Liverpool Win Champions League After Beating Tottenham Hotspur

An early goal from Mohamed Salah and a late one from Divock Origi gave Liverpool a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday’s all-English Champions League final as coach Jurgen Klopp finally got his hands on Europe’s biggest prize.

Having been beaten 3-1 by Real Madrid in last season’s final in Kiev, Liverpool were out to exorcise those demons with Jurgen Klopp also seeking his first trophy since becoming the club’s head coach back in 2015.

Tottenham had prepared intensely for three weeks for the biggest game in the club’s history, analyzed every minute detail and every possible outcome.

What manager Mauricio Pochettino, his staff and players could never have imagined was that Tottenham’s first ever Champions League final would be lost after just 28 seconds.

In what was Liverpool’s very first foray forward, Sadio Mane’s attempted cross hit Moussa Sissoko on the arm and referee Damir Skomina instantly pointed to the spot.

Salah stepped up to fire the penalty over Hugo Lloris and into the net after just 118 seconds.

It was fitting that Salah struck, given that he limped out of last year’s final in tears after being injured following a clash with Sergio Ramos – an injury which also ruined his 2018 World Cup with Egypt.

Spurs pressed for a route back into a game which was typified by slack possession and mistakes from both sides. They 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.

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.

Nevertheless, if they can keep him, and with the impetus from the move to their new stadium, maybe they will be back on such a stage before long.

Origi, one of Liverpool’s heroes in their stunning semifinal second-leg turnaround against Barcelona, then killed the game with a ruthless finish into the bottom corner.

For Spurs, this was like seeing a beautiful painting being ripped apart. Mauricio Pochettino and his players will never forget the night they passed up the opportunity to win the most important match of the club’s 137 years.

Perhaps the occasion was just too much for Tottenham in their first-ever appearance in the Champions League final. They have now lost all three meetings with these opponents this season, winning just one of their last 15 encounters.

This was Liverpool’s sixth time winning the champions league. Previous wins came Istanbul, 2005, as well as Rome, 1977 and 1984, plus Wembley, 1978, and Paris, 1981. They now have more than Barcelona or Bayern Munich, and twice as many as their greatest rivals, Manchester United.