The likes of Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah unsurprisingly drew most of the plaudits as Liverpool romped their way to the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League title but there were plenty of other protagonists to aid them their dream run.
One of them was Georginio Wijnaldum with the Netherlands midfielder featuring in every Liverpool clash bar one in their run to a sixth European title.
The Dutchman was a livewire throughout the campaign in his role on the left side of Liverpool’s three-man midfield with his driving runs forward along with his tireless pressing and harrying of the opposition.
Wijnaldum’s impact was instant with the midfielder grabbing an assist in Liverpool’s campaign opening win against Paris Saint-Germain at home but his most decisive contributions would come in the knock-out rounds.
With Liverpool trailing Barcelona by 3-0 after the first-leg of the semi-final, the writing seemed to be on the wall for Klopp and his men when they played host to the Spanish giants at Anfield. An early goal by Divock Origi had given Liverpool an opening but Barcelona held firm to keep the scores to 1-0 at half-time in the second half.
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It was Wijnaldum who turned the tie on its head with two quick-fire goals inside the span of three minutes in the second period. His sensational brace drew the Reds level on aggregate before Origi’s late goal sealed a famous comeback triumph.
The Dutchman had proved to be an excellent purchase for Klopp since arriving at the club in the summer of 2016 and the former Newcastle man’s energy and drive has been crucial to the club’s success over the past two years.
For his tireless and decisive contributions, Wijnaldum has been deservedly picked in the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League Team of the Season.
