The famous press, the high energy, the heavy metal, it was all so much jazz. Liverpool succumbed to their heaviest defeat in a European final, beaten by a team that are masters on this stage, Sevilla – Europa League champions for a third year in succession.
There was controversy about the third goal, perhaps, but not the third trophy. The best team won here, Sevilla sweeping Liverpool aside with three second-half goals, leaving Jurgen Klopp to contemplate another final defeat in a fog of impotent fury.
He has never won a final, whether in Germany, England and Europe, but when Liverpool took the lead here it looked as if that dire run may be broken. No such luck. Sevilla were magnificent in the second 45 minutes and could have won by more. They equalised within 20 seconds of the half beginning and never looked back, aided by some weak Liverpool defending, not least from Alberto Moreno, against his old Spanish club.
Sevilla players raise the trophy after completing a second-half comeback to win a record third consecutive Europa League
The Spanish side, who have not won an away game in La Liga all season, celebrate victory in Basle with their fans
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp (centre) tries to console his players after losing a fifth cup final as a manager
Sevilla captain Coke wheels away after putting the Spaniards in the lead with the first of his two goals
Coke finished a brilliant run from Vitolo with a well-struck finish into the bottom corner to send Sevilla 2-1 up
Kevin Gameiro grabs the badge on his shirt after bringing Sevilla level within minutes of the second half
Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet flails as Gamiero meets an excellent cross from Mariano to net from close range
Daniel Sturridge (centre) opens the scoring for Liverpool with a stunning long-distance shot struck with the outside of his boot
The England international celebrates scoring opener with with his now customary dance moves
Moreno was sloppy for the first and Sevilla got too much change down his flank. Ultimately, the momentum rode over Liverpool, the way they have ridden over opponents in Europe this season. The second goal was quite magnificent, brilliant work from Vitolo in midfield playing two one-twos – the second with Ever Banega – before captain Coke swept in to finish, running off Nathaniel Clyne.
He scored the clincher, too – they were his first goals in European competition – fortuitously collecting a rebound off a Liverpool boot in what looked to be an offside position. Coke converted, a flag went up, but was overruled by referee Jonas Eriksson. Substitute Martin Skrtel led the touchline protests, soon joined by Klopp, but after another round of consultation the decision stood. This time there was no drama, no comeback, no miracle to behold.
Liverpool have punched above their weight in Europe this season, but had moved up a belt too far with Sevilla. Anyone who saw Amir Khan’s fight recently will know what they walked onto here.
Sevilla have not been the best travellers this season. For all their exploits in Europe they have not won away in La Liga, and only once outside their city in all other competitions. So it must have been a daunting sight to see St-Jakob Park decked out as an imitation Anfield, all Liverpool red and banners of Shankly quotes and celebrations of glories past. It was always going to be like this once UEFA selected a hopelessly inadequate venue for a match of this magnitude. Basel has charm as a town and this is a nice stadium, but it was out of its depth once a team with Liverpool’s travelling support made it to the final.
Liverpool took over three quarters of the ground, even some tiny pockets reserved for Sevilla. There was no segregation, even around what was obviously before the two sets of fans, leading to a couple of ugly fights behind one goal before kick-off. Belatedly, riot police arrived and formed a human barrier, and the two clubs may be sanctioned – but the real culprits are UEFA, who have acted these last few weeks as if they have never had to organise a game of football before. It really isn’t that difficult.
Both sides line up at the St Jakob-Park stadium in Basle ahead of the Europa League final
Liverpool forward Adam Lallana (left), wearing contrasting boots, chases down a clearance from Sevilla's Sergio Escudero
Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino brings the ball acrobatically as Liverpool dominate the early exchanges
Daniel Sturridge (right) of Liverpool meets a cross from Liverpool team-mate Nathanial Clyne to head across goal
With Sevilla's goalkeeper stranded, Sturridge's first-half header was cleared off the line by defender Daniel Carrico
iverpool's influential midfielder Emre Can (left) and Coke of Sevilla engage in a synchronised battle for the ball
Still, it was to Liverpool’s advantage to play before a partisan crowd, although they took a while to match that mood with the intensity of their performance. Perhaps it was all part of the plan but they did not start this game with the energy that had so started Villareal in the previous round and, at first, most of the action unfolded in their half.
