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The '''Premier Cup''' was a one-off football tournament held to mark the coronation of [[Alexandra of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|Queen Alexandra]] on 1 August 2019. Contested between eight {{wp|English}} football clubs, the tournament lasted for over four weeks, beginning on 18 May 2019 and ending on 5 June 2019.  
The '''Premier Cup''' was a one-off football tournament held to mark the coronation of [[Alexandra of the United Kingdom and of the Netherlands|Queen Alexandra]] on 1 August 2019. Contested between eight {{wp|English}} football clubs, the tournament lasted for over four weeks, beginning on 18 May 2019 and ending on 2 June 2019.  


Initially envisioned to include clubs from the {{wp|Scottish Premiership}} as well, the tournament ultimately came to include eight {{wp|Premier League}} clubs, namely:
Consisting of a total of sixteen clubs, in alphabetical order, the teams that competed in the tournament are:
* {{wp|Manchester City}}: 2017-18 {{wp|Premier League}} champions
* {{wp|Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen}}
* {{wp|Manchester United}}: 2017-18 {{wp|Premier League}} runner-up
* {{wp|Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal}}
* {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}}: 2017-18 {{wp|FA Cup}} champions
* {{wp|Atlético Madrid}}
* {{wp|Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal}}: 2018-19 {{wp|UEFA Europa League}} runner-up
* {{wp|FC Barcelona|Barcelona}}
* {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}}: 2018-19 {{wp|UEFA Champions League}} champions
* {{wp|Celtic F.C.|Celtic}}
* {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}}: 2018-19 {{wp|UEFA Champions League}} runner-up
* {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}}
* {{wp|Burnley F.C.|Burnley}}: 2018-19 {{wp|UEFA Europa League}} qualifiers
* {{wp|Getafe CF|Getafe}}
* {{wp|Wolverhampton Wanderers}}: 2019-20 {{wp|UEFA Europa League}} qualifiers
* {{wp|Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock}}
* {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}}
* {{wp|Manchester City}}
* {{wp|Manchester United}}
* {{wp|Rangers F.C.|Rangers}}
* {{wp|Real Madrid}}
* {{wp|Sevilla FC|Sevilla}}
* {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}}
* {{wp|Valencia CF|Valencia}}


In total, the tournament consisted of three stages, namely the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals along with the third-place playoffs, all of which, barring the finals and the third-place playoffs, are two-legged occasions played at both home and away. Meanwhile, the clubs that compete in the tournament are drawn against one another at random via a televised lucky draw and their fixtures in the quarter-finals and semi-finals are played simultaneously. Meanwhile, the finals were held at {{wp|Wembley Stadium}}, {{wp|London}} while the third-place playoffs were held at {{wp|Old Trafford}}, {{wp|Manchester}}.
In total, the tournament consisted of four stages, namely the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals along with the third-place playoffs, all of which are one-legged occasions. Meanwhile, the clubs that compete in the tournament are drawn against one another at random via a televised lucky draw, and their fixtures in the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals are played simultaneously. Meanwhile, the finals were held at {{wp|Wembley Stadium}}, {{wp|London}} while the third-place playoffs were held at {{wp|Old Trafford}}, {{wp|Manchester}}.


Similar to most football tournaments, penalty shootouts were used to break any potential deadlocks while a player who has accumulated two cumulative yellow cards or simply a red card is declared ineligible for the next match and must therefore wait out the suspension period before being allowed to return.
Similar to most football tournaments, penalty shootouts were used to break any potential deadlocks while a player who has accumulated two cumulative yellow cards or simply a red card is declared ineligible for the next match and must therefore wait out the suspension period before being allowed to return.


Having been planned for at least several months in advance, the tournament resulted in the delays of both the {{wp|2019 FA Cup Final}} and the {{wp|2019 UEFA Champions League Final}} which were otherwise rescheduled to take place after the tournament had ended so as to ensure that the competing clubs could focus solely on the tournament.
Having been planned for at least several months in advance, the tournament resulted in the delays of the {{wp|2019 FA Cup Final}}, the {{wp|2019 Scottish Cup Final}}, {{wp|2019 Copa del Rey Final}}, and the {{wp|2019 UEFA Champions League Final}}, all of which were otherwise rescheduled to take place after the tournament had ended so as to ensure that the competing clubs could focus solely on the tournament.


