PLAYER RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois gets a perfect 10 after a goalkeeping masterclass for Real Madrid, while Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold was caught napping by Vinicius Jr

  • Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 to secure their 14th Champions League title 
  • Vinicius Jr scored the only goal of the game midway through the second-half 
  • Thibaut Courtois was put in a memorable performance in goal for Madrid 
  • Trent Alexander-Arnold struggled to create and failed to deal with Vinicius Jr 

Real Madrid secured their 14th Champions League title after beating Liverpool 1-0 on Saturday afternoon.

Vinicius Jr scored the only goal of the game midway through the second-half when Federico Valverde fired the ball across the face of goal, giving the Brazilian a tap-in at the back post.

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Here, Sportsmail's Gerry Cox has rated the players' performances on Saturday night.

Real Madrid won their 14th Champions League title after beating Liverpool 1-0 on Saturday

Liverpool 4-3-3

Alisson Becker - 7

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Far less busy than his counterpart Courtois but ended up losing. No chance with Vinicius Jr's decisive goal, could have done better with Benzema's disallowed goal. 

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6

Set up Salah for an early chance and then shot high over the bar. Vital interception to deny Vinicius Jr but caught napping when the Brazilian scored. 

Ibrahima Konate - 7

Got the nod over Joel Matip as the right-sided centre-back because of his greater pace. Dispossessed Vinicius Junior early on and also got forward well. 

Virgil van Dijk - 8

Calm as ever, making important interceptions when required and a reassuring presence alongside Konate. Hardly put a foot wrong, and little chance when Madrid scored. 

Virgil van Dijk hardly put a foot wrong in the final - but found himself on the losing side

Andrew Robertson - 6

Did not get forward as much as usual in the first half, but showed more intent after the break, making more than one driving run. Disappointing 

Jordan Henderson - 6

Heavily involved when Liverpool were on top. One vital interception to deny Vinicius Junior, and then volleyed wide from long range. Replaced on 77 minutes. 

Fabinho - 6 

One long shot well over the bar, and although his heavy touch set up Benzema for the disallowed goal, it was accidental. Booked for fouling Valverde. 

Thiago Alcantara - 6

Doubts about his fitness before kick-off, but lasted 77 minutes. Tested Courtois with a tame shot early on, but struggled to find his usual passing accuracy. Replaced by Firmino. 

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Mo Salah - 8

Denied at least six times by Courtois, with two early shots and a header saved before the break, and then three more in the second half. So unlucky in the final again. 

Mo Salah was a threat all night, taking nine shots, but ultimately struggled to get his revenge

Sadio Mane - 7

Took a knock to his thigh in the early minutes but recovered to hit a goalbound shot that Courtois did well to to tip on to a post in the 21st minute. Always lively. 

Luis Diaz - 6

Had a running battle with Carvajal, who eventually got the better of the Colombian. Clearly disappointed when he was replaced by Diogo Jota in the 65th minute. 

Subs: Jota for Diaz 65 Firmino for Thiago 77 Keita for Henderson 77 - Jota and Firmino gave Liverpool greater urgency, but Jota was denied by Courtois and Keita shot high over with two decent late chances.

Manager: Jurgen Klopp - 7

No surprises with his line-up and gameplan, which was working when Liverpool dominated the first-half, but he was outsmarted after the break. 

Jurgen Klopp's side were arguably the better of the two teams - but still fell short in the end
 

Real Madrid 4-3-3

Thibaut Courtois - 10

Man of the match by a mile with some brilliant saves, tipping an early Mane shot against the post, and then denying Salah an astonishing six times. Unbeatable.

Dani Carvajal - 8

Gave away the ball in the opening minutes, but won his tussle with Luis Diaz, matching the Colombian for pace and seeing him off. 

Eder Militao - 8

Had plenty to do as Liverpool dominated the first half and made a vital block to stop Mane. More brilliant defending after the break. Solid. 

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David Alaba - 8

Back from injury for the first time since the semi-finals. Superb pass to Benzema for the goal that was disallowed and unbeatable in defence. 

Thibaut Courtois put in one of the all-time great goalkeeping performances against Liverpool

Ferland Mendy - 7

Had his work cut out against Salah, but defended well, made some vital tackles and looked composed going forward. Tidy and composed.

Luka Modric - 7

Barely involved in the opening period as Liverpool dominated, but began to show his class and experience with some clever passes before being replaced late on. 

Casemiro - 7

A game of two halves from the Brazilian, who struggled to get going in the first half, but looked a different player after the break, almost indomitable.

Toni Kroos - 7

Looked off the pace at first, being caught in possession and giving the ball away more than once, but improved hugely after the break. 

Federico Valverde - 8

Never stopped running, and helped Carvajal out against Diaz. Set up Vinicius Junior with a driving run and low cross to the far post. Superb display.

Federico Valverde got the assist for the match winner and never stopped running throughout

Karim Benzema - 9

Perfect end to an amazing season, leading his side with a captain’s performance. Got the ball in the net only to be given offside after a VAR check. Kept going superbly. 

Vinicius Junior - 9

The Brazilian scored the game's only goal in the 59th minute when he lost Alexander-Arnold to sweep home Valverde's cross pass at the back post. Always a threat.

Subs: Camvinga for Valverde 85 mins, Ceballos for Modric 90 Rodrygo for Vinicius Junior 90+2 - All three subs went on to close out the game and Camavinga and Ceballos both had late chances to score.

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Manager: Carlo Ancelotti - 9

Won European Cup twice as a player and now the Champions Leagues four times as a manager. Perfect game plan, soaking up Liverpool's pressure and then hitting them with a sucker punch. 

Referee: Clement Turpin (France) - 8

Got the one big call of the game right when he disallowed Karim Benzema's first half effort for offside, a decision supported by VAR. Let the game flow.

Vinicius Jr was a thorn in Liverpool's defence all evening and got himself a well deserved goal