Liverpool 1-3 Sevilla: Europa League final 2016 - as it happened

That is all for this live text, but stay tuned to IBTimes UK for post-match reaction from Basel.

We will also be back over the weekend to provide coverage of the 2016 FA Cup final between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Wembley, as well as England's first Euro warm-up friendly against Fatih Terim's Turkey.

Until then, goodnight.

As for Liverpool, a second final defeat in three months - not to mention a fifth in succession for Klopp as a manager - will come as a very painful blow. They impressed for the majority of that first half but ultimately paid the price for not going for the jugular when they were on top and some sloppy defending from the likes of Moreno.

This defeat coupled with an eighth-place finish in the Premier League means they will not play in either European competition next season. Many of their players will now need to shake off the disappointment and regroup with their respective national teams ahead of Euro 2016.

A fantastic second half from record-breakers Sevilla, who were too reserved before the interval but awoke from their slumber to turn the tide in devastating fashion. Gameiro is a striker in tremendous form and skipper Coke certainly did not look out of place operating in a more advanced position.

What a confidence boost this will be going into Sunday's Copa del Rey final against Barcelona at the Vicente Calderon. Emery's stock continues to grow amid reported interest from Everton despite that aforementioned away record.

Sevilla win the Europa League for the third consecutive season

Full-time

Liverpool 1-3 Sevilla

Liverpool's sense of frustration is summed up by a very poor challenge from Clyne on Vitolo that is deservedly punished with a yellow card.

Liverpool win a corner that is comfortably dealt with by Sevilla. Vitolo then fires an effort wide and Uruguayan midfielder Cristoforo comes on for Banega, who receives jubilant embraces from both Coke and Emery.

Four minutes of added time signalled by the fourth official. Liverpool do not look capable of making things interesting late on.

Gameiro's race is run. He shakes hands with Emery after being replaced by Iborra.

A free-kick floated in towards N'Zonzi is headed away by Lovren as far as Coke, whose latest shot is deflected wide. It's hard to believe that the Sevilla skipper normally operates as a right-back.

Gameiro looks to add his second goal of the night as Liverpool become stretched at the back.

We had a very rare sighting of Coutinho a few minutes ago when he blazed narrowly over the crossbar. The Brazilian has been anonymous throughout most of this game.

Sturridge also tries his luck from distance but fails to trouble Soria. Time is slipping away.

With Allen already on for Lallana, Klopp makes his final change by replacing Toure with Benteke. Liverpool need to throw the kitchen sink at Sevilla now.

Less than 10 minutes plus stoppage time for Liverpool to pull off a comeback akin to the one we saw in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan in Istanbul and stop Sevilla winning an unprecedented third straight title. The shift in momentum tonight has been quite something to behold.

Rami has injured himself while clearing the ball away from an energetic Origi. He signals that he needs to be replaced and eventually makes way for Kolodziejczak after being booked for his painfully slow walk-off.

Origi is the next to be cautioned for catching Rami with his elbow during an aerial challenge.

Confusion reigns in Basel as Coke scores his second goal in a matter of minutes at the back post. Liverpool appeal vigorously for an offside flag but the final two touches on the ball before it reached the scorer were from their players. It looks like the correct decision.

Klopp is incensed and remonstrates angrily with Lallana. Skrtel has also been booked for his protests on the sideline. This is all going horribly, horribly wrong for the Premier League side.

Goal: Liverpool 1-3 Sevilla (Coke)

Firmino is the man to make way for Origi. The 21-year-old Belgian forward had scored five times in as many games before his injury against Everton.

His first intervention is to prevent Krychowiak from aiming a header on target.

Origi is preparing to come on. Klopp will also be concerned about Toure, who is limping after a coming together with Gameiro. The experienced centre-back has been solid for Liverpool tonight.

To their credit, Sevilla have been outstanding since the break and they take the lead with a superb team goal. A flowing passing move that began in their own half involves the likes of Vitolo and Banega before captain Coke pops up to fire a precise first-time shot beyond Mignolet and into the bottom corner.

Is the trophy heading back to Sevilla yet again?

Goal: Liverpool 1-2 Sevilla (Coke)

A vital save from Mignolet keeps the scores level. A looping throw-in from the left is headed by N'Zonzi into the path of Gameiro, who rather shins his attempted volley and allows the 'keeper to tip over the crossbar.

Vitolo joins Lovren in the book by tripping Lallana. Banega is then retrospectively cautioned for an obvious foul on Toure.

Lovren has to be alert to deny the latest threat supplied by Gameiro. The prolific striker is coming alive after a quiet first half by his usual high standards.

Gameiro, who is only on standby for France ahead of Euro 2016, almost notches his second goal in quick succession only to be denied by a superb last-ditch sliding challenge from Toure.