==Venue==
==Venue==
For the purpose of the tournament, it was officially agreed that the quarter-finals and the semi-finals, both of which are two-legged occasions, would take place at the grounds of both clubs so as to establish a sense of parity. In the meantime, it was decided that the finals, as the tournament's main highlight, would be held at {{wp|Wembley Stadium}} in {{wp|London}} as {{wp|England}}'s largest football stadium while the third-place playoffs, considered secondary in importance to the finals, would be played at the country's second-largest stadium which is {{wp|Old Trafford}} in {{wp|Manchester}}.


Initially, it was suggested that the recently-opened {{wp|Tottenham Hotspur Stadium}}, the country's third-largest stadium in terms of capacity, should host the third-place playoffs given its proximity to {{wp|Wembley Stadium}} before it was decided that two major events expected to draw in enormous crowds should be held at a considerable distance from each other so as to prevent potential overcrowding and congestion in the capital city of {{wp|London}}. In addition, by hosting the third-place playoffs somewhere further north of {{wp|London}}, a sense of parity in the tournament could be theoretically established, with {{wp|Manchester United}}, the biggest {{wp|English}} club in the northern region of {{wp|England}}, particularly lobbying for {{wp|Old Trafford}} to be used as the venue for the third-place playoffs over other likely competitors such as rivals {{wp|Manchester City}}'s {{wp|Etihad Stadium}} and {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}}'s {{wp|Anfield}}. Eventually, on 10 May 2019, the organising committee announced {{wp|Wembley Stadium}} and {{wp|Old Trafford}} as the venues for the finals and the third-place playoffs respectively.
==Draw==
For the round of 16, the clubs competing in the tournament were randomly grouped into eight groups of two via a lucky draw held on 14 May 2019. The results of the draw, which was televised live on multiple channels including {{wp|BBC Sport}}, {{wp|Sky Sports}}, and {{wp|beIN Sports}}, are as follows:


==Draw==
* {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} v {{wp|Celtic F.C.|Celtic}}
For the quarter-finals, the eight clubs competing in the tournament were randomly grouped into four groups of two via a lucky draw held on 14 May 2019. The results of the draw, which was televised live on {{wp|BBC Sport}} and {{wp|Sky Sports}}, are as follows:
* {{wp|Manchester City}} v {{wp|Getafe CF|Getafe}}  
* {{wp|Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal}} v {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}}
* {{wp|Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal}} v {{wp|Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock}}  
* {{wp|Manchester United}} v {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}}
* {{wp|Real Madrid}} v {{wp|Manchester United}}
* {{wp|Manchester City}} v {{wp|Wolverhampton Wanderers}}
* {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}} v {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}}  
* {{wp|Burnley F.C.|Burnley}} v {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}}
* {{wp|Rangers F.C.|Rangers}} v {{wp|Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen}}
* {{wp|Atlético Madrid}} v {{wp|Sevilla FC|Sevilla}}  
* {{wp|FC Barcelona|Barcelona}} v {{wp|Valencia CF|Valencia}}
 
==Round of 16==
On 18 May 2019, the round of 16 fixtures took place. In this, a brace from {{wp|Georginio Wijnaldum}} saw {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} easily dominate {{wp|Scottish}} champions {{wp|Celtic F.C.|Celtic}} with {{wp|Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal}} managing a similar huge victory over {{wp|Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock}}. Meanwhile, both {{wp|Manchester}} clubs successfully prevailed over their {{wp|Spanish}} opponents, with {{wp|Manchester United}} particularly managing a narrow 2-1 win over {{wp|Real Madrid}}. Elsewhere, {{wp|Spanish}} champions {{wp|FC Barcelona|Barcelona}} were stunned by a 2-3 loss to {{wp|Valencia|Valencia}} whereas {{wp|Atlético Madrid}}, via a brace from {{wp|Diego Costa}}, defeated {{wp|Sevilla F.C.|Sevilla}} 3-1 while {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}} narrowly defeated {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}} 3-2 as {{wp|Rangers F.C.|Rangers}} instead defeated {{wp|Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen}} 1-0.


