The mentality giants are the Kings of Europe.
On the biggest of stages, Liverpool delivered. Their special season got its special conclusion. After 14 years, the Champions League trophy is heading back to Anfield after Jurgen Klopp’s side defeated Tottenham 2-0 at Madrid’s wonderful Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
For Mohamed Salah, this was his night of redemption, the one he’d dreamed of for a year. Devastated in Kiev, delirious in Madrid, the Egyptian’s second-minute penalty secured a sixth European Cup crown for the Reds. Divock Origi, the hero of the semi-final, emerged from the bench to finish the job late on. The beaming Belgian was the man for the big occasion, yet again.
It was by no means a classic final, but will anyone care? Liverpool are back at the top of the tree.
As the famous Kop banner says, ‘Those Scousers Again’. They just can't keep their hands off that famous trophy.
They had taken over the Spanish capital. Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Santa Ana and Gran Via were transformed into a red sea, sunburnt and singing, an invasion of flags and banners, Transalpino and adidas.
It was some sight, with the Madrid authorities estimating that around 50,000 Liverpudlians had made the journey. If anything, that seemed conservative.
They’d come from far and wide, from Chile and Egypt, Croxteth and Crosby. They’d arrived by car and by train, by air and by sea. They had to be there. They’d come to party, to see their heroes crowned.
Their heroes didn’t let them down.
Last year, their hearts were broken by a team in white. Lessons were learned, Klopp said. Resolve was strengthened. He felt they’d be back, he felt they could come again.
They could.
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This was a crowning night, the night a new set of legends emerged. The nearly men are the main men now. Their faces belong alongside the greats of this most storied of clubs.
From Jordan Henderson, the captain who hoisted that famous jug-eared trophy aloft, to Alisson Becker, whose second-half saves got Klopp’s team over the line. From Virgil van Dijk, the £75million bargain and the UEFA man of the match, to Trent Alexander-Arnold, the home-grown superstar at 20 years of age. Living the dream. Each and every one of them deserved what they got here.
Liverpool can play better than they did, for sure. But after a campaign like this, when they have scaled new heights and feared they would have nothing to show for it, we could forgive them their nerves and their tension. This is a special team, one which has made its supporters proud at every turn. They've conquered all of Europe.
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For Klopp, that crucial first hurdle is cleared. We can stop talking about his ‘need’ for silverware, or his lacklustre record in major finals. The German promised to bring the good times back to Liverpool when he arrived in 2015, and he’s gone and landed the big one. "It's more relief than anything," he admitted afterwards.
Good for him. This is a manager who brings joy to football, who puts bums on seats and smiles on faces. His teams play good football, they connect with their supporters. He builds emotional bonds and wonderful sides.
Liverpool’s fans would certainly agree.
Here in Madrid, they experienced the joy of six.
Those Scousers again.
