Klopp certainly enjoyed his night in Madrid ...
Barney Ronay on Liverpool's night of glory
Not a perfect end for Spurs, as David Hytner points out ...
Virgil van Dijk is next in the room. He’s proved to be a decent signing...
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And now you can see what Jürgen Klopp has to say. Presumably he’s pleased – he’s just seen Sid Lowe’s player ratings:
Mauricio Pochettino’s press conference is now live – skip to the end of the video above to watch.
Here is Daniel Taylor’s report from Madrid ...
Pochettino's verdict
“We need to feel very proud of the effort, how we fought to get to this final. We were very unlucky to concede that goal from the penalty. We played so well in the second half. It’s not easy to play against a team that plays transition very well, taking risks. I feel so proud. We were a little bit unlucky. Being 1-0 down from the start changed the plans completely. It’s not easy. But having been in the Champions League final for the fist time, we have to be optimistic for the future.
“It’s about learning. Use this experience like Liverpool did last year. I’m so pleased to manage this group of players and I congratulate Liverpool because they’ve had a fantastic season. When you live this experience, you want to do it again, to play in the best game in the world after the World Cup.”
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Just to prove that not all presidents tweet dangerous nonsense, Senegal’s Macky Sall has taken to social media to congratulate his compatriot Sadio Mané for the “talent, discipline and humility” that have helped make him a European champion. Chapeau.
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Jordan Henderson speaks
“Without the manager this is impossible. What he’s done in this club is incredible. Not only the players he’s brought in that have made us stronger, but he’s also made the players who were already here better.”
“I’m so proud to be part of this football club. I’ve just tried to give my best every time I’ve played football ad help the team. There’s been tough times over my career but I’ve kept going. This is what you’ve done it for. This is the best moment of my life apart from [having] my children.” And to think, back in 2012 Brendan Rodgers was trying to usher Henderson out of the club as he bartered for Clint Dempsey ... and most people at the time (including me) thought that would have been a decent deal. Hats off to Henderson for proving his worth in the most delicious style.
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Here are Liverpool fans celebrating at the final whistle. It looks like they enjoyed it.
Congrats, @LFC. Really happy for everyone at the club and fans. You deserved this.
— Loris Karius (@LorisKarius) June 1, 2019
While Liverpool milk the glory, Pochettino is probably in the dressing room telling his players to watch and remember their hurt, so they can use it as fuel to go a step farther next time. But he should also reflect on his own decisions here. He got the key selections wrong. Winks did not have the impact he hoped after two months out injured, and nor did Kane, who was allowed to stay on the pitch until the end despite offering next to nothing. At least those players had excuses: some of the others, notably Eriksen, don’t. That said, most Liverpool players were no better, but that bit doesn’t matter now.
A jubilant Klopp speaks
“I’m so happy for the boys, I’m so happy for all of these people, I’m so happy for my family..... Did you ever see a team like this? Fighting with no fuel in the tank any more. And we had a goalkeeper who makes difficult things look easy. Tonight this is going to be great. This may be the best night of my life, professional wise.”
“This is so important. We have our owners who never put pressure on us, they only support and say ‘you can deliver this’. They are brilliant.”
Asked how he intends celebrating he says: “I don’t know. Normally when I win, 20 minutes after the game I am already half-pissed ...”
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The look on Klopp’s face as he thrust the trophy skywards, surrounded by his players, will make for a priceless picture. His team were way below par today and he knows what would have been said if they had been punished with defeat, his seventh in a row in a final. Instead his team prevailed and, with this trophy now under their belt, they are likely to become far more formidable. You’d say this could be the beginning of a dynasty ... if Manchester City weren’t around.
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As each player takes turns hoisting the trophy high, Liverpool fans serenade them with a lusty and slightly relieved rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone. Most Spurs fans appear to have left ...
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Jordan Henderson raises the European Cup high above his head
Liverpool are at the summit of Europe!
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Liverpool’s players bounce up to collect their medals and then gather and dance around the trophy, which Jordan Henderson will soon hold aloft.
Liverpool give their opponents a guard of honour as Spurs’ players troop up to collect their runners-up medals. They don’t even glance at the trophy standing next to the Uefa president handing out the medals. Liverpool know that pain from last season, and they’ve made amends.
