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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Jake Polden

Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah's roles in training for Champions League final

Liverpool are in training ahead of their Champions League final clash with Tottenham on the weekend.

The Reds have been in Marbella, where they took part in a 6-a-side tournament on the training ground, and are now back at Melwood before they finally fly to Madrid for Saturday's showpiece.

A tactics sheet, which was published a week ago on Liverpool's Inside Anfield YouTube channel, shows how the squads were split into four teams of six for a mini tournament.

The 6-a-side matches are designed to promote quick thinking and passing.

Small pitches equal less room to maneuver, meaning players need to move for each other and play the ball quickly in order to retain possession.

Each of the first team players were assigned a team to represent apart from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, who were referred to as "floaters".

Jurgen Klopp is putting his Liverpool team through their paces (YouTube/InsideAnfield)
The Reds are in training ahead of the Champions League final (Action Images via Reuters)

The tactics sheet shows that the duo were presumably being used in free role positions, suggesting how they will be used in the Champions League final.

Sadio Mane on the other hand retained his left position, while his strike partners - who have played both centrally on the right this season - went between their two regular positions.

Jurgen Klopp will likely start Salah on the right with Firmino up top for the final, but don't be surprised if the pair swap places at any point to keep the Spurs defence on its toes.

Klopp spoke to the press on Tuesday ahead of the showpiece in Madrid, where he claimed he is taking the best team he has ever managed to a final.

Fabinho tries the spectacular in training (Action Images via Reuters)
Klopp says this Liverpool team is the best he's ever managed in a final (Action Images via Reuters)

"I don't like to blame my other teams. I love them all," said Klopp. "They all gave everything but I have never been part of a final with a better team than this.

"In different times, for different reasons my teams were good as well. I am not so surprised because our boys mix our potential with attitude in the best way I have witnessed. That is brilliant.

"In the five-six days between Barcelona (losing the semi-final first leg 3-0) and Barcelona (second leg, winning 4-0), nobody believed more than the team themselves.

"That is why we are here. It is a sensational situation. We wanted it really desperately.

Alisson will start between the sticks in Madrid (Action Images via Reuters)
Virgil van Dijk is a leader on the pitch and in training (AFP/Getty Images)

"It looked like it slipped through our fingers in the group stage, we struggled in the away games (losing all three) but did it in the most mature way, winning 1-0 against an Italian team (Napoli).

"You have to remind yourself from time to time how strong my time is."

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