The stakes will be high on a cold Wednesday night at Basel, Switzerland when Liverpool will clash with Sevilla for the Europa League grand finale. Apart from the Europa League, Sevilla are in finals of the Copa del Rey while Liverpool lost the Capital One Cup final against Manchester City earlier in this season. Surely, it won’t be a cakewalk for either of the teams and both will throw everything at Basel to taste Europa League success.
Jurgen Klopp has done an excellent job since taking over the reins at Liverpool. In his debut season, Klopp has guided his team into two finals, which never looked on the cards. The Capital One Cup final has been done and dusted but a European trophy could well make it up, thereby starting the ‘Klopp Era’.
Let us have a look on five reasons why Liverpool can win Europe’s second-tier competition.
1. Dynamic manager:
Jurgen Klopp’s appointment by Liverpool was received with a lot of appreciation from the fans as well as the pundits. And rightly so, the German has delivered big-time in his first season, transforming the mood at Liverpool and its fans.
Klopp has no hands in bringing any of the current players but the players in a short span of time have understood his philosophy. Out of all, former Southampton duo Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren have rediscovered their very best under the German.
However, their biggest test lies in front of them on Wednesday and Klopp will be excited for a fantastic showing.
2. The art of 'Gegenpressing':
Klopp's philosophy of 'Gegenpressing' developed his former club Borussia Dortmund into one of the powerhouses of Europe. It will certainly take time for the Liverpool players to master the art, but the seeds have already been sown.
E.g: Villarreal were ripped apart by Liverpool's high pressing in the semi-final second leg at Anfield. The fast-attacking football coupled with aggressiveness saw the downfall of Villarreal. Although, Sevilla are a better and much more composed side than the ‘Yellow Submarine’, but it will be interesting to see how the Spanish side will counter Liverpool’s direct football.
3. Fan support:
Liverpool have a huge fan-base all over the world. The recent last-minute win over Dortmund at Anfield saw the supporters go absolutely ballistic. These are the ones who saw the team pull of a miracle in 2005 Champions League finale against AC Milan in Istanbul, and following Dortmund’s beating, they are charged up to see their team bring a European trophy after 11 long years.
It is also reported that the Liverpool council have arranged for a trophy parade after the match. This shows the optimism and belief the club has acquired since Klopp took over.
4. Emre Can and skipper Jordan Henderson are back:
Emre Can’s return from injury ahead of schedule for the second-leg against Villarreal at Anfield was a big boost to the club. He sits just ahead of the back four, breaks up the attacks and sprays long balls to start a counter-attack. When fully fit, Can is an asset to the team and Klopp knows how to make the best use out of him.
Another boost for the club is the return of skipper Jordan Henderson. Since signing from Sunderland, Henderson has developed into a vital cog for the team. He is an essential figure of this club, and has been given the armband following the departure of Steven Gerrard.
Ecstatic with his inclusion in the Euro 2016 squad, the midfielder will bring a calming influence in the game, which his side will need to sustain nervy moments.
5. The form of Daniel Sturridge:
Daniel Sturridge is one of the talented and deadliest finishers of English football. His appetite to score coupled with the fascinating record makes him a player Sevilla should be wary off. But the striker’s fitness has let him down more than often, and despite being injured half the season, Klopp has backed and handled him with care.
However, the England international was given a role in the bench for the first leg at Villarreal, but he showed at Anfield what he is capable of. Back to full fitness and with Divock Origi a doubt, Sturridge has hit form at the best time, which will see him lead the attack at Basel.
No matter how the scripts are written in the finale at St.Jakob Park, Klopp’s men will come hard at their opposition Sevilla, play attacking and fearless football to claim the prized Europa League.
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