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A besuited Ian Rush plonks the trophy on its pedestal as Liverpool players stand beside the podium awaiting permission to go grab it...
"I'm just a normal lad from Liverpool whose dream's just come true"
Salah: “Everybody is happy now! I’m very glad to play the second final in a row and the full 90 minutes, finally. It wasn’t a good performance from any of us individually but that doesn’t matter now.”
Alexander-Arnold: “It’s hard to even put into words what;s just happened. With the season we’ve had we deserved it more than any other team. We’ve beaten everyone put in our path, We were probably dominated for the main part of the game but we showed we’re a world class side and can win any way. When we look back tonight we’re not going to think it was a sluggish game, we’re going to think we’ve just won the European Cup! I’m just a normal lad from Liverpool who’s dream just come true.”
Origi: “We’ve done it. I’m happy that I could play my part but every single guy fought so hard today.”
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Des Kelly of BT nabs Salah for an interview, then notices that the rest of the Liverpool team are about to sprint off in unison towards the red-clad fans for a big loving cheer: so he advises Salah to dash off and join his teammates, which the Egyptian does with gusto.
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It’s all smiles and back slaps among the Liverpool players. And Pochettino, classy to the end, walks among them to shake hands and congratulate them, after commiserating with his own players.
Full-time: Spurs 0-2 Liverpool
Liverpool are European champions for the sixth time! Don’t bother telling them it was a boring final because they don’t care! Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi scored the goals that mean a wonderful season for Jurgen Klopp’s team most definitely did not end in an anti-climax. They are legends! Klopp has his first trophy with the club he has transformed and uplifted, and Spurs leave with a lot of credit for making it this far, but regrets with how flat they fell on the big stage.
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90+4 min: You’ll Never Walk Alone is reverberating around the stadium as Spurs flail around in search of consolation. It’s not happening.
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90 min: There will be at least five more minutes ...
90 min: Joe Gomez is a Champions finalist, having just come on in place of Mané.
89 min: Fabinho’s role in that goal was nice. HE showed coolness as the ball bobbled around the area to flick it to Origi, who finished perfectly. For a player who seldom starts, Origi has scored some huge goals for Liverpool. It’s going to take a comeback better that surpasses anything we’ve seen so far this season for Spurs to prevent Liverpool from winning this now.
GOAL! Spurs 0-2 Liverpool (Origi 88)
Spurs fail to clear a corner from Milner, and Liverpool work it to Origi in the left-hand side of the box. The Belgian steads himself and smacks a good low shot into the far corner!
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86 min: Tripper delivers an outswinger ... Moura meets it eight yards out, shotting into the ground ... Son tries to redirect it towards goal from close range but heads over! He was offside anyway. but Moura’s chance was a good one, if only he’d caught it properly!
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85 min: Eriksen goes for the far corner ... and Alison springs to his right to push it behind for a corner.
84 min: Rose beats Milner to a dropping ball at the edge of the area and then goes down under contact from the midfielder. Freekick to Spurs on the right-hand side of the box, close to the corner. Eriksen nudges it a little closer to the corner to give himself a more favourable shooting position...
83 min: Milner is the latest player to muck up a corner, failing to beat the first defender.
82 min: Spurs substitution: Llorente on, Alli off.
80 min: Son unloads one from out of the blue, from 25 yards. It’s struck hard and true and Alisson parries it with difficulty. Spurs get it back into the danger area quickly and Moura fires off a low toe-punter. Alisson saves this one more easily. Liverpool need to wake up.
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78 min: Liverpool have dropped back and challenged Spurs to open them up. They work Trippier into space down the right and he clips over a dainty cross. Alli gets his nut to it but sends his effort over from seven yards. And, it turns ut, he fouled Matip anyway so Liverpool have a freekick.
77 min: I’m not sure that Kane has touched the ball in this half.
75 min: A Liverpool attack founders and suddenly Spurs are on the charge. Son tries to run through the heart of their defence and for a moment it looks like he can do it, but then Van Dijk shifts into top gear and eases him off the ball.