==Quarter-finals==
==Quarter-finals==
On 18 May 2019, the first leg of the quarter-finals of the tournament took place with {{wp|Manchester City}} starting the tournament off with a dominant 4-0 win over minnows {{wp|Burnley F.C.|Burnley}}. Similarly, {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}} also made a strong start to the tournament, defeating {{wp|Manchester United}} 3-0 via a brace from {{wp|Dele Alli}}. In the meantime, {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}} were held to a 0-0 draw against {{wp|Wolverhampton Wanderers}} while {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} emerged narrowly triumphant, defeating {{wp|Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal}} 2-1. In this, {{wp|Manchester United}} midfielder {{wp|Paul Pogba}} was sent off, rendering him ineligible for the second leg.
On 22 May 2019, the quarter-final fixtures took place. In this, the tournament's first penalty shootout took place as {{wp|Manchester UnitMaed}} defeated {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}} 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in which {{wp|David De Gea}} successfully denied {{wp|Álvaro Morata}}'s attempt while his counterpart {{wp|Kepa Arrizabalga|Kepa}} failed to save an attempt from {{wp|Marcos Rojo}}. Meanwhile, {{wp|Valencia CF|Valencia}} easily demolished {{wp|Rangers F.C.|Rangers}} 6-0 via a brace from midfielder {{wp|Daniel Wass}} whereas in the two remaining high-stakes matches {{wp|Manchester City}} saw off {{wp|Atlético Madrid}} in a 2-0 win while {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} managed a narrow 1-0 win over {{wp|Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal}} via a late goal from forward {{wp|Roberto Firmino}}.  
 
Then, on 22 May 2019, the second leg of the quarter-finals took place. In this, {{wp|Manchester City}} mostly met expectations in a 2-1 win over {{wp|Burnley F.C.|Burnley}} to defeat the latter 6-1 on aggregate. Meanwhile, after being initially held to a draw, {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}} subsequently destroyed {{wp|Wolverhampton Wanderers}} 5-0 in the second leg to advance to the next round. On the other hand, in spite of a previously dominant performance in the first leg, a 2-3 defeat in the second leg saw {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}} almost eliminated from the tournament if not for a final 5-3 win on aggregate, thereby eliminating {{wp|Manchester United}}. Lastly, despite a 1-1 draw in the second leg, {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} successfully defeated {{wp|Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal}} 3-2 on aggregate courtesy of their previous 2-1 lead. In the meantime, {{wp|Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal}} midfielder {{wp|Mesut Özil}} was sent off although this ultimately proved negligible as they were effectively eliminated by their defeat to {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}}.


==Semi-Finals==
==Semi-Finals==
On 26 May 2019, the first leg of the semi-finals took place. Consisting of two matches in total, the first saw {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} marking a dominant 3-0 win over {{wp|Manchester City}} while the second saw {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}} mark a similarly dominant 3-1 win over {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}}. In the meantime, {{wp|Manchester City}} midfielder {{wp|David Silva}} was sent off, rendering him ineligible for the second leg.
On 26 May 2019, the semi-final fixtures took place. In this, against expectations, {{wp|Valencia CF|Valencia}} defeated {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw where errors by {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}}'s {{wp|Fabinho}} and {{wp|Jordan Henderson}} allowed {{wp|Valencia CF|Valencia}}, who otherwise successfully converted all five of their attempts, to emerge victorious. Meanwhile, local rivals {{wp|Manchester United}} and {{wp|Manchester City}} also competed against each other for a spot in the finals with {{wp|Manchester City|The Citizens}} ultimately defeating {{wp|Manchester United|The Red Devils}} 2-1 in injury time via a goal from defender {{wp|Nicolás Otamendi}} who scored the tiebreaking goal after an earlier goal from {{wp|Sergio Agüero}} was countered by a goal from {{wp|Manchester United}}'s {{wp|Anthony Martial}} who successfully converted a corner from {{wp|Alexis Sánchez}} to initially make it 1-1.
 
