A game of two halves indeed…
Sevilla have won the Europa League for the third successive season after beating Liverpool 3-1 in the final at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel.
Liverpool were the better side in the first half and took the lead after a peach of a finish from Daniel Sturridge in the 35th minute.
Moments later, Liverpool had the ball in the net again, but it was correctly ruled out for offside, before Jürgen Klopp’s men had a couple of penalty claims turned down.
The defending champions came out a different side in the second half and immediately equalised, courtesy of Kevin Gameiro.
Coke then sealed the victory with two quickfire goals for Sevilla in the 64th and 70th minute.
The result means that the Spanish side continue their dominance of Europe’s second biggest competition, while Liverpool lose their second final of the season, following their Capital One Cup defeat.
Here is the best reaction to a very good game.
Seville no mugs. Superior team on the night. But Liverpool will have too many regrets after this.
— Michael Foley📚🖊 (@MickFoley76) May 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/hugoinglis29/status/733032861406633985
Sad reality for Moreno is he has been poor in the Capital One Cup final and the Europa League final this year. Costly.
— Richard Jolly 🇺🇦 (@RichJolly) May 18, 2016
Liverpool just haven't produced that intensity they had v Dortmund, Villarreal. Could have done with Lucas sitting in front of defence.
— Ian Darke (@IanDarke) May 18, 2016
Unlucky Liverpool really wanted you to win that one would of been nice to have 5 teams in the #ChampionsLeague
— BennyCentral (@BennyCentral) May 18, 2016
#LFC defensive frailties undermine a very good 1st half. Needs addressing in summer.@talkSPORT Europa League LIVE
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) May 18, 2016
Left side of Liverpool's defence moving like their stream is two second behind… #EuropaLeagueFinal
— Kris Voakes (@krisvoakes) May 18, 2016
The only positive is there probably won't be a video review session after this, because that was a shambles. #EuropaLeagueFinal
— Bernard O'Toole (@BernardOToole) May 18, 2016
Always crushing when the 8th place team in one league doesn't beat the 7th team in another for a Champions League spot. #EuropaLeagueFinal
— Gareth Wheeler (@GarethWheeler) May 18, 2016
Correct decision for all #lfc frustration. Good Coke deal. #lfc concentration shocking. 3-1 Sevilla.
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) May 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/JacobSteinberg/status/733020713519570944
Liverpool will turn this around back at Anfield for sure. #EuropaLeagueFinal
— IAN HYLAND (@HylandIan) May 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/STUD6699/status/733030998192062468
https://twitter.com/MatthewStanger/status/733030949408083969
https://twitter.com/Karen26_x/status/733030889538621440
Liverpool have absolutely disintegrated here and have not looked like coming up with anything to change the match. #shellshocked
— Ayden Callaghan (@AydenCallaghan) May 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/Klopptimism/status/733029939788820485
1st half Liverpool were irresistible, 2nd half anonymous
— Ian Abrahams (Moose) (@BroadcastMoose) May 18, 2016
Liverpool… That's embarrassing
— SteeeleyJ (@SteeeleyJ) May 18, 2016