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74 min: Spurs substitution: Dier on, Sissoko off. The Frenchman may have been injured, he seemed to pick up a strain of some sort.
73 min: The game is loosening up now. Quality isn’t exactly soaring but gaps are opening up. Son skitters towards the Liverpool area and slips the all wide to Alli, who tries a dinky, Deulofue-esque lob over Alisson. But he doesn’t catch it right and it’s a comfortable save for the keeper.
71 min: Alison catches the Spurs’ defence out with a quick long kick to Salah, wide on the right. Salah finds Mané at the edge of the area but he runs into trouble, allowing Spurs to clear.
70 min: Vertonghn flights a fine long pass from deep to Tripper wide on the right. The fullback delivers a fine cross in the danger zone ... but there’s no teammates there to get on the end of it!
69 min: Mané skins Eriksen in midfield and scampers towards the box, zipping the ball in to Salah near the penalty spot. Salah lays it back to Milner, who takes one touch and then lashes a low effort just wide from the edge of the box! Good play!
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67 min: Alexander-Arnold donks a pitiful corner to the near post, where Son whacks clear. Even the setpieces have been diabolical today, except for Salah’s penalty.
66 min: Spurs substitution: Moura on, Winks off. Eriksen drops a little deeper.
65 min: At the risk of repeating myself, this is very scrappy. Neither team can string a series of passes together. This is a great advertisement for rugby, or ice hockey or drinking.
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62 min: Another Liverpool substitution: Milner on, Wijnaldum off. The Dutchman made no impression.
60 min: “Eriksen needs a big game now, he has hid so many times this season,” snaps Mark Goodchild. NO sign of him here yet. And on that note, he tries a shot from 30 yards. It’s a low whizzer than Van Dijk blocks at the edge of the area.
58 min: Liverpool substitution: Origi on, Firmino off. The Brazilian has not looked fit and was unable to make much of a contribution. Same goes for Kane, who I expect to be replaced by Moura soon. I can’t see any justification for leaving him on the pitch.
57 min: Alisson punches a away the corner to the edge of the area. Rose tires to lash it back at goal but Salah deflects it wide. Vertonghen meets the corner beyond the back post but can only guide a soft header a couple of yards over the bar.
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56 min: Son tries to wriggle into the box and deliver a cross. Robertson makes a block at the expense of a corner.
55 min: Robertson curls over a vicious cross from the left. Lloris does well to snaffle it before Mané can pounce.
54 min: Wijnaldum releases Salah with a cute pass from deep. The Egyptian heads into the box, from the right-hand side. Vertonghen stands up to him ... and Salah tries to use him as a blind as he aims a curler towards the far corner. But Vertonghen is wise to his game and blocks.
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53 min: A nice cross from the right by Alexander-Arnold floats just beyond Salah. “If this doesn’t pick up, this might end up being the worst Champions
League final ever,” snalrs Kari Tulinius. “I can’t remember a duller spectacle. Admittedly I missed the Milan-Juve nil-nil in 2003, but every Champions League
final has been full of incident and fun. Anyway, here’s hoping for a
crazy second half.” I’ll give you a duller spectacle: Red Star Belgrade 0-0 Marseille in the 1991 final, which, like this one, was painful because both teams had been so thrilling on their way to the final. Mind you, back then the problem was that Red Starr decided early on to play for penalties: here it’s that neither team can get going.
49 min: It’s still very scrappy. You know that both managers will have urged the players before kickoff to do their utmost to ensure they don’t come away full of regrets. Well, whoever loses this will agonise for ever over their non-performance ... unless they buck up their ideas pronto.
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47 min: Spurs build well down the right, with Trippier releasing Son and then following up to receive the layback. He hoists a cross to the back post, over Alexader-Arnold. Alli tries to head it back across goal but misdirects it.
46 min: Spurs get the second half going...
Here comes the players. Let’s hope they were all given a good boot up the backside during the break...
“As a Spurs fan you wonder how many ways we can invent to shoot ourselves in the foot,” drawls Mike Nagle. “Sissoko has been great all season but to flail your arms around in the penalty area is dumb. The match needs to liven up. I hope Kane gets a hat trick but it was equally dumb to start him & leave out Moura, the hat trick hero. If you had to include Kane leave Ali out, he has been poor most of the season. Here’s hoping for a better second half.”
