Champions League Final: Liverpool vs. Real Madrid

Liverpool fans are making their way to Kiev for the Champions League Final after the Reds beat Roma in the semis.

Jurgen Klopp's side will face Real Madrid in a repeat of the 1981 final in Paris, which they won.

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Loris Karius 'infinitely sorry' in Twitter post after final defeat

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Firmino's dad with a special 'message' for the Reds

Roberto Firmino's father has flown out of Liverpool's John Lennon's airport this morning to cheer on his son's side.

For those with limited Portuguese, you can probably guess José Roberto Cordeiro is wishing the Reds the best of luck.

All hopes will be on the Liverpool's front three, Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino, a Brazilian International.

Firmino's father was a street 'hawker' when his son got his first break in football.

'Listening to the game on the radio alone' - Reds fan left stranded at the airport

Ernie Ashley left stranded after his flight to Kiev was cancelled Credit: Liverpool Echo

A 75-year-old Liverpool fan who has followed the Reds to every single European final they have appeared in was left in tears after his flight to Kiev was cancelled at the last minute.

Ernie Ashley, from Woolton, Merseyside, has supported Liverpool for 68 years, and tonight’s Champions League clash would have been his thirteenth European final - he said he will now be listening to the game on the radio alone.

Last night, Ernie received the devastating news that his flight to Kiev was cancelled - just hours before he was due to leave for the airport.

“I’ll be putting the wireless on - my nerves are gone. I’m just so sad that there’s a ticket here and there are some good lads that have not got one. “I’ll live to see another final under Klopp - that’s the main thing.”

– Ernie Ashley life-long Liverpool fan

The Anfield season ticket holder said he fears it may be too late for him to pass his ticket on to another lucky supporter who is heading to Kiev.

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Ode to Mo: Liverpool artists pay tribute to football hero

Liverpool star mo Salah's become a cultural icon in his adopted city and home country of Egypt.

He was initially taken to heart by fans of Liverpool FC because of his astonishing tally of goals.

The chants of “If he scores another few I’ll be muslim too” and “He’s sitting in the mosque that’s where I want to be” went viral on social media channels globally.

But beyond the football pitch Mo Salah has come to represent a positive, friendly, polite, approachable alternative image of muslim masculinity at a time when young bearded muslim men have become subject to much suspicion and hostility.

British Ugandan poet and author Musa Okwonga has previously published books on football and wrote a poem for the FA to celebrate their 150thanniversary.

His ‘Ode To Mo’ celebrates all that Salah has come to represent as he is about to play in the biggest game in European Club football in front of a global audience of billions having just received the coveted Golden Boot Award.

Now Liverpool artists The Rapid Response Unit have created a minute long film with Liverpudlians each delivering a line of the poem across city centre locations.

The film will be played at screenings of the live match at several venues in Liverpool and on the large screen outside Lime Street station.

Liverpool born street artist and LFC fan Guy McKinley has also been commissioned to create a new 6 x 3 metre street painting of Mo alongside lines from the poem on a busy city centre shopping street.

The painting will be completed on Friday 25th May.

Ode to Mo: The Golden Smile of the Nile

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah The Muslim Maestro! - Cairo’s Hero! - The Golden Smile of the Nile! The World’s Swiftest Egyptian (Blink, you’ll miss him). His scoring rate is one a game, So once a match Anfield becomes his prayer mat. Of course he and this city go hand in hand - They love a frontman of an all-action band - Thus this Afro-haired angel is Top of the Docks. He has three superhuman abilities: Speed. Finishing. Humility. The players’ choice, The people’s choice, He brings us together with his grin. Mohamed Salah: in the Scousers’ crown, He is the shining crystal And the only force that can stop him Is the final whistle.

Champions League: 1000 Liverpool fans' Kiev flights cancelled

Worldchoice Sports has set up a dedicated website for fans. Credit: Worldchoice Sports website

Hundreds of Liverpool fans have been left stranded after flights to the Champions League final were cancelled.

Operator Worldchoice Sports said it could not secure landing slots at Kiev's Boryspil Airport for three planes.

In an update it said it has secured one extra last minute three-night trip.

With deep regret we can not get a flight on the 26th of May from Liverpool or Manchester.

Unfortunately we cannot put you on any other flights. You will be refunded in full and this process will start tomorrow.

– Worldchoice Sports

Liverpool FC said about 1,000 fans were involved and believed the issue was caused by a dispute over the size of aircraft.

Along with officials from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Liverpool City Council, UEFA and the authorities in Kiev, Liverpool FC has been endeavouring to resolve the issue since it first came to light and will continue to do so until all avenues have been exhausted.

– LFC website
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