On 30 May 2019, the second leg of the semi-finals took place. In the end, despite an otherwise strong performance that saw them draw 4-4 with their opponents, {{wp|Manchester City}} were ultimately defeated by {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} 4-7 on aggregate courtesy of the latter's previous 3-0 advantage from the first leg. Otherwise, despite losing 1-2 in the second leg, {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}} profited well from their initial 3-1 lead in the first leg to ultimately defeat {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}} 4-3 on aggregate, thereby advancing to the finals to face {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} while {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}} were left to face {{wp|Manchester City}} in the third-place playoffs. In the midst of this, {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} midfielder {{wp|Naby Keïta}} was sent off, thereby leaving him ineligible for the finals, a fate also suffered by {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}} midfielder {{wp|Cesc Fàbregas}} who was consequently unable to participate in the third-place playoffs.


==Finals & Third-Place Playoffs==
==Finals & Third-Place Playoffs==
On 5 June 2019, the final match of the tournament was held at {{wp|Wembley Stadium}}, {{wp|London}}, pitting {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}} and {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}}. In the end, {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} emerged victorious over {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}}, defeating them 2-0.
On 2 June 2019, the finals and the third-place playoffs took place. In the finals held at {{wp|Wembley Stadium}}, {{wp|London}}, {{wp|Valencia CF|Valencia}} staged a memorable upset to defeat {{wp|Manchester City}} 3-1 with {{wp|Kevin Gameiro}}, {{wp|Carlos Soler}}, and {{wp|Michy Batshuayi}} scoring a goal each while {{wp|Manchester City}} found a consolation goal late in the 86th minute through {{wp|Kevin De Bruyne}}.


On that same day, the third-place playoffs were held at {{wp|Old Trafford}}, {{wp|Manchester}}, contested between the semi-finals losers {{wp|Manchester City}} and {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}}. In the end, {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}} successfully secured a third-place finish via a 3-0 win over their opponents, with {{wp|Willian (footballer, born 1988)|Willian}}, {{wp|Eden Hazard}}, and {{wp|N'Golo Kanté}} scoring a goal each.
Meanwhile, on that same day, at {{wp|Old Trafford}}, {{wp|Manchester}}, {{wp|Manchester United}} contested the third-place playoffs with {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} in which a goal right before half-time from {{wp|Alexis Sánchez}} saw {{wp|Manchester United}} mark a narrow 1-0 win over {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} to ultimately secure third place at home ground.


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
By the end of the tournament, the designation of top goalscorer and top assister respectively were awarded to {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}}'s {{wp|Roberto Firmino}} (who shares the award with {{wp|Manchester City}}'s {{wp|Sergio Agüero}}) and {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}}'s {{wp|Cesc Fàbregas}} with 3 goals and 4 assists respectively. In the meantime, {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}}'s {{wp|Alisson Becker}} was named the tournament's best goalkeeper. Otherwise, in terms of discipline, the tournament saw a total of 44 yellow cards handed out, with both {{wp|Cesc Fàbregas}} and {{wp|Naby Keïta}} tied for the most yellow cards (3), while only three players were ever sent off, namely {{wp|Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal}}'s {{wp|Mesut Özil}}, {{wp|Manchester United}}'s {{wp|Paul Pogba}}, and {{wp|Manchester City}}'s {{wp|David Silva}}.
In the aftermath of the tournament, the top scorer award was notably shared by {{wp|Valencia CF|Valencia}} players {{wp|Daniel Wass}} and {{wp|Kevin Gameiro}}, both of whom had scored three goals each, while the top assister award was shared by at least four players namely {{wp|Manchester United}}'s {{wp|Alexis Sánchez}}, {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}}'s {{wp|Joël Matip}}, as well as {{wp|Valencia CF|Valencia}}'S {{wp|Ezequiel Garay}} and {{wp|Dani Parejo}}. Meanwhile, over the course of the tournament, only two players were ever sent off with them being {{wp|Manchester United}}'s {{wp|Ashley Young}} and {{wp|Sevilla FC|Sevilla}}'s {{wp|Wissam Ben Yedder}}.
 