“I hope Spurs come back and win simply because I want Liverpool to go down in history as the only team to lose two Champions League finals in a row,” snips Greg Rollins, who just doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Juventus and Valencia have previously lose two finals in a row.
In the BT studio, all the talk is about the penalty decision, partly because there’s not been much else to discuss apart from the non-performances of so many fine players. All the pundits- except Glenn Hoddle - think giving a penalty was the right decision because Sissoko’s arm was outstretched (he was pointing at a position where he wanted a teammate to go) and therefore he blocked Mane’s pass illegally. Hoddle contends that that might have been a fair interpretation if the ball had struck his arm directly but since it rebounded on to his arm off his chest, it’s a bad call.
“I live for the final, the showpiece, on many occasions it lets you down, but it’s still unmissable,” says Bernard Folan. “This game is simply abysmal. While not a fan of spurs, if they could string two passes together they could win this. Danny Rose is the only player not afraid of the situation, fair balls to him. Pochettino could win this, winks off, Moura on.” Or Kane off.
Half-time: Spurs 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool go for their tea with a one-goal lead thanks to Salah’s penalty in the first minute. But there’s not much else for them to be pleased about because this has been a messy half in which Spurs have passed slightly better. It was jittery fare and quite a grim spectacle, evidence that the three-week buildup was too long: can’t help thinking that if this match had been played one week after the end of the Premier League, it would have been a more vibrant affair. Kane and Firmino wouldn’t have been fit for that, of course, but neither of them have had any impact here so far. Let’s hope for a big improvement in the second half from both teams. Victory is there for either one, even if Liverpool currently have the edge.
45 min: Another Spurs attacking initiated by Son concludes with Eriksen shanking a shot 10 yards over from the edge of the area. Symptomatic off a dreadful first half, truth be told.
44 min: Spurs spring forward on a three-on-three attack! But Alli botches it by overhitting a pass intended for Son. That’s easy pickings for Alisson.
43 min: A change of strategy as Salah takes the corner. He might not get another one, as this went straight to Son at the near post. The Korean walloped it away.
41 min: Vertonghen is back in the action, just in time to see Liverpool elevate the quality of this game a tad. After promising bursts by Henderson and Firmino, Alexander-Arnold wins a corner, which he takes himself. Spurs scramble it out for another one, on the far side.
39 min: Vertonghen is receiving treatment, seemingly to an injured elbow. he looks to be in quite a bit of pain.
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38 min: Thats more like it! Matip spoon a decent pass wide to Robertson on the left. The Scot hurries forward and unloads a stinging shot from distance that Lloris pushes over with one hand!
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37 min: Truth be told, this has been only marginally better than the first half of Arsenal-Chelsea the other day. It’s all very well English teams hogging all the final spots, but it’s be nice if they put on a bette show than this.
35 min: Superb play by Henderson, up to a point. He did well to cut out a loose lofted pass by Alderweireld inside the Tottenham half, and then cleverly headed into space where he could run on to it himself down the right. But then he spaffed his cross out of play.
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34 min: Kane, who’s barely been involved so far, flicks the ball on to Son, Spurs’ most dangerous player. Two Liverpool players converge on him near the byline and deflect his cross out of play.
32 min: Sissoko, in the D, tries to slip a pass through to Son, dashing in from the left. Matip makes a critical interception.
30 min: It’s been a strange game. Quite slow, possibly because of the heat, and a little scruffy, possibly because of nerves. You get the feeling that if one team can truly pull themselves together, they could take this game away from the opposition. Liverpool have the lead but aren’t really flowing.
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27 min: A Foul on Mané gives Liverpool a freekick about 35 yards out, bang central. Alexander-Arnold fancies it. But he doesn’t shoot, instead he drops a cross to where he hoped runners would be. But there was no one there.
25 min: A pause in play as Trippier receives treatment after being caught by Robertson. Nothing much to it. By the way, regarding the penalty in the first minute: if they’re going to be giving spotkicks for handballs in that situation - Sissoko could not get out of the way - then expect players to start aiming for opponents’ hands from close range.
