Liverpool claims sixth Champions League title with 2-0 win over Tottenham
Updated
An early goal from Mohamed Salah and a late one from Divock Origi have given Liverpool a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the all-English Champions League final as coach Juergen Klopp finally got his hands on Europe's biggest prize.
Key points:
- Liverpool took a 1-0 lead into halftime after a Salah penalty in the second minute
- With Harry Kane lacking sharpness after an ankle injury, another miraculous European comeback proved beyond Tottenham
- After two losing finals since triumphing in 2005, Liverpool finally rose to third in the all-time list of European champions
Salah's second-minute penalty put Liverpool ahead and substitute Origi fired home a late second as they were crowned European champions for the sixth time.
Liverpool took a 1-0 lead into halftime after getting off to a dream start with a Salah penalty in the second minute.
Liverpool were awarded the fastest spot kick in Champions League history when Sadio Mane's cross struck the underside of Moussa Sissoko's arm after 23 seconds.
Egyptian striker Salah, who was forced off in Liverpool's 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid in last year's final, smashed the ball down the middle of the goal to open the scoring although Spurs then steadied themselves after their nightmare start.
"I have sacrificed a lot for my career," Salah said.
"To come from a village, to go to Cairo, and to be an Egyptian at this level is unbelievable for me."
Liverpool's attacking full backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson each came close to scoring later in the half while Tottenham, playing in their first Champions League final, struggled to trouble Juergen Klopp's side's towering defence.
Tottenham kept their heads after a nightmare opening and came to life when semi-final hat-trick hero Lucas Moura came off the bench but, with Harry Kane lacking sharpness after an ankle injury, another miraculous European comeback proved beyond them.
Liverpool did not produce much of their usual whirlwind attacking football but they were more intelligent and powerful than Spurs and sealed a sixth European Cup triumph with an arrowed finish from substitute Origi in the 87th minute.
"When we look back on tonight we aren't going to think it was a sluggish game," Liverpool-born defender Trent Alexander-Arnold said.
"We are going to think we have just won the European Cup."
The win was sweet redemption for Salah and especially German Klopp, who had suffered defeat on his last six appearances in major finals, including Champions League showpieces with Borussia Dortmund in 2013 and Liverpool last year.
"You have a goalkeeper who makes difficult things look easy," Klopp said.
"Thank you very much.
"Did you ever see a team like this? Fighting with no fuel in the tank?
Klopp is now European champion for the first time.
"I am so happy for my family," he said. "They suffer every year when we go to a final, the last game of the season."
His opposite number Mauricio Pochettino took a bold but ultimately misguided gamble in fielding Kane, who had only returned to full training a week ago after almost two months out with a serious ankle injury and struggled to influence play.
Kane was far from the only player who lacked sharpness in a game of few moments of real quality, a possible effect of both sides not playing any competitive games for three weeks.
Spurs put Liverpool under real pressure in the latter stages as Dele Alli headed over and Son Heung-min and Moura forced impressive saves from Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
After two losing finals since triumphing in 2005, Liverpool finally rose to third in the all-time list of European champions behind 13-time winner Real Madrid and AC Milan on seven titles.
Reuters/AP
Topics: sport, soccer, champions-league, spain
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