Liverpool endured a heartbreak in the finals of the UEFA Europa League as Unai Emery’s Sevilla completely overpowered Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in one-half of sensational football at the St. Jakob-Park in Basel.
Liverpool took the lead in the first half after a sensational finish from Daniel Sturridge, which saw the ball curl into the back of the net. The Reds completely dominated the first half but were not able to find the back of the net again.
Sevilla came out with a blitz in the second half with Kevin Gameiro leveling things up within 30 seconds of the second half and then subsequent goals from Coke saw Sevilla move into an unassailable lead. The game ended 1-3 to Sevilla who lifted the trophy for the third time in a row.
Let’s have a look at the player ratings.
Liverpool :
Simon Mignolet – 4/10
Simon Mignolet made a fantastic reflex save in the first half but capitulated in the second as he barely looked confident of keeping his goal intact. He could’ve done better for the last two goals.
Nathaniel Clyne – 6/10
Nathaniel Clyne was amongst Liverpool’s best players in the first half as he marauded forward at will and created many chances. He was completely lost in the second half as Reds’ defence crumbled.
Dejan Lovren– 4/10
Dejan Lovren looked solid in the first half even after he was booked harshly for a challenge on a Sevilla player. In the second half, he looked like a rabbit caught in front of a speeding car. His goal in the first half was disallowed for Daniel Sturridge interfering from an offside position after Dejan hammered in a header from a corner.
Kolo Toure – 6/10
Kolo Toure was Liverpool’s best player on the night and it seemed he could see Liverpool through. When the scores were level and Gameiro was set into space, he came galloping from nowhere to take the ball away from him. Alas! Liverpool unraveled in front of his eyes.
Alberto Moreno – 2/10
Alberto Moreno may just have put the nail into his own coffin with this performance as he was completed ripped apart by the Sevilla players defensively. Also, he did little going forward and seemed completely off the game’s pace.
Emre Can- 5/10
Emre Can was imperious in the first half but went missing in the second half completely as Sevilla overran Liverpool in midfield.
James Milner - 5/10
James Milner seemed to be all over the pitch in the first half as his work rate and pressing kept Liverpool ticking. However, he was anonymous in the second half.
Philippe Coutinho – 4/10
Philippe Coutinho chose the worst possible game to go missing. He was hardly on the ball all game in both the halves.
Adam Lallana – 5/10
Adam Lallana offered a lot of hard work and drive. Perhaps one of the only players to come out of the game with some credit.
Roberto Firmino – 5/10
Roberto Firmino was incredible with his pressing from the front in the first half as he hustled and harried the opposition. One of the more anonymous players in the second half.
Daniel Sturridge – 6/10
Daniel Sturridge comes out of this game with his reputation as a big-game player enhanced. The final saw a fitting goal as Sturridge came up with a sublime finish. However, he had practically no service towards the end.
Substitutes
Divock Origi – 5/10
Divock Origi came in close to 70 minutes into the game and got booked for using his elbows to launch himself into the air. He could hardly affect the game without due service.
Joe Allen - 5/10
Joe Allen came on in the 73rd minute and for the time he was out there, he did switch play better but was forced to stay deep as Sevilla kept attacking.
Christian Benteke– N/A
Christian Benteke came on in the 83rd minute but hardly had any time to have any impact on the game.
Sevilla
David Soria – 6/10
David Soria had little to do all game but played his part except for the goal, which in all honesty, was unstoppable.
Mariano Ferreira – 8/10
One of Sevilla’s best players going forward on the night, Mariano Ferreira also didn’t break a sweat dealing with fellow Brazilian, Coutinho. His drive, guile and energy going forward completely unsettled Alberto Moreno and it was his incredible driving run forward that created the leveler after half time.
Adil Rami – 6/10
Adil Rami led a charmed life in the opening half as shouts of handball kept flying at Sevilla’s defenders in the box. However, in the second half, Rami and his partner snuffed out any small chance Liverpool created. He was substituted after picking up a knock later on.
Daniel Carrico– 6/10
Daniel Carrico faced a barrage of Liverpool pressure as he handled the ball in the box at one point, only for the referee to come to his rescue. He was solid otherwise.
Sergio Escudero – 6/10
Sergio Escudero could barely deal with an in-form Clyne in the first half but grew into it as the game wore on.
Grzegorz Krychowiak – 7/10
Krychowiak had a fantastic second half as he ticked play magnificently while keeping Liverpool’s attacking play in check. He was a little off in the first half.
Steven N’Zonzi – 6/10
N’Zonzi struggled in the first half but was solid in the second half as Liverpool could barely get past Sevilla’s holding midfielders.
Machin Vitolo– 7/10
Machin Vitolo seemed to have trouble tracking Clyne in the first half but remained a viable threat owing to his dribbling and drive. In the second half, he made merry on his side of the pitch as Liverpool capitulated.
Ever Banega – 7/10
Ever Banega looked completely stifled in the first half but became the focal point for all good play by Sevilla in the second half as the Andalucian outfit took Liverpool to the sword.
Coke – 8/10
After a bit of a silent first half, Coke roared to life in the second as he kept troubling Liverpool all around and made merry at the expense of Can. He scored the two goals that handed Sevilla the trophy, one of which was sublimely worked out by the interplay between him and the other Sevilla forwards.
Kevin Gameiro– 8/10
One of the few Sevilla players who threatened all game, Gameiro trouble the Liverpool defenders all night and was incredible with his pace and power. He scored the leveler and could’ve put Sevilla into the lead had Kolo Toure not intervened at the very end of his run at Liverpool’s goal.
Substitutes
Timothee Kolodziejczak – 6/10
Timothee Kolodziejczak came in for an injured Adil Rami and kept things steady at the back for the 15 odd minutes that he played.
Vicente Iborra– N/A
Iborra came on in the 89th minute.
Sebastian Cristoforo – N/A
Cristoforo came on in the second minute of added time.
