WATCH: Liverpool Wins 6th Champions League Title, Beats Tottenham
It wasn't the prettiest win in Liverpool's history, but it's one of the club's greatest.
Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0 to win the sixth Champions League title in club history, overcoming defeat in last season's final in Ukraine to win it all in Madrid.
Liverpool nursed a 1-0 lead for most of the disjointed match, with a handball on Moussa Sissoko less than 30 seconds in allowing Mohamed Salah to score a second-minute penalty. The match remained in the balance until the 87th minute, when Divock Origi scored the insurance goal to give Liverpool the breathing room it needed.
Tottenham wasn't able to generate much in the attack, but when it was, it was stifled by Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson. Harry Kane was picked to start despite not having played since suffering an injury in the first leg of the quarterfinals vs. Manchester City, with Mauricio Pochettino dropping semifinal hero Lucas Moura to the bench to make way.
It took Liverpool less than half a minute to enjoy a dream start. Sadio Mane's attempted cross in the box hit off Sissoko's extended arm, gifting Liverpool a penalty after 25 seconds. After a video review, the penalty was upheld, and Salah beat Hugo Lloris from the spot to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. The goal (1:48) was the second fastest in a Champions League final next to Paolo Maldini's strike 50 seconds in for AC Milan vs. Liverpool in '05.
Tottenham settled into the match quite well in the minutes that followed, not really threatening Alisson's goal, but having the better of the ball. Son Heung-min nearly broke through in the 20th minute on the breakaway, but Trent Alexander-Arnold did well to recover and tackle the ball off the South Korean's foot before he could enter the danger zone.
On the other end, Salah had a half chance, turning on Jan Vertonghen and lofting a left footed chance over the bar, with Mane appearing to call for the cross that never came.
Liverpool's next chance came through an unlikely source, with left Andy Robertson forcing Lloris into a save with a powerful long-range blast, which the Frenchman could only put over the bar and out for a corner in the 38th minute.
The first quarter of an hour of the second half was more in Tottenham's favor, with Spurs chasing the result and trying to apply pressure, though unable to break through Liverpool's resolute defense. The Reds, not able to really get a stranglehold on the game, made two subs in the first 17 minutes of the half, with Roberto Firmino and Georginio Wijnaldum coming off for Origi and James Milner, respectively.
Pochettino also went to his bench, bringing on Lucas, looking for the attacking spark to break through and find the equalizer.
The next breakthrough nearly came from Liverpool, though, with Milner hooking a low chance from 17 yards just wide of the right post, narrowly missing the goal that would've doubled LFC's lead.
Tottenham enjoyed some half chances as the game reached its final 10 minutes. Son elected to lay off a pass to his left instead of firing away when it appeared he had a shooting lane from the top of the box, deferring to Dele Alli, who curled an effort on frame, but not with enough power or precision to trouble Alisson.
Tottenham forced Alisson into a pair of diving saves soon after, though, one on a long-range blast from Son, and another on a close-range effort from Lucas, but the Brazilian goalkeeper, signed after Loris Karius's blunder of a final last season, was strong on both.
Alisson came up huge again in the 85th minute. Christian Eriksen had the chance to pull even off a free kick from a left-sided angle, and his curled effort appeared headed for the far netting, only for the goalkeeper to parry it wide with a diving save.
Liverpool got the insurance goal it was seeking soon after from Origi. Tottenham failed to clear after a corner, and the Belgian, who scored twice in the semifinal second leg, lashed home a fine finish to give Liverpool a 2-0 lead.
Here were the lineups for both sides:
Another all-England bout for a European trophy–the UEFA Super Cup–will take place in August, featuring Liverpool against Europa League champion Chelsea.