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24 min: Another Liverpool corner. Another delivery by Alexander-Arnold, this time short to Henderson, who whips it in. Winks heads clear.
23 min: Robertson sends over a fine cross from the left. His counterpart, Rose, does brilliantly to clear it at the backpost. Liverpool are improving ...
22 min: Lloris gets a good punch to Alexander-Arnold’s delivery, which was deposited right on top of the keeper. They appear to have identified the keeper as a weakness.
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21 min: Salah scurries infield from the left and swaps passes with Firmino before opening fire from 20 yards. His shot is deflected behind for a corner.
20 min: Spurs are exerting serious pressure around the box now. They’ve got their passing going and are making Liverpool look a little lethargic, as if they scored too early.
19 min: Sissoko does well to get between Robertson and the ball as the Scot flew down the left. Then the Frenchman sees it out of play for a goalkick.
17 min: Fabinho wins the ball in midfield and nudges it to Henderson, who brings Alexander-Arnold into lay. From 30 yards wide on the right the youngster unleashes a stinging low drive, which whistle just past the post.
16 min: It’s quite a slow game at the minute. The onus is on Spurs to do something to discomfort Liverpool but so far they haven’t come up with anything despite having plenty of the ball. But Liverpool would be well advised to do more to get more of the ball.
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14 min: Vertonghen sprays a fine 60-yard crossfield pass to Tripper, who knocks it back to Eriksen. The Dane eschews the chance to cross it into the box, where several teammates were waiting, and instead plays it backwards, losing momentum.
12 min: Matip clatters into Kane wide on the right. Not bad enough for a booking, and Spurs waste the freekick.
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11 min: Mané wins a corner for Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold delivers. Lloris, surrounded by players, gets a weak punch on it, but a teammate completes the clearances, whacking it way downfield.
9 min: Dangerous dribbling by Son down the left and into the box. Lovely quick feet, almost reminiscent of Moura for his second goal against Ajax. Except that this time Henderson intervenes. When the ball breaks to a Spurs player 25 yards out, Sissoko smashes it high and wide.
8 min: Spurs are having plenty of the ball, as Liverpool decide not to press high and instead lure their opponents forward and try to strike on the counter.
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6 min: Alexander-Arnold, the youngest player to start successive finals in the history of the Champions League, does well to dispossess Alli and welly the ball clear.
5 min: Tripper curls an in-swinging corner into the danger zone, where Van Dijk leaps above Veretonghen and heads clear.
4 min: Spurs win a corner after Alli nicks the ball off Alexander-Arnold at the corner of the box.
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3 min: If this season’s Champions League has reminded us of anything, it’s that one-goal leads are nothing. Maybe Spurs will let in another two before they’re roused to action ...
GOAL! Spurs 0-1 Liverpool (Salah pen 2)
The Egyptian hammers it past Lloris, who dived the right way but couldn’t stop it.
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PENALTY!
What a start! Sissoko unintentionally blocked a pass by Mané with his arm! It hit his chest first and rebounded on to his arm.
1 min: The 2019 Champions League final is go! Liverpool get it going, with Firmino knocking the ball backwards to Van Dijk, who spanks it wide towards the right-hand corner.
Before kickoff, there is a minute’s applause in memory of José-Antonio Reyes, the former Arsenal player who died today in a car accident at the age of 35.
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“I’m at the O’Hare (Chicago) *international* terminal and the restaurant with two TVs is showing a baseball game and horse racing features,” wails Gregory Crawford.
The players enter the arena to a soundtrack of the Champions League jingle played live by violinists flanking the exit of the tunnel. When they stop, the crowd roar their approval for everything that is about to take place. It’s nearly on!
The teams are in the tunnel ...
Fans are complaining of being turned away, despite having genuine tickets, and police heavy handed tactics. 1 LFC fan was hit and pushed by police in front of me. A spurs fan was apprehended by mounted police for allegedly stealing another fan’s ticket. Could get lively tonight.
— Natalie Pirks (@Natpirks) June 1, 2019
“My underwear is blue and I am regretting it,” sighs Robert Smith (I always thought he was QPR fan). “I may be commando by the 13th minute if LFC are off to a slow start.” Just like heaven, eh.
