UEFA Europa League: Liverpool 1-3 Sevilla - 5 Talking Points
Liverpool’s dream run in the UEFA Europa League came to a crashing halt as they failed to secure the win against Sevilla in the Final of the Europa League at St. Jakob’s Park in Basel. The game began brightly as Liverpool went for the jugular, throwing several well-orchestrated attacks at Sevilla.
Daniel Sturridge finished with panache to put the ball past the Sevilla keeper and Liverpool into the lead towards the end of halftime. Liverpool went into the half time content with their performance. What followed typified the final in so many ways as a game of two halves.
Sevilla flew out of the blocks in the second half, blitzing in a goal within the opening 30 seconds of the second period. Gameiro equalized before Coke put Sevilla into the lead before long. Sevilla then worked out a fantastic goal to seal the game as Jurgen Klopp looked on in dismay.
Let’s have a look at the game’s talking points.
#1 Daniel Sturridge is World Class
You would be forgiven for having forgotten how good Daniel Sturridge really was over the course of the season. Having struggled with injuries for the best part of the year, he had to contend with the rise of Divock Origi for the rest of the season as he often found himself on the Liverpool bench.
Jurgen Klopp was rumored to have been not very pleased with Sturridge’s attitude in training and his lack of pressing on the pitch. Klopp fielded question after question on the English striker each game and the forward himself seemed to be fairly unhappy.
However, after re-establishing himself at the top of his game in the Liverpool starting XI, you want to see him prove exactly how good he is with a performance in a final. Make no mistake, Liverpool may have capitulated but Daniel Sturridge came out of the game having enhanced his reputation with a goal scored by him that may well remain in Liverpool fans’ memories for long even if the match itself would be too painful to remember.
Sturridge took the ball and shifted his weight to activate his favored left foot in a flash after driving in from Sevilla’s right-hand side into the box. In a matter of seconds, he drove in, shifted his weight to his right to stand and hit the ball with tremendous power and turn with the outside of his left boot.
The ball curled past Soria into the net. One finish spoke volumes of the player he is when fit, Liverpool’s best in fact.