English side Liverpool met La Liga's Sevilla in the 2016 Europa League final in Basel on Thursday night.
Sevilla were attempting to win the competition for a third time in succession, but Liverpool were seeking a fourth title win to match Sevilla's record.
It was the Premier League side that led at the interval courtesy of a 35th-minute goal from Daniel Sturridge, who bent one past David Soria from a wide angle.
Sevilla were level 17 seconds into the second period, however, when Kevin Gameiro converted from close range after excellent work from Mariano Ferreira, before Coke made it 2-1 Sevilla in the 64th minute.
Coke then scored his second for Sevilla 20 minutes from time as the La Liga side won the trophy for a fifth time.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Welcome to Basel! Sports Mole's live Europa League coverage for the 2015-16 season concludes from Switzerland as Liverpool face Sevilla in the final. Can Sevilla land a third straight Europa crown, or will Liverpool taste European glory for the first time under Jurgen Klopp? Let's hope for a cracker!
Kickoff in Basel is not actually until 7.45pm UK time tonight, but the team news is expected to land in the next 40 minutes and there is plenty to discuss in the build-up. It will be fascinating to see the two starting teams - both managers could spring some surprises here. Rumours around the stadium suggest that Divock Origi could make a surprise return to the Liverpool XI in Switzerland.
Somewhat surprisingly, tonight will be the first ever meeting between Liverpool and Sevilla in UEFA competition. Liverpool have faced Spanish opposition on 34 occasions in European football, however, and their record reads won 14, drawn 10 and lost 10. Those matches actually include two finals (and indeed two wins) on neutral territory – 1-0 against Real Madrid in the 1981 European Champion Clubs' Cup in Paris and 5-4 against Deportivo Alaves in the 2001 UEFA Cup in Dortmund.
Sevilla, meanwhile, have faced English opposition on eight occasions in UEFA competition – recording three wins, two draws and three defeats. Like Liverpool, that run of matches also includes a final victory, with the Spanish outfit beating Middlesbrough 4-0 in the 2006 UEFA Cup final, which took place in Eindhoven. This is what the two teams are playing for in tonight's match...
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Should Liverpool triumph tonight, they would actually join Sevilla on four successes in this particular competition. Liverpool won the UEFA Cup in 1973, 1976 and 2001, but three of Sevilla's four victories have come under the new format of the Europa League. As mentioned, in 2006, they beat Middlesbrough to claim their first UEFA cup and have not really looked back since then.
The Spanish outfit overcame fellow Spanish side Espanyol on penalties to win the 2007 UEFA Cup and make it back-to-back successes, before beating Iberian rivals Benfica on penalties in the 2014 Europa League final. Back-to-back successes came after they overcame Ukrainian side Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 3-2 in last year's final. It would be incredible if Sevilla managed three in a row!
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No team have won three consecutive editions of a major UEFA competition since German giants Bayern Munich landed three straight European Champion Clubs' Cup trophies - the last of which came in the 1975-76 season. Sevilla will indeed match that record if they can triumph tonight, but it will not be easy against a Liverpool team that have improved since Klopp replaced Brendan Rodgers.
Incidentally, the winner of tonight's final will be granted a group-stage spot in next season's Champions League, which some will argue is the real prize on offer. Neither managed to make the top four in their domestic leagues, but either England or Spain will have the chance to submit five teams in the Champions League – Manchester City and Villarreal need to come through the playoffs!
In terms of European pedigree, there is no comparing these two teams. Liverpool have won the European Cup on five occasions, while Sevilla have never won Europe's main competition. Incredibly, when Liverpool lifted their last UEFA Cup in 2001, Sevilla had never triumphed in a European competition and were actually playing in Spain's second division, which is some statistic.
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ROUTE TO THE FINAL! Let's start with Liverpool. The Premier League side topped Group B with 10 points to advance into the knockout stage of the competition. They only actually won two of their six group matches, but four draws were enough for them to finish top, one point ahead of Sion.
German side Augsburg were the team waiting for Liverpool in the round of 32 and a 1-0 aggregate victory was enough for the Reds to advance into the last-16, where bitter rivals Manchester United were waiting. Liverpool won the first leg 2-0 at Anfield and a 1-1 draw in the return at Old Trafford was enough to continue their journey in the competition. Just so you know - team news is not too far away here!