Given their victory in the tournament, calls for Premier Cup champions {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} to face {{wp|Coronation Cup (football)|Coronation Cup}} champions {{wp|Celtic F.C.|Celtic}} gradually grew in popularity with the main intention being to decide the "official champions of {{wp|Britain}}" given that the {{wp|Scottish}} side had previously been declared "unofficial champions" as victors of the {{wp|Coronation Cup (football)|Coronation Cup}}. Eventually, it was agreed upon by both clubs that a two-legged match would take place to decide the final outcome with the first leg being held at {{wp|Anfield}} and the second leg at {{wp|Celtic Park}} on 16 and 20 June 2019 respectively. To that end, in the first leg at home, despite a dominant performance, goals from {{wp|Leigh Griffiths}} and {{wp|Scott Sinclair}} saw {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} unexpectedly find themselves down by 2-0 at match's end. However, in the second leg at {{wp|Celtic Park}}, goals from {{wp|Sadio Mané}} and {{wp|James Milner}}, with the latter scoring an 88th-minute penalty, effectively denied the {{wp|Scottish}} club a quick victory and which subsequently led to a penalty shootout where an error by {{wp|Celtic F.C.|Celtic}}'s {{wp|James Forrest (footballer, born 1991)|James Forrest}} in the fourth attempt was capitalised upon by {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}}'s {{wp|Virgil van Dijk}} to ultimately make it 5-4 for the {{wp|English}} side who were subsequently crowned "official champions of {{wp|Britain}}".
 
==Reception==
Despite the fact that the event resulted in the postponement of the finals of two major tournaments, it was otherwise received warmly by most of the public who praised the competitive and gripping nature of some of the matches including the quarter-finals fixture between {{wp|Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal}} and {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}}, the semi-finals fixtures between {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}} and {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}} and {{wp|Manchester City}} and {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}}, particularly the second legs in which the respective victors emerged as winners by considerably tight margins. The final fixture between {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}} and {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} was also widely received and so was the third-place playoffs between {{wp|Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea}} and {{wp|Manchester City}}.  
 
Similarly, the ensuing match between {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} and {{wp|Celtic F.C.|Celtic}} was also met with positive praise that mostly centered around the gripping penalty shootout. In addition, {{wp|Celtic F.C.|Celtic}} were also praised for their performance against the more superior {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} who were initially tipped by many to easily dominate their {{wp|Scottish}} opponents. Likewise, in the lead-up to the tournament, reports claim that {{wp|Manchester City}} and {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} were likely favourites for the finals with {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}}'s ensuing second-place finish being seen by many as a surprise.
 
Coincidentally, {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}}'s 2-0 win over {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}} in the tournament's finals was later emulated when the two clubs faced each other again in the {{wp|2019 UEFA Champions League Final}} where {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} once again defeated {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}} 2-0. As a result, {{wp|Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool}} head coach {{wp|Jürgen Klopp}} later jokingly described his club's win in the Premier Cup over {{wp|THFC|Tottenham Hotspur}} as "part one of us defeating {{wp|THFC|Spurs}} in a major final" with the {{wp|UEFA Champions League}} final fixture being referred to as "part two".

Revision as of 18:10, 18 November 2023

The Premier Cup was a one-off football tournament held to mark the coronation of Queen Alexandra on 1 August 2019. Contested between eight English football clubs, the tournament lasted for over four weeks, beginning on 18 May 2019 and ending on 2 June 2019.

Consisting of a total of sixteen clubs, in alphabetical order, the teams that competed in the tournament are:

In total, the tournament consisted of four stages, namely the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals along with the third-place playoffs, all of which are one-legged occasions. Meanwhile, the clubs that compete in the tournament are drawn against one another at random via a televised lucky draw, and their fixtures in the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals are played simultaneously. Meanwhile, the finals were held at Wembley Stadium, London while the third-place playoffs were held at Old Trafford, Manchester.

