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Liverpool to have intense 'pre-season' ahead of Champions League final

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp says he will put his players through a two-week "pre-season" ahead of their Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur on June 1.

The players have been given a few days off to recover from a gruelling English Premier League campaign in which they pushed Manchester City to the final day in the title race, eventually losing out by just one point.

They will reconvene next week to prepare for the showpiece meeting with Spurs at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

"We have to do a couple of things in preparation for the Champions League, media stuff," Klopp told the club's website.

"We have to do that, then the boys will have a couple of days off and then we have two proper weeks as a pre-season for the Champions League final.

"We will do that, we will play that, (hopefully) win it, come home and then the people get what they deserve."

Liverpool, who defeated Barcelona to reach their second consecutive Champions League final appearance, are bidding for their sixth European Cup, which would be their first piece of silverware under Klopp.

They reached the final last year, but lost 3-1 to Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Uefa has confirmed that Slovenia referee Damir Skomina, who awarded a last-minute penalty to Manchester United during their 3-2 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16, second leg in March, will officiate the final.

The 42-year-old was also in charge during Liverpool's 1-0 group-stage win over Napoli in December, which saw the Reds secure their last-16 spot. - REUTERS

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