soul and mind.

Egyptian Salah and Senegalese Mane are proud Muslims and show their faith in their goal celebrations.

Following each of Salah's 26 strikes this season, and 44 last, and all Mane's goals they perform a sujood - which sees them knee down and praying.

Salah and Mane are both Muslims (AFP/Getty Images)

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Last season the pair were also due to fast during the Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid .

Jurgen Klopp said at the time: "Religion is private, how I understand it. Nothing to say about that but all fine, you will see him out there. In training he is full of power - you need to be the day before a final."

It is understood, by the Liverpool Echo, that Salah didn't follow the fast in Kiev.

Under Islamic teachings, it is permissible to break your fast "with anything that is adequate need" or if you are travelling during the day.

But Liverpool ’s physio Ruben Pons explained: “We were in Marbella and the nutritionist established a work plan.

Salah always performs the sujood after goals (Action Images via Reuters)
Mane also does a sujood after scoring (AFP/Getty Images)

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“Tomorrow and the day of the match he won’t fast, so it’s not going to affect him.”

Three Ajax players followed the fast during their semi-final defeat to Spurs.

Noussair Mazraoui, Hakim Ziyech and Zakaria Labyad were unable to consume anything between 6am and 9:15pm, 15 minutes after kick off in Amsterdam.

The trio were all seen taking on fluids after the quarter of an hour mark, with the intake of gels particularly important.

Ajax club physio Raymond Verheijen was not impressed by the fasting for such an important fixture.

Noussair Mazraoui was fasting during Ajax's defeat to Tottenham (REUTERS)

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He told De Telegraaf: "It would be totally irresponsible to comply with Ramadan at this time of the season.

"Imagine that the game ends 0-1 and, after 90 minutes, they have to play an extension, I hope that the players themselves think that will be impossible."

Mazraoui said: "I am used to doing it. Can a high-level athlete stop eating if he has to make a big effort? There are different opinions, but this is my choice, I feel quite energetic during Ramadan,” Mazraoui said in an interview with the Het Parool newspaper.

If the fast is strictly followed, the Moroccan defender would not have consumed any food or liquid from 6am to 9.15pm – 15 minutes after kick off at the Amsterdam Arena.

“The game is at 9pm (CET), so at 9.15 pm I would have the chance to drink something, if I play, I can go quickly to the band to take a sip.”

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