Three defining moments as Liverpool claim Champions League glory

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Liverpool claimed their sixth Champions League crown on Saturday as they defeated Tottenham 2-0 in Madrid.

An early penalty from Mo Salah set the Reds on their way, before a Divock Origi goal three minutes from the end sealed a famous victory.

It capped a fine 2018/19 campaign for Jurgen Klopp’s men. After finishing with 97 points and losing once all season in the Premier League, they were forced to settle for second place behind an unstoppable Manchester City.

The German boss did land his first piece of silverware at Anfield, however, with a commanding performance in the Spanish capital.

Looking back over the Champions League campaign, we looked at three defining moments in Liverpool’s success:

Despairing Dembele

With Liverpool trailing Barcelona 3-0 in the Nou Camp, Ousmane Dembele missed a stunning late chance to give the Catalan giants a four-goal advantage.

He could have laid it to a team-mate for a tap-in but instead, he fired a tame effort straight at Alisson in the Reds goal.

An early goal in the return leg at Anfield immediately gave Liverpool the initiative and set them on their way to a comprehensive 4-0 win

Had Dembele netted his late chance in Spain, it could have changed the complexion of the whole tie.

The hand of Sissoko

Quite what Moussa Sissoko was doing with his arm in the air inside the penalty area in the opening moments of Saturday’s final is anyone’s guess.

Just 24 seconds were on the clock when the referee pointed to the spot and although replays showed the ball ricocheted onto his hand from his chest, it was still a foolish thing to do.

Salah despatched the penalty with ease and it gave Liverpool the catalyst to protect a lead and left Spurs with it all to do.

Having been in the final last season as well, the Reds will have been hoping for a good start and Sissoko’s moment of madness ensured an uphill struggle for Spurs.

Alisson earns his keep

In the last round of group games, Liverpool needed to beat Napoli at Anfield to progress. Anything less and the Italian would prevail through the knockout stages.

Mo Salah the Reds in front after 34 minutes but despite laying siege on the opposition goal they couldn’t make the result comfortable.

In the dying stages, Alisson Becker proved to everyone why the club forked out such an astronomical transfer fee for his services.

A free-kick found its way to Arkadiusz Milik at the back post and with the goal at his mercy, the Brazilian stopper flung himself in the way of his half-volley and ensured Liverpool’s passage into the first knockout round.