On this day 2016 – Liverpool lose to Sevilla in Europa League final

Liverpool lost to Sevilla in the Europa League final on this day in 2016 as Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of a first trophy on Merseyside were dashed.

Daniel Sturridge gave Liverpool a 35th-minute lead in Basel but the Spanish side rallied after the break to win 3-1 to secure their third consecutive triumph in the competition.

Kevin Gameiro started the fight 17 seconds into the second half before a brace from Coke completed the turnaround for Unai Emery’s team.

Liverpool had strong claims to a penalty, which was denied in the first period after Daniel Carrico appeared to cope when Roberto Firmino tried to put the ball past him.

They took the lead when Sturridge fired a great shot past David Soria with the outside of his left boot.

Sevilla found their way back into the game from the start after a ball into the penalty area was cleared only by Mariano Ferreira, who released the pass for Gameiro.

Liverpool never regained their momentum and Coke punished them when he steered in from the edge of the box in the 64th minute.

Just six minutes later, Coke nabbed his side’s third goal, firing from close range after the ball deflected towards him. Liverpool requested an offside but to no avail.

The result meant the Reds not only missed out on a return to the Champions League, but failed to qualify for European football at all since Klopp’s first season as manager.

Liverpool have finished eighth in the Premier League this season, behind Southampton and West Ham and 21 points behind champions Leicester.

But having also reached the Carabao Cup final, there has been significant progress under the German, who succeeded Brendan Rodgers last October.

They finished fourth and qualified for the Champions League the following year.

They then reached the final of Europe’s top competition in 2018 and won it in 2019 before claiming their maiden Premier League title the following season.