By: Shane Brennan
Liverpool travelled to The Stade de France to face Real Madrid in the 2022 UEFA Champions League final, as The Reds were hoping to end an excellent season on a high, and in turn bring the European Cup back to the red side of Merseyside for a 7th time.
It was a tight cagy start from both sides with not really too much to write home about early on, but the first chance came Liverpool’s way as Trent Alexander-Arnold sent a low ball into the box that found Mohamed Salah, as he got a terrific shot away but Thibaut Courtois got down well to make a good save.
Then Liverpool created another excellent opportunity through Salah finding Alexander-Arnold, but Sadly on this occasion he just got under his shot, as the ball flew over the crossbar.
The Reds should have taken the lead when Thiago Alcantara found Sadio Mane in space, as he let a raspier of a shot away, but Courtois came up with a simply stunning save as he tipped the ball onto the post, as Real Madrid somehow survived, as The Reds were well on top!
Real Madrid created very little in the first half an hour, but that was due to the suburb Liverpool defending from Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate , and Alexander-Arnold to prevent Dani Carvajal and Junior having clear runs through on goal, as both teams tried to find the crucial opening goal.
The Reds then had another chance as Alexander-Arnold crossed a brilliant ball into the box, it found Salah but Sadly the Egyptians header went straight at Courtois.
Then Madrid ventured into the box with Junior, and as he was about to let fly it was captain fantastic to the rescue Jordan Henderson to the rescue with a marvellous tackle.
Real Madrid thought they had taken the lead just before the break as Karim Benzema got in behind the Liverpool defence, he led several players a merry dance, as there was an almighty scramble in the box which as the ball ended up falling for the French man once again as he kicked the ball into the net, but the officials in the lead up to the goal, spotted an offside in the build-up, and after a lengthy delay the game got underway once again with the score remaining level at the break.
The start of the second half was a rather quiet affair with the Liverpool crowd singing their hearts out, but sadly their bubble was burst when Federico Valverde squared the ball for Junior for a simple tap in as the 13 times winners took the lead.
Liverpool nearly found a way back into the game as Salah cut in on the right and unleashed a decent shot that was arrowing in to the bottom left hand corner, but Courtois was there once again to shove the danger away.
Courtois was on hand once again as the ball was hung up at the far post by Jordan Henderson as he found Diogo Jota, he nodded the ball down for Salah, but he just simply could not force the ball home past an inspired goalkeeper!
The Reds were giving it everything to get an equaliser, Salah got in behind the real Madrid defence he was one on one with Courtois, he got a super shot away, but Courtois got a huge hand to it to keep Madrid in front as the game entered the closing stages.
Sadly The Reds tried all the tricks in the book to get back in the game, but this time it just simply wasn’t to be as Madrid managed to run down the clock brilliantly, and come out on top despite an excellent effort from The Mighty Reds, as Real Madrid win the European Cup for the 14th time.
