Europa League final, St Jakob Park - Liverpool 1 (Sturridge 35) Sevilla 3 (Gameiro 46, Coke 64, 70).
Sevilla produced a stirring second-half fightback to claim a historic third Europa League triumph in a row and condemn Liverpool to a trophyless first season under Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds had hoped to put an eighth-place Premier League finish and League Cup final heartache behind them by winning Europe's secondary competition for the fourth time and in doing so, snare a place in next season's Champions League. And it looked like it was going to be their night too, as Daniel Sturridge's sublime strike with the outside of the foot gave them a deserved lead at the interval.
The Merseysiders were buoyant but knew they had missed openings to be even further ahead and when the game restarted they were made to pay within 17 seconds as Kevin Gameiro netted from close range after woeful defending from Alberto Moreno, who endured a torrid night against his former club.
Coke celebrates after scoring the third goal for Sevilla - Reuters
The momentum was now with the Spanish side and Coke completed the turnaround with a stunning first-time finish just past the hour before the full-back turned winger added a second to seal the victory.
Liverpool were up against a similar scenario to the one they faced the last time they won a European final in Istanbul back in 2005. But this time they never looked like pulling off a sensational recovery to make 3-3 and force extra-time as Klopp fell to a fifth straight cup final defeat to ensure the season ultimately ended in disappointment.
TALKING POINT
Klopp making losing finals a habit, but will soon banish that hoodoo with Liverpool
There has been a growing sense throughout the football world that Klopp has transformed Liverpool's fortunes in just seven months at the helm and a victory here would have been concrete proof that he is the right man to lead them back to former glories. It didn't transpire and he suffered a disappointing fifth straight loss in cup finals as Sevilla outclassed the Reds in the second half.
If anything, it should convince the German of the surgery he needs to conduct on his squad to turn them into winners. Lifting this trophy would have led to Champions League qualification and while it is a blow to miss out on a place amongst Europe's elite, he will be confident he can still attract the right calibre of players to take the Reds to new heights. It's been a rollercoaster start and he's had a fair few lows, but it seems more than fair to suggest Klopp will soon shrug off this run of final defeats and lead the Merseysiders to success in the not-too-distant future.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Coke (Sevilla). The defender turned winger had not scored in the Europa League until tonight, but made up for it with a match-winning double. A constant menace to Liverpool's defence he played a key role alongside Vitolo, Banega and Gameiro in snatching the initiative away from the Reds in the second half.
PLAYER RATINGS
LIVERPOOL: Mignolet 7, Clyne 6, Moreno 4, Lovren 6, Toure 7, Can 6, Milner 6, Lallana 6, Firmino 5, Coutinho 5, Sturridge 6. Subs: Origi 5, Allen 5, Benteke n/a.
SEVILLA: Soria 7, Mariano 7, Rami 6, Carrico 6, Escudero 6, Krychowiak 6, N'Zonzi 6, Coke 8, Banega 7, Vitolo 8, Gameiro 7. Subs: Kolodziejczak 5, Iborra n/a, Cristoforo n/a.
KEY MOMENTS
12' - PENALTY SHOUT! Firmino tries to force his way into the area from the right and sees the ball nudged by the arm of Carrico. The Brazilian forward screams for a spot-kick but the referee waves away his appeal.
18' - LIVERPOOL CHANCE!
Sturridge makes a clever run into space on the right of the area but can't convert Lallana's slide-rule pass from a tight angle as Soria comes out well to block.
32' - SEVILLA CHANCE! Coke helps a deep corner back into the middle where Gameiro reacts to thunder an overhead kick just wide of Mignolet's right-hand post. Great effort.
Sevilla's Coke, right, scores his side's third goal against Liverpool - PA Sport
35' - GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 SEVILLA. Liverpool lead! It's Daniel Sturridge, who else? The striker receives a pass from Coutinho just inside the area and curls an outside of the foot effort into the far corner. Outstanding finish.
46' - GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-1 SEVILLA. The holders are level within seconds of the restart. It's Gameiro who gets the equaliser, tucking home from close range after Mariano outfoxed Moreno and rolled it across the six-yard box.
60' - SEVILLA CHANCE! A long throw on the left is flicked on by Steven N'Zonzi for Gameiro who snatches at his shot and is denied by Mignolet from eight yards out. He should have scored.
64' - GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-2 SEVILLA. The holders have turned it around and now lead 2-1. Wonderful build up from Vitolo who exchanges a couple of one-twos before weaving towards the edge of the box where Coke arrives to sweep a first-time shot into the far corner. Brilliant goal.
70' - GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-3 SEVILLA. Coke grabs the third and it's surely curtains for Liverpool. The Spaniard is left in acres of space on the right of the area and he duly drills a low effort into the net via a touch off Mignolet. Game over.
Kevin Gameiro celebrates after scoring the first goal for Sevilla - Reuters
Daniel Sturridge is the first English player to score in the Europa League/UEFA Cup final since Robbie Fowler in 2001.
Kevin Gameiro has been directly involved in nine Sevilla goals (7 goals, 2 assists) in his last six UEFA Europa League matches.
Sevilla had 11 shots vs Liverpool, with all but one of them coming in the second half.
Sevilla are the first team since Bayern Munich (1974-1976, European Cup) to win three major UEFA competitions in a row.
Coke is the third Spanish player to score a brace in a #UEL/UEFA Cup final, after Javi Moreno (2001) and Sebastián Losada (1988).
MATCH IN A TWEET
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