'The atmosphere here is boss, the city is red': 50,000 Liverpool fans descend on Paris ahead of Champions League final against Real Madrid, with many travelling to the French capital without a ticket just to soak up the atmosphere

  • As many as 50,000 Liverpool fans are in Paris for the Champions League final
  • Many have travelled without a ticket but have gathered in areas around the city
  • The French capital has been painted red by shirts, scarves, hats and banners
  • You'll Never Walk Alone and other club chants have soundtracked fan zones
  • LIVE COVERAGE: Jurgen Klopp's side face Real Madrid in tonight's final 

Tens of thousands of Liverpool fans have descended on Paris and painted the city red ahead of tonight's Champions League final

Jurgen Klopp's side will take on 13-time winners Real Madrid at the Stade de France, just north of the French capital. 

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A huge sea of red shirts surrounded the Cours de Vincennes area in the south-east area of Paris during the morning, where a fan zone has been set up.

As many as 50,000 Liverpool fans have travelled to Paris for tonight's Champions League final
Many supporters are ticketless and are simply in the French capital to soak up the atmosphere
'You'll Never Walk Alone' has soundtracked the streets of the city throughout the day

As many as 50,000 supporters, largely ticketless, began gathering early during the day, some starting the drinking from 7am, bringing traffic in the area to a standstill as roads were closed off.

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Footballs were being kicked into the air and banners being flown while flares which were prohibited by French authorities were let off in the fan zone.

The huge crowd then sang You'll Never Walk Alone before cheering club legend Kenny Dalglish to a stage which has been set up. He told supporters how remarkable Liverpool's season had been before they chanted his name.

Supporters started gathering early in the day, with some beginning drinking from 7am
The Reds are aiming to lift the Champions League/European Cup for the seventh time
Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish was greeted with cheers as he appeared at a fan zone
One supporter displays a scarf immortalising his team's heroes from the final three years ago
Liverpool fans have taken over the Champ de Mars, the area in front of the Eiffel Tower
Supporters also gathered in their numbers at Place de la Nation in the eastern part of the city

A heavy police presence is in the area, including armed officers. Meanwhile, on the Champs Elysees, fans could be handed a €135 fine by police if they wear club colours - including hats, scarves and banners. 

Fan John Racks, 39, from the Wirral, Merseyside, told PA: 'Yeah, the drinking started early, the sun's out now and it's getting to my head a bit.  

'I'd like to say at nearly 40 I'm careful but I kind of got lost and started drinking this morning, now I'm smashed. The atmosphere here is boss, the city is red.'

Another said: 'I'm sat here on top of some statue in Paris with my mates, there's nothing more you need. Just a few beers and hopefully a win for the Reds, lovely.'

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