Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has insisted the Reds are heading into the Champions League final in a "different place" and believes the team have grown "massively" over the last year. 

The Merseyside outfit finished a point behind champions Manchester City in Premier League standings, but have the opportunity to end their season on a high by lifting their sixth European Cup trophy in June.
 

 
 

 


Following a 3-0 defeat to Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, Liverpool came back spectacularly in the return leg at Anfield, securing a 4-0 win on the night to book their place in the final.

Last year, Liverpool were beaten 3-1 by holders Real Madrid in the final, but Gomez has claimed the Reds are mentally stronger this time around.   
 


Previewing the final against Tottenham Hotspur, Gomez told Liverpool's official website: "I definitely think we go into this final in a different place.

 

 


"It's still a Champions League final and they're always separate occasions and you have to approach it with the same mentality.

"But I think this year speaks for itself and the growth in the team has been massive.
 

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"[The manager] shows and emphasises the fact that we're a different team and we can't go into thinking that we're the same team.

"In that sense, we can take the confidence from that, but still have the desire to win one because we know what it means for this club and we want to get the sixth star."

Despite missing out on the Premier League, Liverpool reached a milestone this season – gathering the third-highest points total in the league's history.