Liverpool erases heartbreak
Year after loss in final, club cruises to prestigious title
MADRID — No tears of pain this time, just redemption for Mohamed Salah.
Only 108 seconds were needed to banish the Champions League final heartbreak of a year ago.
Once Salah dispatched his early penalty against Tottenham, Liverpool was on the path to a sixth European title with a 2-0 victory Saturday.
And a year after defeat in the final to Real Madrid, Juergen Klopp has his first title after four years as Liverpool manager.
A shoulder injury forced Salah out of the Kiev showpiece last year.
This time it was Tottenham midfielder Moussa Sissoko’s arm that gifted Liverpool the early penalty opening — blocking Sadio Mane’s shot after 21 seconds — and Salah converted from the spot after a video review check.
“I have sacrificed a lot for my career,” Salah said. “To come from a village, to go to Cairo, and to be an Egyptian at this level is unbelievable for me.”
On a hot and humid night in Madrid, Tottenham came to life only in the final 20 minutes of its first European Cup final.
But Liverpool completed the job in the 87th minute thanks to one of its semifinal saviors.
Divock Origi had to accept a place back on the bench despite producing two goals while deputizing for the injured Salah last month.
But the substitute had the final big say in the Spanish capital, rifling a left-footed shot inside the far post.
“Every single player fought hard today,” Origi said. “So it’s just special.”
After two losing finals since triumphing in 2005, Liverpool finally rose to third in the all-time list of European champions behind 13-time winner Real Madrid and AC Milan on seven titles. Mohamed Salah missed Liverpool’s Champions League final loss last year with an injury, but he scored in Saturday’s victory.