Liverpool Player Ratings: Champions League final
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Liverpool’s Champions League dreams were shattered in Kiev as the Reds lost 3-1 to Real Madrid.
Having lost their talisman Mohamed Salah to a suspected dislocated shoulder after a challenge with Sergio Ramos, the Reds, who had started brightly, looked a completely different side when the Egyptian went off.
Two absolute howlers from goalkeeper Loris Karius gifted goals to Karim Benzema (1-0) and Gareth Bale (3-1), whilst the Welshman’s goal to make the game 2-1 was one of the greatest that has ever been scored in a European Cup final.
Liverpool’s goal to make the game 1-1 came from Sadio Mane, but he now joins Dirk Kuyt on the list of players who’ve scored for Liverpool in losing efforts in a Champions League final.
Here’s how the Reds rated:
Loris Karius - 1
Kept the score 0-0 with a very good save from a Cristiano Ronaldo header in the first half, but after that, he’s made two mistakes that will probably lead to the end of his Liverpool career. He simply threw the ball in Benzema’s direction to allow the Frenchman to prod home the opener and any hopes of a comeback from 2-1 down were dashed when he spilled Bale’s long range strike into his own net. This performance will go down in infamy in terms of Liverpool’s history and honestly, it’s hard to see how he can come back from that.
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 8
Coped very well defensively and could have scored early on, but was denied by a fine save from Kaylor Navas. Was pinned back a lot of the time so couldn’t show much of his attacking ability.
Dejan Lovren - 9
He was superb. He won headers, made tackles, including one to stop a certain goal. His lead and header to set up Mane’s goal was excellent. One of his best performances for the Reds, shame it was in a losing cause.
Virgil van Dijk - 9
He was equally as good. He won every header, positioned himself so well and lead from the back.
Andrew Robertson - 8
Gave it his absolute all, including a goal-saving tackle on Ronaldo.
Jordan Henderson - 5
Was pretty good defensively but struggled to get on the ball and he seemed reluctant to pass forward when he did.
James Milner - 5
Like Henderson, he defended well enough but couldn’t quite influence the game with the ball.
Gini Wijnaldum - 6
Found it tough to get much going in terms of an attacking sense, but that wasn’t through lack of effort.
Mohamed Salah - 6
Devastating. He was in tears as he left the field with a suspected dislocated shoulder, one that could keep him out of the World Cup. He looked sharp before the injury too.
Sadio Mane - 9
Liverpool’s only real consistent attacking threat. Got his goal with clever movement and was unlucky to hit the post. He was superb but sadly, it wasn’t enough.
Roberto Firmino - 5
Struggled to get into the game. Worked hard, as usual, but didn’t offer too much in attack.
(Sub) Adam Lallana - 5
Came on for Salah and went to the left hand side but offered little in an attacking sense as Madrid dominated.
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