Liverpool suffered a second half collapse as Sevilla came from behind to win the Europa League in Basel this evening.
Jurgen Klopp's side will have some complaints that they weren't awarded at least two penalties in a domineering first half performance, but no complaints about the result after their second half capitulation saw them surrender a one-nil lead to lose 3-1.
Daniel Sturridge put the Premier League side ahead on 35 minutes, a spectacular effort from the outside of his left foot beat David Soria all ends up.
The goal came after a period of sustained pressure from Liverpool and efforts from Emre Can and Sturridge in the first half should have opened up a healthy lead.
The Reds should have been awarded a penalty in the first half after the ball was quite clearly handled in the box when Firmino tried to dribble by Daniel Carriço, but the referee waved it away. Their second shout came toward the end of the first period, another low handball went unpunished by the referee Jonas Eriksson and his officials.
Liverpool may have been forgiven for thinking they were in total control, Sevilla rarely troubled in the first half other than a Kevin Gameiro bicycle kick which flew just wide of the post.
Daniel Sturridge opened the scoring with a world class strike with the outside of his right foot. Image: Adam Davy / PA Wire/Press Association Images
Fans had barely return to their seats as Sevilla drew level after the restart. Less than 20 second after kick-off brought Sevilla back to level terms when Mariano collected the ball on the right wing and sprinted toward the byline. He played a neat ball through the legs of Alberto Moreno to skip by the full back and cross into the box where Gameiro had a simple tap-in.
The striker was through once again moments later, Kolo Toure was this time the man to thank as his last ditch effort forced the corner. Liverpool took a while but slowly grew into the second half, keeping possession in the middle third but were noticeably less incisive.
Sevilla should have doubled their lead minutes later when Gameiro found himself alone in the six yard box. Simon Mignolet got across smartly to save his shinned effort.
The pressure finally told four minutes later when Coke put the Spaniards ahead. A break away that saw Vitolo dance through Liverpool’s midfield with a series of passes followed by a sharp twist inside Lovren.
As the ball broke loose on the edge of the area Andujar Coke arrived first and swept an sublime side footed finish around Mignolet into the bottom corner.
Sevilla's Andujar Coke celebrates scoring during the UEFA Europa League Final at St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland. Image: Adam Davy / PA Wire/Press Association Images
The game was put out of Liverpool's reach with 20 minutes to go, Coke once again collected what appeared to be an offside pass and from a tight angle squeezed his effort beyond Mignolet.
Two Liverpool players deflected the ball into the path of the Sevilla captain to allow the Eriksson to give the goal much to the distaste of Klopp who had a few choice words for him at the end of tonight's game.
The German can take some positives from Liverpool's first half performance, but it will feel like one that got away when you take into account the quality of their performance in the first half. There will be lessons learned, no doubt, but a third consecutive Europa League trophy for the Spanish side mean that the post mortem will have to wait as the celebrations begin.
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