Liverpool crowned kings of Europe

Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0 as they were crowned champions of Europe for the sixth time

Liverpool were crowned European champions for the sixth time as goals from Mo Salah and Divock Origi gave them a 2-0 win over Tottenham in the Champions League final in Madrid.  

Liverpool were given a helping hand after just 22 seconds as Sadio Mane’s ball brushed Moussa Sissoko’s arm at close range, prompting Slovenian referee Damir Skomina to point to the spot for Salah to convert down the middle (2).

It was an otherwise turgid affair in sweltering conditions in the Spanish capital, until sub Origi, the two-goal hero in Liverpool’s unforgettable semi-final win over Barcelona, struck a pinpoint low effort into the far corner from the left of the box (87).

After finishing second to Manchester City in the Premier League by just a point, Jurgen Klopp finally earned his first trophy at Liverpool in his fourth final, while Mauricio Pochettino still waits for his first piece of silverware at Spurs.

Liverpool players celebrate at the final whistle

After three-and-a-half weeks of intense build-up, the first flashpoint came in the first minute as Mane’s chipped ball was blocked at point-blank range by Sissoko. Though the ball initially hit Sissoko’s shoulder, it did then brush his arm, and a brief VAR check confirmed a penalty which seemed to split opinion elsewhere.

Salah, who was forced out of last season’s final against Real Madrid early on with a shoulder injury, slotted down the middle, stunning Spurs in their first European Cup final.

Tottenham had more of the possession in an otherwise disjointed first half but couldn’t make the final ball count, and Liverpool went closest to doubling their lead through full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, both inches away with long-range efforts.

Divock Origi goal, Champions League final, Liverpool vs Tottenham

Play opened up slightly after the break, but the first clear-cut chance didn’t come until the 69th minute as substitute James Milner’s low drive missed Lloris’ right-hand post by a whisker following fine work from Mane.

Spurs’ first shot on target came in the 73rd minute as Dele Alli chipped harmlessly into Alisson’s grateful hands, before the Brazilian goalkeeper did well to stop Heung-Min Son’s long-range shot and sub Lucas Moura’s poked effort from 12 yards.

But Spurs’ hopes of a leveller were dashed three minutes from time as Origi picked up a loose ball on the left of the box, finding the bottom right corner with a fine left-footed drive. The Belgian registered three goals from just three shots in the entire Champions League campaign: two for his semi-final heroics against Barcelona, and one in Madrid.

A rock-solid Alisson denied a largely absent Harry Kane in stoppage time, but Liverpool got the job done for their first piece of silverware since 2012, but what a jewel to have won.

Opta stats

• Liverpool have won their sixth Champions League/European Cup trophy – twice as many as any other English team has won (Man Utd, 3).
• Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp ended a run of six consecutive unsuccessful finals in major competitions, since winning the DFB-Pokal with Borussia Dortmund in 2012.
• Liverpool (35.4 per cent) have become the first side to win the Champions League final despite having less possession than the opposition since Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan beat Bayern Munich in 2010; a final which was also played in Madrid.
• This was the first ever Champions League final without a single card shown.
• Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah became the fifth different African player to score in a Champions League/European Cup final, after Rabah Madjer, Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba and Sadio Mane.
• Salah’s opener for Liverpool was the second fastest goal in a Champions League final, only behind Paolo Maldini (00:50) for AC Milan versus Liverpool in 2005.
• Liverpool’s Divock Origi became only the second Belgium player to score in a Champions League/European Cup final after Yannick Carrasco for Atletico vs Real Madrid in 2016; Origi has scored with all three of his shots in the CL this season.

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