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Liverpool, Klopp Get Champions League Validation With Win Over Spurs

By Travis Yoesting June 1, 2019
Featured Image
It wasn’t necessarily the prettiest final, but this team deserved it.
Getty Images

As “You’ll Never Walk Alone” rung through the gorgeous Wanda Metropolitano rafters on Saturday night, Jurgen Klopp finally had his Champions League trophy. And Liverpool is finally back on top of the world.

Liverpool defeated Premier League rival Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the Champions League final on Saturday in Madrid, giving the Reds their sixth European championship. (Just as we here at The18 predicted.)

Liverpool is now alone for third all-time in Champions League (and European Cup, as it was previously called) history. 

Tottenham conceded a penalty kick 23 seconds into the match and Mohamed Salah converted to give Liverpool a dream start. The rest of the match was a bit drab until Divock Origi secured the win with a goal in the 87th minute to give Liverpool the title.

Champions League Final Highlights 2019

Jordan Henderson, Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool finally have that Champions League trophy. Photo: Getty Images

The first half after the penalty was particularly stale. The most exciting moment of the first 45 minutes came when fans booed as a half-naked woman who ran onto the pitch was taken off by security.

Spurs threatened to threaten in the second half, but Alisson and Virgil van Dijk were always on hand to maintain the clean sheet.

The Champions League title finally validated Jurgen Klopp as one of the greatest managers currently in the game. 

Always the bridesmaid never the bride, Klopp had been a runner-up in the Champions League twice (2013, 2018) and Europa League once (2013). In all, he had lost seven of eight finals, only winning the 2012 DFB-Pokal with Borussia Dortmund. 

But Klopp has had brilliant teams over the years, perhaps none better than this Liverpool side, which finished just behind Manchester City in the Premier League race. The Reds fans have been desperate for success, having last a trophy that matters in 2006 (sorry League Cup, no one cares about you). 

This Liverpool team was a testament to Klopp’s ability to build a team (and Fenway Sports Group’s financial backing). None of the players who started his first match in charge of the Reds in 2015 started the final on Saturday. The club spent wisely on players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson, all of whom came up huge in the final. 

While Klopp’s club didn’t hit full stride in the final, the players were more than talented enough to win a match that was, honestly, a bit boring. 

And watching club captain Jordan Henderson lift the Champions League trophy (after getting nutmegged by Danny Rose in the first half) was a brilliant sight, even for Liverpool haters.

Champions League Final Highlights 2019

Think he wanted that one? Screenshot: TNT

Now Liverpool just needs to get its first Premier League title.

Tottenham, despite its failings in the final, had perhaps the most memorable season in club history. Mauricio Pochettino may move on to another club, but nothing can take away from the thrilling season Spurs fans witnessed. Tottenham’s comeback against Ajax was one of the most thrilling Champions League matches of all time. 

Champions League Final Highlights 2019

Seconds into the match, before many people had even figured out the game was on TNT (though we wish it wasn’t), Tottenham’s Moussa Sissoko was whistled for a hand ball in the box. 

Mohamed Salah smashed the ensuing penalty past Hugo Lloris and Liverpool led 1-0 in the second minute.

The rest of the first half lacked the verve and enthusiasm you might expect for a big final. The best chances came from long-range attempts by Liverpool’s fullbacks, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson.

In the second half, James Milner nearly doubled Liverpool’s lead with a shot that skidded just wide of the post.

As the match wore on, Spurs became desperate and created a few chances. But every time, Alisson was up to the task in goal.

Finally, the match got a second goal to put the game away. Origi, who scored twice in Liverpool’s incredible comeback second leg win over Barcelona, netted in the 87th minute to clinch the victory.

Finally, Jordan Henderson was given the trophy and Liverpool broke into another stirring rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

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