Juergen Klopp, who has breathed new life into Liverpool in his seven months in charge, would seal his place in the hearts of the club’s supporters if he pulls off victory over Sevilla in today’s Europa League final.
It would bring Liverpool’s first European trophy since the famous fightback against AC Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul in 2005.
Klopp conjured up the spirit of that historic win in the extraordinary quarter-final performance over his former club Borussia Dortmund when the Reds turned a 3-1 halftime deficit in the second leg into a stunning 4-3 victory in stoppage time.
Sevilla, current holders, might be a different matter though. Klopp will be up against coach Unai Emery, whose side have won the last two editions of the tournament and hold a record four UEFA Cup/Europa League triumphs, all in the last decade. Sevilla had an easier path to the final, beating Shakhtar Donetsk 5-3 on aggregate in the semis, although they needed a penalty shootout to overcome fellow Spaniards Athletic Bilbao in the last eight.
Sevilla have endured a disappointing domestic campaign, finishing seventh in La Liga and failing to win a single away game, the only team in Europe’s top five leagues to do so.
Liverpool’s season has not been dissimilar. Klopp’s team have ended in eighth place in the Premier League, their lowest finish since 2012.
The charismatic German has proved a master of the big occasion, however, knocking out Manchester United and Villarreal as well as Dortmund with his trademark game plan of high intensity pressing. He will be looking for the same high octane performance against Sevilla.
“There will be challenges all over the pitch. There will be a lot of fight, for sure; you cannot win a cup with just a little bit of playing football,” Klopp told UEFA.com.
“You have to show that you’re really ready for the big moments.”
Klopp must decide whether to start with captain Jordan Henderson, who only returned from a knee injury by playing half an hour as a substitute in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion.
Emery, who has no new injury concerns from the semi-final, is banking on his team’s mental resilience to become the first coach to win three consecutive Europa League trophies.
“The fact that this is our third consecutive final demonstrates how focused and hungry we have been to do well in the Europa League, and win it,” he said. “That means competing - standing up to be counted throughout the 90 minutes.”  
Liverpool midfielder James Milner believes that winning the Europa League is important in its own right and not just because it offers a back door to the Champions League next season.
European soccer’s governing body UEFA have tried to drum up interest in its much-maligned second string club competition by guaranteeing the winners a place in the following season’s Champions League.
However, Liverpool, who risk missing the Champions League for the second season in a row if they do not beat Sevilla, insisted they were only looking to today’s final against the Spaniards.
“Everyone wants to play in the Champions League but if you look back on a career with no trophies and six seasons in the Champions League, it’s not the same,” Milner told a news conference. “When you look back on your career, it’s all about winning trophies and to win any European trophy is a massive achievement.”
“Some of the ties we have had this season would have looked at home in the Champions League,” he added.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp praised the strength of La Liga saying it was clearly the world’s strongest league.
“It’s the best football country I would say. They have a combination of good managers, scouting, good education of players.
“There are a lot of reasons, but at this moment La Liga is the highest level and it is the job for everybody else to reach this level and pass this.”

Liverpool’s Lallana pours cold water on Spurs switch
Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana has denied reports that he could move to Tottenham Hotspur for a reunion with his former manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Lallana, who played under Pochettino at Southampton, said he was enjoying the
best football of his career under German boss Juergen Klopp, whose team face Sevilla in the Europa League final on Wednesday night.
“I’ve got three years left on my contract,” Lallana told British media when asked about reports that Tottenham could bid for him in the close season.
“It was only last season that people might have read I was leaving and thought, ‘Yes, let’s get him out.’ But football changes very quickly and I’m really enjoying my football under this manager.
“I have always had a good relationship with Pochettino. I am delighted he has had a very good season and I wanted him to win the league. But it is going to be very difficult (to leave Liverpool).
“I am at a massive club here and playing some of my best football for the club, getting to cup finals; it is definitely just speculation.”