Liverpool have been caught very cold here.

How is that for a fast start to the second half? Liverpool's concentration is left in the dressing room as a poor headed clearance from former Sevilla defender Moreno invites Mariano to attack.

The Brazilian right-back heads for the byline and nutmegs Moreno before playing a low ball across the box that drifts beyond the ineffective Lovren and is tapped home from close range by Gameiro for his eighth in the Europa League this season. Game on.

Goal: Liverpool 1-1 Sevilla (Kevin Gameiro)

Both sets of players emerge for the second 45. No substitutions from either manager at half-time.

How long before we see a change from Sevilla?

It wasn't the greatest of starts from Liverpool, but they have grown into this game and deservedly lead a Sevilla side that have yet to turn up or have a single shot on target. Not what you might expect from a team looking to win this competition for a third year in succession.

Sturridge's goal was one of real beauty and worthy of any major final. Klopp's only regret will be that his team are not further ahead at the break. Surely the defending champions will not be so tepid and passive in the second half? Emery also needs to get Escudero some help defending that left flank. Vitolo is not tracking back and most of Liverpool's attacks are coming from that area.

Half-time

Liverpool 1-0 Sevilla

Clyne whips a dangerous low ball across the face of the six-yard box that just evades Sturridge and Firmino. The latter looked to have strayed into an offside position, however.

One half of St Jakob-Park erupts again when Lovren heads Milner's corner beyond Soria and into the back of the net. However, Sturridge's movement towards the ball from an offside position distracts the goalkeeper and results in a flag. Had he stayed still, then that goal would have counted.

Before that, Clyne took advantage of yet more space down Sevilla's left and pulled possession back for Lallana to produce a shot that was deflected behind by Carrico.

Liverpool break the deadlock thanks to a stunning finish from Sturridge. After a long pass from Lovren, Lallana feeds Firmino before the ball is helped towards the England striker by Coutinho.

Back peddling into his own penalty area, Mariano continues to concede ground with one eye on the run of Moreno and Sturridge responds by unleashing an unstoppable curling shot with the outside of his left boot. Brilliant.

Goal: Liverpool 1-0 Sevilla (Daniel Sturridge)

Sevilla apply pressure following a corner and Gameiro gets creative by producing a well-executed overhead kick that goes wide of Migolet's right-hand post.

Lovren scythes down Gameiro in front of Klopp and is punished with the first yellow card of the evening. Incensed, the French striker tries to square up to his opponent but the row is quickly defused.

An attempted cross from Moreno looks to be heading harmlessly out of play before Rami brushes it with his hand. The penalty shouts are muted but that was risky. No corner given, either.

Lallana charges down the right flank before cutting inside and slotting a dangerous low pass beyond Carrico and into the path of Sturridge. He immediately goes to shoot but Soria is out quickly to close the angle.

Escudero is now down and in need of treatment after being caught by stand-in skipper Milner.

Not much going on at the moment as Liverpool look to create another opening. The tricky Banega has been Sevilla's main threat but as of yet there has been no service to Gameiro.

Firmino hits the ground after trying to cut inside Carrico and appeals for a penalty after the ball appeared to strike the hand of the experienced former Reading defender. Nothing given.

Liverpool go close when Clyne's centre is headed back across Soria at the back post by Sturridge, who had peeled away from Rami. Carrico gets across to hook the ball away before it goes over the line.

Liverpool are giving away a few early free-kicks here but, luckily for them, Sevilla cannot seem to deliver any quality balls into the penalty area. A latest effort from Escudero is easily claimed by Mignolet.

The first shot in anger comes from Can after the German powerfully dispatches a loose pass from Clyne meant for Sturridge. Soria, who is Sevilla's back-up goalkeeper in La Liga but always starts in this competition, beats it away.

Can concedes a free-kick with a clumsy foul on Banega, but the Argentine's low free-kick is easily cut out.

He also wanted a yellow card but Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson did not oblige. Both sets of fans in good voice thus far.

After a bizarre opening ceremony and the usual Uefa anthem, we are underway in Liverpool's first European final since defeat to AC Milan in 2007. They are kicking from left to right kitted out all in red.

Sevilla are wearing their white home strips.

Eyewitness reports across social media have suggested that fighting broke out a little bit earlier between some fans stationed behind one of the goals. An initial lack of segregation sounds like it may have caused one or two problems.

You will likely be hearing more about that over the coming days, regardless of the result.

The atmosphere looks to be building nicely in Basel, where most fans have had all day to soak up the pleasant weather and pre-match atmosphere.

Just over 10 minutes remaining until kick-off...

Much of the focus building up to this high-profile encounter has centred on Uefa's choice of stadium. As the 112th largest ground in Europe with a capacity of 38,512, many fans have voiced their anger that St Jakob-Park can be considered as a suitable venue for a European cup final featuring two very well supported teams.