Similar to most football tournaments, penalty shootouts were used to break any potential deadlocks while a player who has accumulated two cumulative yellow cards or simply a red card is declared ineligible for the next match and must therefore wait out the suspension period before being allowed to return.

Having been planned for at least several months in advance, the tournament resulted in the delays of the 2019 FA Cup Final, the 2019 Scottish Cup Final, 2019 Copa del Rey Final, and the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final, all of which were otherwise rescheduled to take place after the tournament had ended so as to ensure that the competing clubs could focus solely on the tournament.

Venue

Draw

For the round of 16, the clubs competing in the tournament were randomly grouped into eight groups of two via a lucky draw held on 14 May 2019. The results of the draw, which was televised live on multiple channels including BBC Sport, Sky Sports, and beIN Sports, are as follows:

Round of 16

On 18 May 2019, the round of 16 fixtures took place. In this, a brace from Georginio Wijnaldum saw Liverpool easily dominate Scottish champions Celtic with Arsenal managing a similar huge victory over Kilmarnock. Meanwhile, both Manchester clubs successfully prevailed over their Spanish opponents, with Manchester United particularly managing a narrow 2-1 win over Real Madrid. Elsewhere, Spanish champions Barcelona were stunned by a 2-3 loss to Valencia whereas Atlético Madrid, via a brace from Diego Costa, defeated Sevilla 3-1 while Chelsea narrowly defeated Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 as Rangers instead defeated Aberdeen 1-0.

Quarter-finals

On 22 May 2019, the quarter-final fixtures took place. In this, the tournament's first penalty shootout took place as Manchester UnitMaed defeated Chelsea 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in which David De Gea successfully denied Álvaro Morata's attempt while his counterpart Kepa failed to save an attempt from Marcos Rojo. Meanwhile, Valencia easily demolished Rangers 6-0 via a brace from midfielder Daniel Wass whereas in the two remaining high-stakes matches Manchester City saw off Atlético Madrid in a 2-0 win while Liverpool managed a narrow 1-0 win over Arsenal via a late goal from forward Roberto Firmino.

Semi-Finals

On 26 May 2019, the semi-final fixtures took place. In this, against expectations, Valencia defeated Liverpool 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw where errors by Liverpool's Fabinho and Jordan Henderson allowed Valencia, who otherwise successfully converted all five of their attempts, to emerge victorious. Meanwhile, local rivals Manchester United and Manchester City also competed against each other for a spot in the finals with The Citizens ultimately defeating The Red Devils 2-1 in injury time via a goal from defender Nicolás Otamendi who scored the tiebreaking goal after an earlier goal from Sergio Agüero was countered by a goal from Manchester United's Anthony Martial who successfully converted a corner from Alexis Sánchez to initially make it 1-1.

Finals & Third-Place Playoffs

On 2 June 2019, the finals and the third-place playoffs took place. In the finals held at Wembley Stadium, London, Valencia staged a memorable upset to defeat Manchester City 3-1 with Kevin Gameiro, Carlos Soler, and Michy Batshuayi scoring a goal each while Manchester City found a consolation goal late in the 86th minute through Kevin De Bruyne.

Meanwhile, on that same day, at Old Trafford, Manchester, Manchester United contested the third-place playoffs with Liverpool in which a goal right before half-time from Alexis Sánchez saw Manchester United mark a narrow 1-0 win over Liverpool to ultimately secure third place at home ground.

Aftermath

In the aftermath of the tournament, the top scorer award was notably shared by Valencia players Daniel Wass and Kevin Gameiro, both of whom had scored three goals each, while the top assister award was shared by at least four players namely Manchester United's Alexis Sánchez, Liverpool's Joël Matip, as well as Valencia'S Ezequiel Garay and Dani Parejo. Meanwhile, over the course of the tournament, only two players were ever sent off with them being Manchester United's Ashley Young and Sevilla's Wissam Ben Yedder.

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