In the only match that mattered at the end of a turbulent season, Liverpool fell hard in Basel. The Reds unraveled in the Europa League final falling to Sevilla, 1-3, with the Spanish side securing the cup for the third consecutive time.
This was a match that illustrated the squad’s fortunes this season, yo-yoing from sublime to shambolic with little in between. Liverpool were noticeably nervy at the start, then settled and got on top but could not turn the screw, and eventually stumbled and could not recover.
Headed into the tunnel with a slim 1-0 lead, Liverpool failed to put things out of reach. Even with multiple calls having not gone in their favour, they still had chances they could not take.
Within seconds of the second half they found themselves level with the defending champions and suddenly in free-fall. The entire match turned once Sevilla scored. The nerves returned and the Spanish side’s confidence began to surge.
Sevilla had a plan, got some luck, and made it count. Yet make no mistake, the La Liga outfit is a good side, good enough to finish fourth behind the Champions League finalists and league winner. Plus, their two previous wins were not flukes.
For Liverpool, this is an old manager’s side that failed to win anything but found their way to two finals under the direction of a new manager. As gutting as this loss is, it still suggests that there may be a foundation upon which to build a better squad.
Here are four findings from the match.
Sublime Sturridge
Despite all the injury time, Daniel Sturridge rose above all other Reds to score the most goals in all competitions for the club this campaign. His class is remarkable. This was not his finest match but he still managed to get on the scoresheet.
His first half goal, the first by an English player in this competition’s final since Robbie Fowler in 1991, was an exquisite outside of the foot curler that found the side-netting. Should Liverpool have won the match, it would have been the only highlight that anyone remembered.
The striker is pure quality and may still prove to be the most vital asset for the club as they miss out on European football again. They may bring in a another striker this summer but it is unlikely he will match the level of a healthy Sturridge.
Klopp Crashes
For all the drama and excitement Liverpool has produced since Jurgen Klopp arrived, the manager has to shoulder some of the weight of this loss. The aggressive attacking approach should have yielded better results. However, the hesitance to make a change in the second half proved more problematic.
It took too long to make substitutions and those that were made seemed to be the wrong ones in the wrong order. Adding Divock Origi exposed an already shaky midfield. Adding Joe Allen left the midfielder with too little time to make a difference. Adding Christian Benteke wasted the substitution.
While Klopp has now faltered in his fifth final, he has entered none of them as the clear favorite. Still, he has led unlikely sides to the brink, pushing them to unlikely heights. He will remake this side and it remains hard to believe that he will not bring the club silverware.
Moreno’s Mayhem
A product of Sevilla, the Spanish side knew Alberto Moreno well and targeted him. From the pair of errors to open the second half to his overall defensive waywardness, Moreno was at the scene of far too many crimes against his former club.
The left-back has shown improvement under Klopp but he will undoubtedly see competition for time next season. As good as the defender can be, his performances always contain an erratic quality. It is hard to predict when a mad moment will occur.
The Spaniard’s capacity for courting crisis raises all kinds of questions. He faces some warranted criticism but he was not the only player that foundered as Sevilla escalated their comeback.
Reliability Required
Of all the needs this summer, Liverpool need some stronger leadership and mentally tougher characters to strengthen the side. Quality counts, of course, but the Reds need reliable performers to play big in the biggest matches.
Too many current players lack the consistency of rising on the grandest stages. Roberto Firmino has the ability to change a match in a moment but those moments are not consistent enough yet. The same can be said of Philippe Coutinho who spent most of this match in the shadows. So often Adam Lallana decorates rather than determines games. The trio of rotating midfielders struggled and were unable to dig the side out of the hole in which they found themselves sinking.
Only Kolo Toure, who likely played his last match for Liverpool, played with the kind of strength and character that is required for the club to push on and pursue the goals of returning the club to Europe on a reliable basis.