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Salah penalty gives Liverpool half-time lead in Champions League final
FT : Liverpool 2 Spurs 0
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Mohamed Salah’s early penalty gave Liverpool a 1-0 lead against Tottenham at half-time in Saturday’s all-English Champions League final in Madrid.
The Egyptian scored the second quickest goal in Champions League final history as he converted from the spot after just one minute and 48 seconds following a handball by Moussa Sissoko.
Italy great Paolo Maldini holds the record for the fastest goal after he scored with just 50 seconds gone in the 2005 final against Liverpool.
Kane starts for Tottenham in Champions League final
Harry Kane returned from almost two months out with injury to start for Tottenham in the Champions League final against Liverpool on Saturday.
Kane has not played since damaging ankle ligaments in the first leg of the quarter-finals against Manchester City on April 9 but gave Spurs a major boost by being passed fit in Madrid.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino dropped Lucas Moura to make room for Kane, despite Moura scoring an incredible hat-trick as Tottenham came back to knock out Ajax in the semis.
Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-min were selected behind Kane in attacking midfield.
Liverpool’s own centre forward Roberto Firmino also made it into Jurgen Klopp’s starting line-up at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Firmino had missed Liverpool’s last three games with a groin injury, with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane completing the front three.
James Milner dropped to the bench, as Klopp picked a midfield trio of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Georginio Wijnaldum, who scored twice in Liverpool’s stunning semi-final fightback against Barcelona.
Starting line-ups for the Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday (kick-off 1900 GMT):
Liverpool (4-3-3)
Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Jordan Henderson (capt), Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane
Coach: Jurgen Klopp (GER)
Tottenham (4-2-3-1)
Hugo Lloris (capt); Kieran Trippier, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Danny Rose; Harry Winks, Moussa Sissoko; Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, Son Heung-min; Harry Kane
Coach: Mauricio Pochettino (ARG)
Referee: Damir Skomina (SLO)