“It’s about 00:17 hrs in Mumbai, India, and my six-month old daughter has decided to stay up and chuckle at the telly,” writes Irshad Daftari. “Well, it’s going to be a long night, either way.”
“I appreciate Simon McMahon’s support,” announces Matt Dony. “But I’ll level with you; I’m scared. Terrified. Like, amazingly scared. Liverpool proved in the league that they are objectively better than Spurs. But. But. But, it means nothing. It’s a night where I can’t really think for myself, and I have to rely on cliches. Anything could happen. It’s the hope I can’t stand. Argh!!!! Football!!!”
The atmosphere in the stadium is reaching wonderpoint. It looks close to full and both sets of fans are singing their hearts out. A far, far better vibe than for that Europa League final on Wednesday.
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Pochettino and Klopp speak
Pochettino is asked whether he is sure kane is 100% fit. “Are you serious?” he replies. “We believe and feel that in the last few weeks he was ready to compete. We gave him time to feel the motion and combination and yesterday he confirmed he was ready to play.
Klopp’s take on Kane’s selection: “We expected it. But even if Lucas Moura would have played, the quality is massive that they have up front.”
“Even in one family, the Champions League has gone global,” announces Keith Leslie. “I’m watching here in Portland, Oregon, one son is watching in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, while my other son is watching in Kathmandu, Nepal. Our friends glued to their tubes in Seattle, Washington, DC, Bangkok and even balmy England. I’ve been an American Reds fan since the drama of Istanbul and can’t wait for more heroics today!” Very good. I’m sitting in my underwear in my front room.
“I’m getting ready to watch the final with my three week old daughter,” reveals Kyle Green. “I hope she brings us luck. Come on you Reds!” You do realise that if Liverpool win, you’re now going to have to have a child before every major final they play, right?
“Not that it’s bothered me for the past 35 years, but when Liverpool won Big Cup on penalties in 1984 against Roma, it really should have been Dundee United they were facing,” sobs Simon McMahon. “Imagine that - England v Scotland in the biggest club game in Europe, in the days when you actually had to be league champions to take part. Much to admire about both sides tonight, and may the best team win, though with ex-United lad Andy Robertson a key player, I’m siding with Matt Dony’s Liverpool.”
Public service announcement: “A fan has parked his van in the square where I live in Madrid,” writes Geoffrey Goff. “Can you put out a message to warn him that it will be towed away by the police UNLESS it is moved by 7am local time tomorrow because the square is part of the huge Rastro weekly street market? If you don’t know the area, this is not at all clear… It is a company van owned by [company name redacted in case the van driver didn’t have permission to drive to Madrid in it] from Essex. It must belong to a fan and I’d hate him or her to wake up to the news that their vehicle is in the police pound, especially after driving all the way here! Thanks and I hope someone will see the message who can pass it on…”
“Not that anyone from London or Liverpool cares, but it’s impressive to see seven former Southampton FC players in the Champions League final,” notes Andrew Read. Plus a former Saints manager, of course.
“If Liverpool win I don’t like football anymore and won’t get into a conversation about it,” chirps Oliver Atkinson. “Yours sincerely, a Manchester united fan living about 20 miles south of Liverpool.” I don’t get it: who are Manchester United?
“I loved the email about lucky G&Ts,” yelps Toias Peggs. “I’m doing everything possible or to make the universe pull the same trick again. I’m a Brit in NYC and a long suffering Spurs fan. I happened to be back in England for the semi second leg - and am now sat here in my New York apartment sat in the same shirt, jeans, underwear, socks and shoes I wore on that magical night. Come on universe. And come on your spurs!”
Crystal Palace’s chairman, Steve Parish, is in Madrid today. Surely not negotiating the transfers of Wilf Zaha and Aaron Wan-Bissaka already? Maybe, maybe not, but’s also found some fan’s ticket and told how they can be reunited with it:
If you are part of a family that have lost this ticket we found and left with the Police in the van E7 gate ticket is 11 Sector 10 row 10 Seat 8 #ChampionsLeague2019 #thfc #LFC please RT pic.twitter.com/vNKpkrHYZL
— Steve Parish (@CEO4TAG) June 1, 2019
big screen showing highlights of spurs knocking out city. massive cheers from both ends of the stadium
— Ken Early (@kenearlys) June 1, 2019
The teams are out limbering up on the pitch. Judging by the sounds, there are ore Liverpool fans in the stadium at the moment than Spurs, because there were loud boos as the north Londoners took to the field.
