3 reasons why Liverpool edged out Spurs in the UEFA Champions League Final

As the teams walked out for the final there was electricity in the air. The Wanda which is the home stadium of Athletico Madrid may be on the outskirts of Madrid, but for fans of Liverpool and Spurs, it was like tethering on the edge of glory. In the build up to this game much had been said about how the game would pan out.

One expected a scratchy game, given the three-week break that both the finalists had enjoyed. And one could see the element of rustiness once the game began; critics will point to the dismal statistics of Liverpool especially in key areas such as possession and pass completion, where they were comprehensively edged out by Spurs. But when it came to the column that mattered, the Reds were the victorious ones.

That said, as the game progressed, it was not a pleasure to watch and one does have to congratulate Spurs on the manner they went for it against Liverpool in the second half. At times, it seemed Spurs players’ were bull dozing past the Liverpool players; such was the desire and determination. But key moments and interventions helped Liverpool cap off an incredibly good season, with some silverware at last.

Here is a look at the 3 reasons why Liverpool was able to edge out Spurs.

#1 Salah's early penalty puts the pressure

Once the dust settles, Spurs will feel hard done by the early decision of the referee to award a penalty to Liverpool as early as the first minute. An encounter which had been built up as one of the most awaited finals, was already lopsided as early as the second minute as referee, Damir Skomina decided that the actions of Sissoko were a deliberate move towards the ball.

In the aftermath of that penalty, Spurs were on the back foot and from thereon, it was a game they were always chasing. One can argue that Spurs had the entire match to equalize but it’s a different proposition when a team is chasing the game against the likes of Liverpool who have a clinical front three. Salah's relentless running throughout the game, looked like he was a man possessed and desperately trying to make up for lost time especially after the tragedy that afflicted him in last year's final.

The fact that the Egyptian kept his calm amidst the chaos and confusion to score with his first kick off the ball underlined the desire that has haunted him since his tearful substitution off the pitch in Kiev last summer. His opening goal now puts him in an elite list of African players to score in a European Cup final after Rabah Madjer, Samuel Eto'o, Didier Drogba and Sadio Mane.

#2 Alisson makes crucial saves

In the summer, questions and eyebrows were raised when Liverpool forked out an eye-watering sum of 66.8 million pounds on the Brazilian keeper. But then, as has been the transfer policy under Klopp, there is no second choice. As with van Dijk, Liverpool’s management and transfer committee have backed Klopp in getting him the right individuals that he requires for developing Liverpool.

The German has been the man behind scenes to recognize the players he believes will take Liverpool to the next level and he has been vindicated by the performances of the Brazilian keeper. Be it the last gasp saves against Napoli in the group stages or the saves against Messi and Alba in the semifinals. Crucially in this game, Alisson had a defence which marshaled and shooed away the Spurs attacks with comfort. And up until the late exchanges, Spurs never had a shot that troubled Alisson.

Most importantly, the presence of the Brazilian gave the impetus to Klopp to initiate attacks from defence. The best example of that was the ball played out to Salah to set him free in the last stages of the second half. Salah had the opportunity to finish off the game but couldn’t. However, as the season has progressed one can satisfactorily say that the threat of the front three this season has been enhanced by the excellent distribution of the keeper.

#3 Klopp makes right calls

Klopp goes airborne as Liverpool players and staff join in

In the build-up to this game, there was much confusion about the midfield. While Liverpool's back four and front three select themselves, the midfield is anything but decided. But the decision to go into this game with the midfield trio of Henderson, Wijnaldum and Fabinho left him vindicated.

The Dutchmen who took Liverpool by storm

Wijnaldum had literally forced himself into the starting line up after a memorable performance in the second half of the second leg against Barcelona. At the end of that game, Wijnaldum expressed his anger at having not started the game. He expressed his anger by scoring two superb goals with Barcelona feeling the brunt of it.

Over here on the night that mattered, the Dutchman was in his scurrying mode as he looked to stall Spurs play. However it was after an hour that Klopp decided to bring on the more experienced Milner and for the first time in the match, Liverpool had some element of control.

The decision to substitute Origi in the early stages of the second half also meant that Liverpool were always a threat when it came to exploiting open spaces. The Belgian scored the decisive goal to finally break Spurs and in the process continued his brilliant Champions League form. For Liverpool, the Belgian has been the totem of luck that has brought everything together. To see him score the goal that finally sealed Liverpool’s sixth European Cup is a reward of Klopp’s faith in his players.

Edited by Nnanna Mba