Liverpool choke as Coke hands Sevilla Europa League hat-trick

The Reds were authoritative in the first half against Sevilla but never recovered after Kevin Gameiro scored early in the second period, losing their belief and shape Jurgen Klopp had insisted the Europa League final did not
represent pressure for Liverpool but an opportunity. For 45 minutes at St Jakob-Park, they seemed to have seized it, and decided this was to be another glorious night to be painted
red.


Daniel Sturridge’s outside-of-the-left foot wonder strike on 35 minutes had the Premier League outfit ahead in Basel, and when the half-time whistle blew, they might have been
three goals to the good. Instead, at full-time, Emre Can’s shirt was soaked in tears as the scoreboard read 3-1 in favour of Sevilla.


Philippe Coutinho could barely keep his head up, and Kolo Toure had to resume his role of comforting team-mates during the depths of despondency.


Eleven years ago, Liverpool provided 15 minutes that shook the world against Milan in Istanbul to win their fifth European Cup.


Sevilla needed just 17 seconds to undo the
Reds in Basel and land a hat-trick of Europa League titles.


The second half had just kicked off when Mariano capitalised on a poor clearance from Alberto Moreno, before getting beyond the Liverpool defence and rolling the ball across goal for Kevin Gameiro to score. It was as easy as ABC for the lethal France forward.


Klopp would have expected his men, who were so dominant before the interval, to strike back. Instead, they were stretched, scrambling and unsure of themselves, which encouraged Sevilla. The Liga side’s second was inevitable
and was supplied after the hour mark as Ever Banega shuffled and the ball was eventually slipped to Coke, who. struck from the edge of the box.