EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL
THERE was the skulking figure of Mario Balotelli playing in attack, Javier Manquillo and Jose Enrique were deployed at full-back and Rickie Lambert was sent on to try to save the day. Liverpool’s last visit to St Jakob-Park continues to stand out for all the wrong reasons but serves to highlight just how far they have come. Rewind to October 1, 2014, and the insipid 1-0 defeat by Swiss side Basle was representative of a pattern that started to creep in during other performances under manager Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool were struggling to come to terms with the loss of Luis Suarez and the folly of buying Balotelli was exposed as he strolled around on a night when Marco Streller scored the winning goal.
Afterwards captain Steven Gerrard was scathing following a performance that was the antithesis of everything they now stand for under Jurgen Klopp.
“We were too soft all over the pitch and they wanted it more, which is hard to say but is the truth,” said Gerrard.
Of those who started the Champions League group game, Simon Mignolet, Dejan Lovren and Philippe Coutinho are likely to be the only ones who make the cut again. Adam Lallana, who came on as a substitute, will start and recognises the significance.
“I remember that game,” he said. “It brings you back to that season and just how difficult it was for one reason or another.
“Maybe from losing that game against Basle to going back and winning a trophy there would be a massive turnaround in a year and a half. We need to make sure it happens.”
LIVERPOOL: