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.
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.
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.
Samson Oyedeyi
