Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League final with a 7-6 aggregate victory over Roma on Thursday, although the clash with Real Madrid in Kiev on May 26 will fall during Ramadan.
Ramadan begins on May 15 and is a month of incredible importance to followers of Islam, it requires practicing Muslims to fast from dawn until sunset, this is combined with an adjusted sleeping schedule to allow people to eat and drink before the sun rises.
Liverpool have three practicing Muslims within their squad in Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Emre Can, whereas Real Madrid have just one in Achraf Hakimi.
There is a question as to how the aforementioned players will be impacted by Ramadan and if it will change their preparation for the showpiece final.
By the time May 26 arrives, Ramadan will have been underway for 11 days, these players living under nutritional conditions that simply don’t exist throughout the rest of the season.
In an interview with Radio MARCA, Alberto Moreno provided a light-hearted answer when quizzed on the subject of Salah’s training during Ramadan.
“When it’s Ramadan, I’ll eat and drink for him, it’s the least I can do,” he joked.
Kick-off is set for 20:45 CET and this will be 12 hours into the fasting period, although there is the option for players to miss a day of fasting and make it up before the next period of Ramadan.
This is exactly what Mesut Ozil did during Euro 2016, although it isn’t a widely popular move.
