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Liverpool cruised past Tottenham in the UEFA Champions League final at the Wanda Metropolitano. The Reds emerged 2-0 winners and were full value for their victory.
In the 1st minute, the game had its first flashpoint. A cross by Sadio Mane on the left flank struck Moussa Sissoko’s arm in the penalty area. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Mohamed Salah took responsibility and smashed the ball beyond the reach of Hugo Lloris to give Liverpool the lead.
Spurs tried to respond in kind and stitched several promising attacks together. However, they severely lacked the end product and were left to rue the enormous amount of possession they enjoyed.
The second half developed a pattern where the North London side tried to break open the Liverpool door while the latter bided its time and waited for the ideal opportunity to hit back.
The said opening arrived in the 87th minute and Divock Origi made no mistake with a pin-point shot into the bottom corner.
Here is a look at the talking points from the game:
#5 An anti-climactic end to a sensational Champions League season
The 2018-19 UEFA Champions League would certainly go down as one of the most scintillating competitions in recent memory. The group stages contained its fair share of outstanding matches while Europe’s elite raised the bar a touch as the tournament entered the knockout stage.
The Round of 16 fixtures saw several impressive performances while the quarter finals provided a spectacle for the ages. As for the semi-finals, it would be safe to say that they were the best of the Champions League era.
After all, Barcelona don’t give away a three-goal deficit every day and Spurs don’t come back from being 3-0 down on aggregate to win the tie on away goals.
Thus, the final always had a mountain to climb in order to match, let alone outshine the matches that preceded it.
Unfortunately, though, it did neither and it turned out to be a bit of an anti-climax in the end.
Spurs and Liverpool represented two teams capable of setting the world ablaze with their brand of effervescent attacking football. However, the Reds were content on sitting back and waiting for their moment to capitalise. The above meant that of the two heavyweight punchers in the bout, one bet its money on its ability to counter-punch. Unsurprisingly, the game was a tad less exhilarating than it was expected to be.
Moreover, the game was also short on the drama quotient with not a lot unfolding between Liverpool’s first and second goals. The odd save from Alisson aside, Tottenham failed to make any substantial inroads.
Thus, the game acted as a bit of a dampener, especially after the astronomical heights some of the previous Champions League games had scaled.
While the above was due to no fault of either side, it was just ironic that such a sensational European season ended with such a drab affair.
#4 Liverpool’s high pressing suffocates Tottenham
Jurgen Klopp decided to field a full strength eleven with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Salah all starting. Additionally, the midfield trio of Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson got the nod ahead of the other options at the German’s disposal.
Thus, with several energetic players on the pitch, it seemed inevitable that the Reds would try to press the ball high up the pitch. And that is exactly what Liverpool did from the outset.
The first goal came about as the Reds pinched the ball in midfield after intercepting an attempted long pass. Henderson then quickly sprang into action and fed the run of Mane. The Senegalese forward proceeded towards the Spurs penalty area before his cross hit the arm of Moussa Sissoko.
In addition to the goal, Klopp’s men very rarely allowed Spurs to play out from the back. On countless occasions, Harry Winks dropped into the space between the centre backs to distribute the ball for Tottenham. Yet, he was always surrounded by Liverpool shirts.
Moreover, the Reds counter-pressed very effectively and that facet made it tough for Pochettino’s troops to mount significant counter-attacks.
Over the years, Klopp and his teams have been praised for the way they press their opponents into submission. However, during his tenure at Liverpool, the German has been selective with his usage of the Gegenpress.
Yet, when the biggest stage came calling, he returned to his roots and pulled a tried and tested rabbit out of the hat.
And while the Liverpool players will rightly take home the spotlight, Klopp’s tactics on the night deserve their time in the sun too.
#3 Mohamed Salah buries his 2018 Champions League final ghosts
On the 27th of May, 2018, Liverpool clashed swords with Real Madrid as the Reds looked to bring the Los Blancos’ European juggernaut to a grinding halt. Unsurprisingly, Mohamed Salah was expected to spearhead the English club’s charge with him having conjured spectacular numbers in the 2017-18 season.
