just as there is no Europe for his players next season now either.

In winning the competition for the third successive season, Sevilla booked their passage into the Champions League to leave Klopp, who has now lost his last fi ve fi nals and two this season, drowning his sorrows when he had proclaimed himself ready to party. He will awake with a hangover regardless. The manner in which Liverpool capitulated, conceding within 18 seconds of the restart and never regaining their senses, remarkable for a group of players he had come to learn to trust in those heady victories over Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund en route to the Europa League fi nal.

The sheer number of Liverpool fans who had converged here, fl ags draped in every corner of this compact stadium , had waited for a performance to unfold from the start .

A 30- yard pass from James Milner released Roberto Firmino and as he cut into the penalty area beyond the fl at- footed Daniel Carrico, the centre- back’s right arm moved to the ball before the rest of his body sent his rival tumbling.

Firmino instantly tapped his hand, seeking a spot- kick, yet referee Jonas Eriksson was unimpressed. Klopp frowned on the sidelines.

Liverpool, a blur of industry and enterprise which the Spaniards struggled to keep up with, boasted the brighter start but not the goal.

That was to alter in a moment of brilliance from Sturridge whose ability to conjure something out of nothing was never more evident that in the 35th minute.

Firmino and Philippe Coutinho transferred the impetus of a move from the right with the ball reaching the striker on the left- hand edge of the area. Sevilla right- back Mariano Ferreira approached and then