In a final, that was characterised by tears and heartbreak but Liverpool’s glorious run to Kiev ultimately fell short. Two-time defending European champions Real Madrid beat the Reds 3-1 in the final to win their third consecutive European Cup.
Despite starting so brightly in what increasingly looked like a cracking final, Liverpool suffered a devastating blow 30 minutes in when Mo Salah was forced off the pitch through injury. Madrid immediately pressed their advantage and the Reds did well to get to the break on level terms.
In the second half, the Reds conceded an early horror goal and Los Blancos began flopping and writhing anytime a Liverpool player got near them. Then within minutes, Sadio Mané pounced on an equaliser saving the match.
Then Gareth Bale entered the match.
Two minutes after entering, the Welshman scored what may go down as the greatest goal in Champions League final. His overhead, left-footed volley left the ground speechless and all but snuffed any embers of a Liverpool recovery. Later, he would unleash a long-range effort from nearly 30 yards that handcuffed Loris Karius and surprisingly found the back of the net.
After that, there was little left but heartbreak for the Reds whose remarkable season crashed to an unfortunate end. The romantic ride that found Liverpool finalists proved a step too far. Yet their season showcased some of the finest football in the competition.
Here are four findings from the match.
Salah suffers
The shock was nearly too much to bear. The site of Salah leaving the pitch in tears sent shockwaves through the side. What made matters worse for anyone watching was the clear confirmation that the injury was the result of Sergio Ramos cynically hooking Salah’s arm and hauling him to the ground. It was a dirty foul from a player with a reputation for chicanery.
The immediate result of the shoulder injury remains a question, as does the Egyptian’s prospects for the World Cup, just weeks away. What is not in question is that Salah deserved better and had already made himself one of the most potent threats on the pitch.
Karius crumbles
Having divided opinion since arriving on Merseyside, Karius endured adversity and eventually rose to be Liverpool’s number one goalkeeper, deservedly. His form heading into the final had begun proving doubters wrong and rebuilding his credit and rewarding Jurgen Klopp’s confidence. He even played well in the match, until he didn’t.
During the second half, his errorless efforts in Europe descended into a nightmare night. After referee allowed play to continue despite Karim Benzema being offside, the young German naively attempted to distribute the ball across his own goal and threw a ball that deflected off Benzema and into his own net.
While there was nothing to be done on Bale’s first sensational finish, Karius could not deal with Bale’s second blast. Caught between catching or punching, he did neither and found himself digging the ball out of his own net again after another error. On the biggest stage, he suffered most of all in an evening that could spell his end at the club. His post-match confession showed enormous class and Klopp will likely stand by him, but it might be best for the goalkeeper if his recovery were conducted elsewhere.
Massive Mané
Amidst all the attention that Salah has deservedly received, this final had all the markings of a match for a Sadio Mané star turn. Starting on the left and eventually switching to the right, the Senegalese was everywhere on the night, relentless in both attack and defence. It was a massive performance and serves as a potent reminder of just how important he is to the club.
His equaling goal was a sensational mix of awareness and ability. It provided the jolt the side needed at a critical moment and revived hope. His goal also made Liverpool the first club to have three players score double digits in the competition. At times this campaign, Mané struggled for form but persevered and put together a solid sophomore season as a Red.
Defensive durability
As hard as it is to believe in a 3-1 defeat, Liverpool’s defence played with strength and conviction. Both central defenders handled nearly everything that came their way. Virgil van Dijk led the backline with consummate class and confidence. Dejan Lovren may have played his best match of the season as a Red.
Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold settled into a substantial and solid shift in one of the game’s greatest crucibles at a mere 19 years of age. Andrew Robertson also showed immense understanding of the occasion covering enormous ground on the left side and making the best last-ditch tackle on the night.
This was a defensive unit that endured no shortage of controversy and comment during the first half of the season and grew into one of the better back lines in Europe. Despite the potential for improvement, this group should feel nothing but pride in spite of the unfortunate result.