“Do you have a special Champions League Final routine to limber up your typing fingers or is it business as usual?” inquires Peter Oh. For special occasions like this I only wash my fingers with five-euro bottles of water. So yeah, they’re filthy. “If tonight’s proceedings were a film, I’d call it A Wish Called Wanda, with quality performances, some biting comedy and a happy ending for Liverpool. The loser will feel like they’ve had chips stuffed up their nose. I wonder if the local Atletico fans will be rooting for Liverpool, as Spurs’ white uniform has more than a faint whiff of Real?”
Let’s talk about the goalkeepers. Alisson has very occasional moments of laxity with the ball at his feet but is otherwise immaculate. He clearly gives confidence to his defenders. Hugo Lloris, on the other hand, may has had a sketchy season and a bit. He’s still capable of magnificent saves but also of odd lapses and rash decision-making. It seems silly to stay of a captain who lifted the World Cup last summer and could lift the Champions League today, but he’s a weakness in my book.
“I spent the semi-final return leg in a godawful Premier Inn room in Aintree, probably the only place in Merseyside that night where no-one appeared to be watching the match or, indeed, to be alive,” reveal Phil Sawyer. “I watched it on my laptop drinking cans of warm supermarket gin and tonic and eating cold potato wedges, and it was one of the best nights of my life. So tonight I’ve stocked up on more tins of generic supermarket G&T, and the wedges are already cooling. I reserve the right to run down to Lincoln Travelodge and make an immediate booking if, as I suspect, the Reds are three down at half time.” Admit it, you started tucking into that bargain G&T hours ago.
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Alex Kay-Jelski, sports editor for The Times, has been tweeting about his experience trying to make it to the stadium. “Spanish police scarily aggressive. Towards kids too. Creating trouble, not helping with anything #ucl. They’ll literally pushing people who are just walking down the street. Massively aggressive. I’ll be amazed if all fans in ground in time for KO. Being funneled into single file up against railings. Dangerous.”
A disturbing dispatch from a man in the stadium: “Hello Paul, it’s a disgrace in the Liverpool end - five euro for water,” emails Kris Pugh. “Everyone has been on the ale all day. Been debating with the staff they weren’t bothered.” That’s outrageous exploitation.
So Kane starts, as does Harry Winks, who has also been out of action since for the last seven weeks. Pochettino is going for it. That augurs well for the spectacle. For what it’s worth, if it’s going to be a ding-dong, I foresee Liverpool winning, possibly like in the emphatic style of old.
TEAMS
Tottenham: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Eriksen, Winks, Sissoko, Son; Alli; Kane
Subs: Vorm Gazzaniga, Sanchez, Lamela, Wanyama, Dier, Walker-Peters, Llorente, Foyth, Aurier, Moura, Davies
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mané
Subs: Mignolet, Kelleher, Lovren, Milner, Gomez, Sturridge, Moreno, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Shaqiri, Brewster, Origi
Referee: D Skomina (Slovenia)
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Liverpool have posted their starting lineup on their official twitter thing. Looks like Wijnaldum’s heroics off the bench agaisnt Barça have got him back into the XI. Good.
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mané
“Imagine boarding a plane for a three-hour flight to London RIGHT NOW,” sniffs Sam. “I don’t even support either team but the frustration is immense. My Gooner wife seems to be quite content to have her head in the clouds for a bit though.”
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Spurs players are out having a stroll around the pitch, trying to familiarise themselves with the surrounds. But there are only a couple of thousand fans in their at the moment - no doubt the other 60,000 still have their snouts in plastic pint glasses. This place is going to feel very different come kickoff.
“I figure this is appropriate given both side’s rocky road to the final, and in tribute to one of the most spine-tingling voices to jump out of a set of stereo speakers,” croons Grant Tennille. “As a Gooner I can assure you I’ll be listening to their cover of ‘Baby Blue’ should things go pear-shaped for Liverpool. It’s on!”
