Final 2019: How Liverpool Won the Champions League

When people look back at Liverpool’s Champions League win in 2019, most think of that wild 4-0 comeback against Barcelona or the front three tearing teams apart. Salah, Mané, Firmino — it was all speed and spark. But the final? That was different. Liverpool didn’t win it with fireworks. They won it with focus, structure, and calm. And for those who looked past the headlines — including some tracking the odds and analysing every bonus paris sportif before kick-off — the shift in Klopp’s approach was impossible to miss.

It wasn’t the kind of match that makes highlight reels. But for those really paying attention, Klopp’s plan was clear: no chaos, no gamble, just total control.

That night in Madrid, Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0. No drama, no madness. Just a team doing exactly what it needed to do — and doing it with ruthless discipline.

No High Press? No Problem.

Under Jürgen Klopp, Liverpool became known for their aggressive pressing style. But in the final, they didn’t press like usual. Instead, they dropped back and let Spurs have the ball—something they’d rarely done all season.

Tottenham had almost double the passes and far more of the ball. Yet, they barely threatened Alisson’s goal. Liverpool simply stayed in shape, closed down space, and didn’t take unnecessary risks. This was no coincidence. It was a strategy.

Midfield That Did the Dirty Work

Fabinho, Henderson and Wijnaldum weren’t chasing headlines. No flashy passes or wild shots — just smart, relentless work. They cut off passing lanes, tracked runs, and made sure the Spurs’ midfield never got comfortable.

What made them so effective?

• They didn’t overcommit
• Constant communication
• Knew when to press, when to sit
• Always covered for each other

It wasn’t luck. It was drilled, simple, and solid. You don’t need flair when everyone knows their job.

Van Dijk’s Calmness Set the Tone

While others were flying into tackles, Van Dijk stayed calm. He didn’t make a single tackle — because he didn’t need to. He read the game early and stayed a step ahead.

It wasn’t scrambling. It was control.

Klopp later said Van Dijk gave the team “a sense of safety.” And it showed. Every time Spurs tried to create something, Van Dijk or Matip ended it before it even started.

Was It Boring? Maybe. Was It Smart? Definitely.

Some called the final boring — and to be fair, they had a point. It wasn’t a rollercoaster. No end-to-end madness, no flood of chances. But for Liverpool, that was exactly the plan. After the heartbreak of 2018, Klopp and his players didn’t want another dramatic night. They wanted control.

So they kept their shape, let Spurs take the initiative, and just waited. Tottenham tried to push, but nothing came of it. Liverpool scored early from the spot, then killed it off late with Origi. Not exactly pretty — but calm, smart, and spot-on.

Even football strategy expert Tony Sloterman said in an interview that it was a perfect example of “winning by not playing to expectations.”

What We Can Learn From This Final

Football isn’t always about charging forward or dominating possession. Sometimes the smartest move is to hold your shape, stay patient, and wait for the other side to slip up. That’s exactly what Liverpool did in 2019.

They didn’t go chasing the game. They controlled it without the ball, shut Spurs down, and gave away almost nothing. It wasn’t flashy, but it was smart — and it worked.

That’s the kind of thing any team can learn from: you don’t need all the possession to be in charge. You just need to know exactly what you’re doing.