Favourites Borussia Dortmund were tipped to eliminate Liverpool in the quarter-finals, but after a 1-1 draw in Dortmund, Liverpool produced a stunning comeback at Anfield to advance 5-4 on aggregate courtesy of a 4-3 win on home soil. The semi-finals brought a two-legged tie with Villarreal and despite losing 1-0 in Spain, a 3-0 success at Anfield comfortably booked their spot in the Basel final.
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As a result, Liverpool have only actually lost one of their 14 Europa League games this season, although they have drawn seven times. Only six goals arrived in their six Group B matches, but they hit four against Dortmund in the quarters and three against Villarreal in the semi-finals. Both of those games were at Anfield though and we are, of course, on neutral ground in Switzerland tonight.
TEAMS:
LIVERPOOL: Mignolet; Clyne, Toure, Lovren, Moreno; Can, Milner; Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho; Sturridge
SEVILLA: Soria; Mariano, Rami, Carrico, Escudero; N'Zonzi, Krychowiak; Vitolo, Banega, Coke; Gameiro
In truth, no real surprises in the Liverpool XI tonight. Kolo Toure continues alongside Dejan Lovren at the heart of the defence, while James Milner will skipper the team from the middle of the park. An attacking side includes Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho behind lone striker Daniel Sturridge. Jordan Henderson and Divock Origi have overcome injuries to make the bench for the Reds.
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As for Sevilla, Michael Krohn-Dehli and Benoit Tremoulinas both miss out through knee problems. David Soria keeps his European place between the sticks, while Sergio Escudero and Steven N'Zonzi are both given starting roles at left-back and central midfield respectively. Mariano and Coke will once again operate down the right, while in-form Kevin Gameiro leads the line for the Spanish club.
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now little over 50 minutes from kickoff in Switzerland. I have spoken about Liverpool and their route to the final, but what about Sevilla? Unai Emery's side have a special relationship with this competition and they will fancy their chances of landing a fifth European trophy tonight, that is for sure. The atmosphere is really building in Basel!
ROUTE TO THE FINAL – PART TWO! Sevilla started this season in the Champions League and advanced straight into the group stages courtesy of their Europa League success last term. It was a tough group for Emery's side, who were drawn alongside Man City, Juventus and Borussia Monchengladbach.
Man City and Juventus were the two favourites to advance and that was indeed the case, with the pair finishing first and second respectively. Sevilla lost four of their six group matches, but did manage two wins, which saw them finish in third position, one point above fourth-place Gladbach.
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Sevilla dropped into the Europa League - their favourite competition - following their exit in the group stages of the Champions League and were drawn alongside Molde in the round of 32. The Spanish side lost the second leg 1-0 away from home, but a 3-0 victory in the first leg at the Estadio Ramon saw them advance to the round of 16, where they met Swiss side Basel.
Basel held Emery's side to a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Switzerland, but it was a similar story from the previous round as Sevilla won 3-0 on home turf to continue their journey. They were bound to meet domestic opposition at some point and that came in the shape of Ernesto Valverde's impressive Athletic Bilbao in what proved to be a classic European tie between the two La Liga teams.
Sevilla actually recorded a 2-1 victory in the first leg away from home and although Bilbao responded with a 2-1 win at the Estadio Ramon, it was the holders Sevilla that came through on penalties following extra-time. Tricky Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk were the team waiting in the semi-finals of the competition, but Sevilla actually finished two goals better over the two legs.
Fans in the city centre...
Will Sevilla become the first team to lift the trophy five times? #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/wErZsTx63Q — UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 18, 2016
The Spanish side nicked a 2-2 draw in Ukraine in the first leg, before recording a 3-1 victory in Spain to book their spot in the final. Liverpool have certainly had the tougher run in the knockout stages, but Sevilla have had to show their metal to overcome the disappointment of bowing out in the group stages of the Champions League. Kickoff in Basel is now little over 30 minutes away!
In terms of recent form, Sevilla ended their La Liga season with a 3-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. A disastrous couple of months saw Emery's side actually lose seven of their last nine league matches, although they still finished in seventh spot in the table. Unless they win tonight, there wil be no European football at the Estadio Ramon next season. So much to play for in this match!
La Liga has been a big disappointment for Sevilla this season, but they will face Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on Sunday and it could therefore still be a very successful campaign. The supporters would take seventh if they picked up a Europa League and Copa del Rey double!