However, the Egyptian was completely taken out of the picture courtesy a rather robust challenge by Sergio Ramos. The forward went off in tears and one felt that he had missed his chance to influence a European final. Yet, when accorded another opportunity on the 1st of June 2019, Salah pounced and ensured his name was splashed across the back pages for all the right reasons.
In the 1st minute, the Reds were awarded a rather contentious penalty. The Egyptian stepped up and powered the spot-kick beyond the reach of Hugo Lloris. Though the Frenchman guessed the right way, Salah just had too much behind his shot.
Apart from the goal, the forward looked lively and targeted the likes of Jan Vertonghen and Danny Rose. While he caused the latter problems with his pace, he made life hard for the former with his physicality. On several occasions, he cut in-field and occupied Vertonghen. In the process, the other Liverpool players were able to exploit the space created by Salah.
As the game progressed, the former Roma man’s speed was also a constant counter-attacking avenue.
The Egyptian was defensively sound too as he made sure Rose didn’t enjoy the freedom of the left flank. A major part of Spurs’ offensive play revolves around the full-back and hence, Salah’s contribution couldn’t be overstated enough.
A year back, many were left heartbroken with the sight of a professional footballer, especially of the ilk of Salah, walking away crestfallen. Yet, just twelve months later, Liverpool’s Egyptian King rose from the ruins to find himself atop the European pyramid.
After all, some love stories are just meant to be.
#2 Spurs eventually run out of steam
In the summer of 2018, Tottenham created an unwanted record when they failed to make a single signing. Though they boasted of a top notch squad, many believed their decision to not bring fresh faces on board was bordering on insanity.
Yet, through the course of the season, Pochettino and his players have silenced those critics emphatically. The North London side finished in the top four of the Premier League and also made the Champions League final, no mean feat considering the squad depth (or the lack of it) they possessed.
However, with Spurs playing several more games than they would’ve envisaged at the start, they started running their already threadbare chest thinner. And it came to the fore in the final at the Wanda Metropolitano.
After Liverpool’s initial salvo, the North London outfit tried its best to produce a response. They even looked the brighter of the two but they faltered when the occasion demanded of composure.
Additionally, as the game wore on, their players started feeling the effects of a long season with Liverpool looking sharper throughout the game. Sissoko succumbed to injury mid-way through the game while Kieran Trippier was a passenger for the final quarter.
However, the more alarming aspect for Spurs was the lack of ideas they showcased in the offensive third. Many a time, they played their way through midfield but failed to carve out any clear-cut chances to bother the Reds.
So far, Mauricio Pochettino has worked wonders with this Tottenham side, considering the tight money purse he has been provided. Yet, one feels that if they are to catapult themselves to the next level, they might just need an addition or two in the summer.
While it isn’t necessary to fix something that isn’t broke, they certainly require players who can make their already impressive machine much more irresistible.
#1 Liverpool finally have something to show for an incredible season
Liverpool started the 2018-19 season as one of the favourites for the Premier League title. Through the entirety of the term, they lived up to the billing and were magnificent. After all, they collected a total of 97 points from 28 games. Incidentally, their tally was the third highest ever in the league.
Unfortunately, though, the 2nd highest tally was also achieved in the same season and Liverpool’s wait for the elusive Premier League trophy found its way into another season.
Moreover, they also went out early in the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup to Wolves and Chelsea respectively.
Thus, the prospect of Klopp’s team missing out on every major prize seemed a distinct possibility. However, they ensured nothing of the sort materialised with a 6th European crown.
On the biggest stage, the Reds looked calm and composed. They weren’t fazed by the pressure the Champions League final brought. Rather, they used it to their advantage to come up with arguably their most complete performance of the season.
Back in August 2018, the title Liverpool fans craved was the Premier League. Yet, they wouldn’t really mind capping off their season with a Champions League triumph.
More importantly, though, Klopp now has the trophy he had promised the Reds faithful he would bring.
Since that night in Istanbul, even Champions League success remained a distant dream. But, Klopp and Liverpool turned it into a reality and they can now enjoy a good summer break before resuming their search for the Premier League again in August.
