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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Connor O'Neill

'You should never' - Rio Ferdinand sends blunt Real Madrid warning to Liverpool for Champions League final

Rio Ferdinand has warned Liverpool that they are set to face a group of serial winners when they take on Real Madrid in the final of the Champions League.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side booked their place in the final in Paris later this month after they came from behind to beat City at the Santiago Bernabeu. City were two goals ahead on aggregate going into the 90th minute after Riyad Mahrez's strike had added to their 4-3 first-leg win last week.

But with the game heading into stoppage time, Rodrygo scored a stunning equaliser before he dramatically headed his side ahead just seconds later. Ruben Dias then went in clumsily on Karim Benzema in the opening five minutes of extra-time and gave away a penalty - which the striker slotted home to send his side to the final.

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The Reds booked their place in the final after overcoming a scare of their own on Tuesday night by coming from behind to beat Villarreal. And speaking ahead of the final, former Manchester United defender Ferdinand has warned the Reds they are set to face a side who trusts each other and never gives up.

“You should never doubt the players in this team. We have always said, experience counts for so much in this competition, but they showed heart, desire,” he told BT Sport.

“These players, they have been there, they have seen this. The fact that they have so many players in this squad that have won multiple Champions League’s, at no point in this tournament did you see them panic.

“No matter where they are, what players that they have got, these boys trust each other, trust the manager, and this crowd, they have been crazy.”

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