LIVERPOOL ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE

2 June 2019, 08:30

Tens of thousands of fans travelled to Madrid despite not having a ticket for the match, with many optimistic they would be able to snaffle one at the last-minute.

Mohamed Salah's penalty in the second minute gave the Reds an early lead, before Belgian Divock Origi guaranteed Liverpool victory with an 87th minute strike.

As the final whistle blew at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium, six miles away in the centre of Madrid jubilant fans embraced, threw beers into the air, and began reprising the chants from the Anfield terraces.

Ray Hill, 50, from Liverpool, said: "We've just been enjoying the build-up, the atmosphere, the camaraderie with Tottenham fans - it's been first class.

"I pay tribute to the Spurs fans cos we've had loads coming up to us and wishing us all the best. Brilliant.

"We went down to the Liverpool fan zone (before the game) and it was rammed. To see so many people support your hometown club - a little club from L4 - I'm so proud."

Some Liverpool fans watched the game at the M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool (Anthony Devlin/PA)The build-up to the game went largely without note, after police warned supporters bad behaviour would be dealt with "robustly".

An allegation of police heavy-handedness was made by Tottenham fans on Friday night, after reports that several were hurt.

Spanish police brought in 4,700 extra officers, supplemented slightly by their Merseyside and Metropolitan counterparts from the UK, to help deal with the influx of British nationals.

Fans of both sides went to extraordinary lengths to reach the Spanish capital.

Liverpool fan Joseph Hall, 26, from Leeds, said: "We drove 650km from Barcelona to get here (Madrid) and we watched it outside a bloody kebab shop.

"We underestimated how many people would be here.

"But it's all worth it - it's the best day ever. Party time."

Many of those who tried and failed to get into the match followed the game on mobile phones outside the stadium.

Danish national Jimmy Andersen, a Liverpool supporter due to the Reds' association with countryman Jan Molby, described the win as "the longest orgasm ever".

He said: "I was in Malaga and was supposed to be on a flight home tonight, but when we beat Barcelona I thought: 'No way man, I'm not missing this.'

"So my friends came over, too.

"This experience, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Christmas? Go home!

"This is the longest organism ever."

Tensions between some fans and police threatened to boil over as supporters from both sides queued patiently in the baking 32C heat to enter the stadium, three-and-a-half hours before kick-off.

Police arrested two Britons - for counterfeit tickets and assaulting an officer - while scores of others were turned away as they tried to get past the security perimeter at the ground.

One young woman was seen being tackled on the ground by an officer after fleeing from security when her fake ticket was spotted.

However, after the game frustrations for most supporters quickly vanished.

Jonny Mor, 28, said he planned on staying up to celebrate the win for as long as possible - because his accommodation is not worth going back to.

He said: "I don't remember much of the game. The screens actually went off in the pub a couple of times.

"The semi-finals are quite a climax. This was not a let-down cos we won, but it was different.

"How will we celebrate tonight? We don't want to go back to our rooms, it was 25 euro (£22).

"We can't put a time on it, we will just go with the flow."