MADRID — Harry Kane returned from almost two months out with injury to start for Tottenham in the Champions League final against Liverpool on Saturday.

Kane has not played since damaging ankle ligaments in the first leg of the quarter-finals against Manchester City on April 9 but gave Spurs a major boost by being passed fit in Madrid.

"I think we believed and we felt that in the last few weeks he was ready to compete," coach Mauricio Pochettino told BT Sport before kick-off. "We give him time to feel that emotion and determination, and yesterday we confirmed that he was ready."

Pochettino dropped Lucas Moura to make room for Kane, despite Moura scoring an incredible hat-trick as Tottenham came back to knock out Ajax in the semis.

Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min were selected behind Kane in attacking midfield.

Liverpool's own centre forward Roberto Firmino also made it into Jurgen Klopp's starting line-up at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Firmino had missed Liverpool's last three games with a groin injury, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane completing the front three.

James Milner dropped to the bench, as Klopp picked a midfield trio of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum, who scored twice in Liverpool's stunning semi-final fightback against Barcelona.