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Liverpool, meanwhile, finished their Premier League season on Sunday with a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion. That result left Klopp's side in eighth position in the table and like Sevilla, they will be without European football of any kind next season if they fail to win tonight. Once again, it has been a poor league campaign for the Reds, there is no getting away from that fact.
Klopp's changes have started to take shape, but inconsistency has still plagued Liverpool in the league. They only actually won one of their last five in the Premier League, but only lost one of their last nine. The supporters will be looking for improvement next season once Klopp has had a free swing at the summer transfer window. These two will surely be key to Liverpool's chances tonight...
.@LFC pair Emre Can and Dejan Lovren have checked out the pitch... #UELfinal pic.twitter.com/WZAEExYnf3 — UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) May 18, 2016
No real surprise that Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos is backing his former team tonight...
Another final to add to the history and legend of Sevilla. #APorLaQuinta #VamosmiSevilla pic.twitter.com/weedMPE5Q2 — Sergio Ramos (@SergioRamos) May 18, 2016
Here are the pre-match thoughts of Sevilla boss Emery, speaking to UEFA.com: "Every time football gives you a chance you have to take it. What we have achieved in recent years is wonderful but you can't stop there; you have to relive it, you have to experience it again. The Sevilla fans know this: they look upon the club as their second wife or second girlfriend." Some probably a first wife!
The police have been forced to step in here after Liverpool and Sevilla fans clashed in the crowd. Not something that we want to see, but there do seem to be supporters darted around the stadium - no real segregation, which is always bound to cause problems. Hopefully the situation has been sorted!
PREDICTION! A lot of people seem to fancy Liverpool tonight, but I just have a feeling for Sevilla. There is something about the Spanish side and this competition and they have more than enough in the final third to unnerve Toure and Lovren at the heart of the Liverpool defence. I would not be surprised to see this one go all the way and I am actually going to back Sevilla to win on penalties.
Just a reminder of the two teams for tonight's match...
LIVERPOOL: Mignolet; Clyne, Toure, Lovren, Moreno; Can, Milner, Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho; Sturridge
SEVILLA: Soria; Mariano, Rami, Carrico, Escudero; N'Zonzi, Krychowiak; Vitolo, Banega, Coke; Gameiro
The pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. It is Liverpool against Sevilla in the 2016 Europa League final and kickoff is now just a moment away. Let's just hope for an entertaining contest. None of this cagey and tight football please!
KICKOFF! You just get the feeling that the first goal tonight - if there indeed is one - could be crucial. I fancy Sevilla to win on penalties tonight, but this one really could go either way! Right, it is Liverpool that kick things off inside this vocal stadium in Basel. Liverpool in red, Sevilla in white...
... very much a 4-2-3-1 formation for Sevilla tonight, with Gameiro acting as the lone striker. Sturridge, meanwhile, is up top for Liverpool, just ahead of Firmino. Sevilla have an early chance to deliver a deep free kick into the Liverpool half, but Lovren is fouled by Krychowiak, says the referee.
Can brings Banega to the deck and the Sevilla midfielder wants an early yellow for his opponent. Can is a touch fortunate after two late challenges early on! Sevilla once again have the chance to deliver a free kick into Liverpool territory, but Can is on hand to clear under little Sevilla pressure.
It has been a decent start from Sevilla, with the Spanish side on the front foot in the early exchanges. The ball has spent a lot of time in the air, but no real chances to speak of thus far here!
SAVE! Smart save from Soria as the Sevilla stopper gets across his goal to deny Can, who released a strike from outside the box. Plenty of challenges flying in at the moment here!
Plenty of free kicks in the opening 10 minutes and Sevilla have another opportunity to deliver into the Liverpool box as Milner brings Vitolo to the deck. Potentially dangerous for Liverpool here...
... Banega delivers, but it is very comfortable for Mignolet, who releases Sturridge on the right.
CHANCE! Another Liverpool chance as Clyne picks out the head of Sturridge inside the Sevilla box, but Carrico is back to make a goal-line clearance. Not sure about Soria there!
Penalty shout for Liverpool as Carrico seems to handle inside the box, but the referee is not interested. It would have been very harsh in my eyes and the referee was pretty sure of his call.