Once the game settled down, though, Liverpool got into their stride – Nathaniel Clyne in particular a threat along the right, showing what a danger he could be for Roy Hodgson in France next month. Clyne set up Liverpool’s first attack of note, cutting the ball back for Daniel Sturridge who could not reach it, instead finding Emre Can in an appealing shooting position. His effort was parried, but goalkeeper David Sorria made an awful meal of it, which boded well. Clyne was quick to test him again, four minutes later, this time with a deep cross that Sturridge headed back across goal, defender Daniel Carrico hooking it clear as Soria floundered.
Liverpool had a reasonable penalty shout a minute later when Roberto Firmino tried to take the ball around Carrico and it clearly struck his arm. It was the sort of appeal that Luis Suarez would invariably carry, but maybe Firmino does not have the same powers of advocacy. Referee Jonas Eriksson waved it away. By now, Liverpool were well on top and could have scored after 25 minutes when Adam Lallana surged through and slipped a lovely pass to Sturridge, breaking free of the Sevilla defence but at a wide, tight angle. Soria was off his line quickly to narrow it further and made a good save – his first convincing involvement of the night.
Sturridge's eyes are fixed firmly on the ball as he unleashes a stunning strike with the outside of his left foot
Sevilla keeper David Soria dives in vain as Sturridge's shot screams past him to hand Liverpool a first-half lead
Liverpool players race to celebrate the opening goal as Sturridge takes part in his customary dance moves
France international Gameiro (second right) meets a superb cross from Mariano to draw Sevilla level on 47minutes
Sevilla coach Unai Emery (centre) celebrates the equaliser with his substitutes from the sidelines
Ten minutes later, Liverpool were ahead, with a goal worthy of the occasion, too. Firmino found Philippe Coutinho – strangely quiet until this point – and he moved it on to Sturridge. He took a couple of touches and then curled it, beautifully, perfectly, with the outside of his left boot into the far corner. It was a quite magnificent strike, not just for Liverpool, but as a reminder to all that he by no mean the fourth, or fifth, name in England’s roll call of strikers this summer. That is not to say his contemporaries could not have scored it – but, let’s face it, they didn’t and he did. And on a grand stage, too. He ran away in triumph and did his little dance, unfortunately to the wrong corner of the ground – although in his defence it was hard to tell.
Yet, from Sevilla, very little in the first-half. Dejan Lovren was booked for a brutal, and rather unnecessary foul on Kevin Gameiro and two minutes later the Frenchman showed his skills, coming close with an overhead kick after Ever Banega’s free-kick was half cleared.
If Liverpool’s plan was to keep them similarly shackled in the second-half, it was ruined after just 20 seconds. From the kick-off, Sevilla attacked and after an Alberto Moreno header had fallen to Mariano Ferreira on the right, Liverpool fell apart defensively. Ferreira cut inside, beat Moreno easily, got to the by line, struck a low cross and Gameiro was on hand to tap in from close range. It is not the first time Moreno’s defensive frailty has cost Liverpool in Europe this season and it seemed to leave them shock. Their fans fell quiet and minutes later, Gameiro broke free, a magnificent recovery by Kolo Toure on aging legs all that thwarted him as he bore down on goal. It was Simon Mignolet to the rescue next, an excellent save from Gamiero keeping Liverpool in the game as Jurgen Klopp implored the fans to make Basel feel like Anfield again.
Gameiro almost scored a second moments after the equaliser only to be denied by a last ditch Kolo Toure tackle
Nathanial Clyne fails to prevent Coke from lashing home a beautiful effort to put Sevilla in the lead
The Sevilla captain is mobbed by team-mates as the La Liga side take the lead for the first time in the game