Here come Liverpool in their bright red bus. As if to demonstrate that European finals are run of the mill to them, they’re all wearing tracksuit and trainers, including Klopp. No shirts and ties for them. They’re full of smiles and japes as they make their way to the dressing room, too. If your thinking is guided by body language, then expect Liverpool to make the more vibrant start.
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The Spurs’ bus has arrived at the stadium. Pochettino and his players disembark and stride stone-faced towards the dressing room in smart black suits, shirts and ties. Guess Poch picked the outfits.
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Talking of penalty shootout, that’s something we certainly have to factor into our pre-match thoughts: because English teams don’t do emphatic victories in European Cup finals. Manchester United and Liverpool got things off to a misleading start with a 4-1 victory (1968) and 3-1 victory (1977) respectively. None of the English victories since then have been by more than one goal, and the last three have been through shootouts.
Team selection pickle: Pochettino has a big call to make in his starting lineup: does he or doesn’t he start Kane? There are rumours that he has plumped for the England striker and decided to drop Lucas Moura to the bench. For what it’s worth, I’d have gone the other way on the basis that Moura’s speed and mobility are more likely to trouble Liverpool’s defence than Kane and also, if Kane starts he is unlikely to finish, given he has not played at all since suffering injury in the first leg of the quarter-final against Man City on April 9. So he probably won’t be taking a penalty if it goes that far.
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A quick reminder that the Video Assistant Referee will be in use today. At least that is the plan and let’s hope things don’t go awry like they did in yesterday’s African Champions League final second leg. VAR was supposed to be used in that, too, and would have been of tremendous benefit to Wydad Casablanca after their equaliser against Espérance was chalked off for an incorrect offside. But despite intense lobbying by Wydad staff and players, the referee refused to consult Var – apparently because he couldn’t: the company that provides the technology claimed they told organisers before the game that airlines had lost some of their equipment in transit so Var would not be operational for the match, a detail that the organisers allegedly did not disclose to the teams beforehand. So after the non-goal, play was stopped as players and officials argued on the pitch and sidelines for an hour and a half before Wydad announced they had no faith in the organisers and would not play. So Espérance won on a walkover. Let’s have none of that carry-on today please!
Fans are starting to filter into the stadium. Here are some shots of them enjoying themselves around Madrid:
Here’s Danny Taylor on what victory for either team might mean:
Fans' eye view
We’ve been catching up with Spurs and Liverpool fans ahead of the big day:
Pre-match reading
Let’s begin with the latest news and video from Friday’s press conferences:
Preamble
Hello and welcome to coverage of the 64th European Cup/Champions League final, the ninth featuring Liverpool and the very first one with Tottenham Hotspur. Not many people expected Mauricio Pochettino’s team to make it this far but now that they are here, thanks to two of the most dramatic victories in the tournament’s history – first over Manchester City and then over Ajax – they intend to make off with the big prize. Just imagine! Tottenham: European champions despite not being English champions since 1961, back when Elvis’s Wooden Heart was top of the hit parade!
For now, though, that is still just a wild dream for Spurs, and Liverpool intend to make sure it stays that way. They have been authors of some spectacular dramas themselves this season – just ask Lionel Messi – and they want this trophy badly. They came agonisingly close to lifting it last season, just as they came agonisingly close to lifting the Premier League this season, and they will be distraught if they do not leave Madrid today as kings of Europe for a sixth time. But not for one second will Jürgen Klopp’s men be anticipating a straightforward win.
It matters not a jot that Liverpool have already beaten Spurs twice this season en route to finishing 28 points above them on the domestic front. Sure, Liverpool know they can hurt Spurs but they and we are also well aware that Spurs have the tools to trouble them. This battle promises to be a belter. There are many, many ways it could be decided and many wonderful players who will play roles in tilting it one way or the other.
In a few hours the old big-eared trophy will be heading to an English city beginning with L but for now we can’t say more than that other than (1) don’t get your hopes up, Lincoln, and (2) Bring It On! Kick-off is at 8pm, BST.
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