Liverpool are starting to look dangerous in the final third as Can continues to break from midfield. This Sevilla defence does not look too secure and you sense that the likes of Sturridge will get chances as play develops in Switzerland. Still goalless with 16 minutes on the clock here in Basel.
Super battle for possession at the moment as the challenges continue to fly in from both teams. The referee is letting the play flow and that is creating a high-tempo and watchable contest.
The play has just settled in the last minute or two as Sevilla enjoy a sustained period of possession. Liverpool continue to press high, however, and it is forcing mistakes from the Spanish club. As mentioned earlier, you do get the feeling that the first goal tonight - if there is one - could be huge.
The rain has started to fall once again in Basel, which will only quicken the surface! It has been a pretty even 23 minutes here, but Liverpool have had the two best chances of the match. Gameiro has struggled to get the better of Toure and Lovren at the heart of the Liverpool defence here.
Sevilla are enjoying much more of the possession at the moment and Liverpool have been guilty of some sloppy passing in the last minute or two. Still all square though with 25 minutes on the clock.
SAVE! Lallana slides a super pass into Sturridge as Liverpool come close once again, but Soria is out to make a really smart save. Once again Liverpool look more threatening in attack.
Rami comes across to challenge Moreno as Sevilla survive another potentially dangerous attack from Liverpool, who have been the more threatening in the final third. We have not seen too much from the likes of Gameiro and Vitolo thus far, but Mariano has just won a corner for the Spanish side.
BOOKING! Lovren (Liverpool) is booked for a poor challenge on Gameiro.
CLOSE! Almost a super goal from Gameiro as the striker produces an over-head kick inside the Liverpool box, but his effort is just wide of the post. Much more like it from him!
Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining and we are still all square in Basel. Liverpool have had the better chances, but Sevilla, for me, are edging this final on the whole here.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Sevilla (Sturridge)
Liverpool make the breakthrough 10 minutes before the break as Coutinho plays a pass into Sturridge and the Englishman uses the outside of his foot to bend one into the far corner!
Offensively, Sevilla have been poor in this first period and Unai Emery needs to come up with a solution in the second period. The Spanish side have really struggled to make their mark in attack.
Carrico is forced to block a strike from Lallana as Liverpool come close once again.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Liverpool have the ball in the back of the net for a second time as Lovren heads home from a corner, but Sturridge is adjudged to have influenced play from close range!
Sevilla are desperate for the interval as they continue to struggle against Liverpool, who have been fired up since making the breakthrough. A second for Liverpool would make it so tough for Sevilla.
Better from Sevilla as Can is forced to head behind following a period of pressure from the Spanish outfit. That said, the resulting set piece comes to nothing and Lallana can clear down the field.
CHANCE! Another wonderful chance for Liverpool as Clyne delivers a wicked cross into the Sevilla box, but Sturridge just cannot make contact and Sevilla survive once again.
HALF-TIME: Liverpool 1-0 Sevilla
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Liverpool leading 1-0 courtesy of a 35th-minute effort from Sturridge, who used the outside of his foot to bend the ball past Soria. Sevilla actually started quite well, but are a touch fortunate to only be one goal behind.
STATS! Liverpool have just shaded the possession with 55%, while they have had five attempts - three of which were on target. Sevilla, however, have only had one attempt and that failed to test Mignolet in the Liverpool net. Just the one yellow to report and that came for Liverpool's Lovren in the 30th minute.
BENCH WATCH! Liverpool boss Klopp has three main attacking options on his bench tonight, with Benteke, Henderson and Origi all available. Sevilla, meanwhile, have the likes of Iborra, Konoplyanka and Llorente in reserve tonight. You sense that the Spanish side need to make a change!
RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Can Sevilla turn this game around in Basel? Let's find out! The La Liga side resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break. However, Sevilla had Konoplyanka and Llorente warming up at the break and it would not be a surprise to see those two in the next 15, 20 minutes here.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Sevilla (Gameiro)
Oh my word! Sevilla are level here as Mariano drives into the Liverpool box before drilling a low cross into Gameiro, who cannot miss from close range. Poor defending from Moreno there!
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Gameiro to score a second as the Sevilla striker races through on goal, but Toure comes across to make a stunning challenge. All Sevilla at the moment!
Liverpool have just managed to settle in the last minute or two, but Sevilla are full of energy in this second period and are intent on breaking. Lallana picks up decent space inside the Sevilla box after another smart cross from Clyne, but Carrico just about does enough to bundle it behind the goal!
Normally this type of match would tighten up at 1-1, but Sevilla and Liverpool are both committing numbers forward with each counter-attack and I would be surprised if we had seen the last of the goals in the 90 minutes. Origi seems to be getting ready to enter the frame for Liverpool here.
It is the Sevilla supporters that can be heard at the moment as their team continues to threaten in the final third. Mariano has been very, very lively down the right for Sevilla since the restart.
BOOKING! Vitolo (Sevilla) is booked for a late challenge on Lallana.
BOOKING! Banega (Sevilla) is booked for a late challenge on Toure.
Little over 30 minutes of normal time remaining and we are locked at 1-1 in Basel. Both teams have players warming up on the sidelines and it will be fascinating to see which manager makes the first move.
SAVE! Wonderful chance for Sevilla to score a second as Gameiro finds all sorts of time at the far post, but the striker cannot beat Mignolet from close range. What a chance there!
The tide has turned in this second period and Sevilla are looking the team more likely to make something happen in the final third. Gameiro and Banega continue to link in the final third here.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-2 Sevilla (Coke)
Stadium silenced! Sevilla have turned this game around as Vitolo's brilliant run ends with Coke sweeping one into the far corner. It is a wonderful strike from the Sevilla captain here!
Liverpool are going to make a change here and that is no surprise. Sevilla have been the better team since the restart and deserve to lead 2-1 with little over 20 minutes left of the final.
LIVERPOOL SUB! Fit-again Origi replaces Firmino for Liverpool.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-3 Sevilla (Coke)
Sevilla score a third in the 70th minute as Coke hammers home his second at the far post! Liverpool wanted offside and they seemed to have a good shout, but the goal stands, controversially!
BOOKING! Origi (Liverpool) is booked for a high challenge on Rami.
LIVERPOOL SUB! Allen replaces Lallana in Liverpool's second change.
Liverpool are still in this final, but they need to find a way of breaching this Sevilla defence, which has been strong in the second period. At the moment, Sevilla are winning this competition again!
SEVILLA SUB! Kolo replaces the injured Rami for Sevilla.
BOOKING! Rami (Sevilla) is booked for dissent.
Liverpool only need one goal to make a real contest of this in the final 10 minutes and you sense that we have not seen the last of the action here. Klopp looks nervous on the touchline as Coutinho sends one over the Sevilla crossbar. Not much of an atmosphere inside the stadium at the moment.
LIVERPOOL SUB! Benteke replaces Toure in Liverpool's final change.
BOOKING! Mariano (Sevilla) is booked for wasting time.
Soria gets down to keep out a strike from Sturridge as Sevilla keep their 3-1 lead in tact.
Liverpool have the chance to break as a Sevilla free kick comes to nothing, but Kolo is on hand to clear down the field after Sturridge fails to collect. Eventually Coke has the chance to strike on goal once again, but his effort is deflected wide of the post. What has happened to Coke in this game!
Gameiro breaks through once again, but this time the striker is offside. Not long left!
SEVILLA SUB! Iborra replaces Gameiro for Sevilla.
We are into the first of four additional minutes in Basel.
Sevilla are heading a third successive Europa League win, which is just incredible. It will also be their fifth trophy in total in this competition, which includes the UEFA Cup!
Vitolo bends one over the crossbar as Sevilla threaten again on the counter-attack.
SEVILLA SUB! Cristoforo replaces Banega for Sevilla.
BOOKING! Clyne (Liverpool) is booked for a poor challenge on Vitolo.
FULL-TIME: Liverpool 1-3 Sevilla
It is all over! Incredible scenes on the field as Sevilla celebrate yet another Europa League success. It is their third in succession and fifth in total. What a second-half performance from them here!
'Sevilla' are being scribed onto the Europa League trophy as Liverpool players hang their heads. Klopp has something to say to the referee about Sevilla's third goal, but that is done and dusted now. Sevilla are the 2016 Europa League winners and Emery can hardly contain himself here!
James Milner has just told BT Sport that his team 'did not turn up' in the second period, but is confident that Liverpool will come again. We will have more reaction from Basel as and when it comes!
That is just about it from me tonight. Sevilla are about to claim the trophy and Coke will lift it having scored a brace in the final, quite a story for him! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action!