Defending their decision earlier this month, European football's governing body said:

The selection process of stadiums for the UEFA club competition finals takes into account various factors, with capacity being merely one of them. Europe's largest stadiums are usually selected to host the UEFA Champions League final, and UEFA tends to select slightly smaller, top-quality venues for the UEFA Europa League final. This means UEFA can give more of its national associations an opportunity to host a club final, and gives fans across Europe the chance to experience a major final in their home nation.

For example, in the last few seasons, we have taken the UEFA Europa League final to Dublin (Porto v Braga in 2011), Bucharest (Athletic Club v Atlético Madrid in 2012), Amsterdam, (Benfica v Chelsea in 2013), Turin (Benfica v Sevilla in 2014) and Warsaw (Dnipro v Sevilla in 2015).

Evidence from the recent finals suggests that stadium capacity and ticket allocation for supporters of the two finalists have been very satisfactory. For those questioning the size of the stadium for this particular final, we would like to note that the number of supporters requesting final tickets varies from club to club, and of course it is impossible to predict in advance which clubs will reach the final.

As they crossed the Premier League finishing line in eighth and two places outside of Europa League qualifying territory, unlike Sevilla Liverpool's participation on the continent next season depends on tonight's result.

Win and they will book their place in the group stages of the 2016-17 Champions League. Lose and they will be left with no choice but to focus on domestic matters during Klopp's first full campaign in charge.

Sevilla, who would become the first team ever to win the Uefa Cup/Europa League in three consecutive years with a win tonight, finished seventh in La Liga and secured a place in next season's third qualifying round after losing seven of their last nine league games. They will also meet champions Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final at Atletico Madrid's Vincente Calderon on 22 May.

Like opposite number Klopp, manager Unai Emery swapped out many of his key players in last weekend's 3-1 defeat to Athletic Bilbao and reverses those changes here. In goal, David Soria resumes cup duties ahead of Sergio Rico and only French centre-back Adil Rami retains his defensive place with David Carmona, Diego Gonzalez and Timothee Kolodziejczak replaced by Mariano, Daniel Carrico and Sergio Escudero.

Grzegorz Krychowiak partners Steven N'Zonzi in midfield, with Sebastian Cristoforo dropping out. Yevhen Konoplyanka, who came close to joining Liverpool from Dnipro in January 2014 only for the deal to collapse at the final hurdle, is moved to the bench along with Vicente Iborra to make room for Vitolo and Ever Banega. Coke is in for Curro and leading scorer Kevin Gameiro replaces Juan Munoz.

Sevilla: Soria, Mariano, Rami, Carrico, Escudero, N'Zonzi, Krychowiak, Coke, Banega, Vitolo, Gameiro

Subs: Rico, Kolodziejczak, Iborra, Cristoforo, Pareja, Konoplyanka, Llorente

Both regular captain Jordan Henderson and previously in-form striker Divock Origi travelled to Basel, despite being considered questionable after knee and ankle ligament injuries respectively.

Henderson's chances of at least making the bench looked positive after he made his comeback from a five-week lay-off as a 64th-minute replacement for Ibe at The Hawthorns, but Origi has not been included in any match-day squad since finding himself on the receiving end of a woeful challenge from Everton centre-back Ramiro Funes Mori during last month's Merseyside derby thrashing at Anfield.

Klopp said during his final press conference that he would wait until after Liverpool's final two training sessions before making a decision over Origi's fitness, while Henderson admitted that he did not expect to start. As it is, both players are listed among tonight's substitutes.

Klopp has rotated his side freely over recent weeks to cope with the dual demands posed by a rigorous Premier League schedule and exhausting knockout ties against Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal. Not a single player that started last weekend's 1-1 top-flight finale at West Brom retains their place in the XI tonight as the charismatic German understandably reverts to his strongest line-up.

First-choice goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is restored ahead of Adam Bogdan, while Jon Flanagan and Brad Smith are replaced at full-back by Nathaniel Clyne and Alberto Moreno. In the absence of the suspended Mamadou Sakho, Dejan Lovren and Kolo Toure renew their central defensive partnership by ousting Lucas and Martin Skrtel.

In midfield, young hopefuls Kevin Stewart and Cameron Brannagan make way for Emre Can and James Milner. Adam Lallana is in for Joe Allen, while Brazilian duo Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho replace Jordon Ibe and Sheyi Ojo. As expected, Daniel Sturridge leads the line instead of Christian Benteke.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Toure, Lovren, Moreno, Can, Milner, Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho, Sturridge

Subs: Ward, Benteke, Henderson, Lucas, Allen, Origi, Skrtel

Sevilla, meanwhile, have been by far the tournament's most outstanding team in recent years with all four of their titles coming in the last 10 seasons. The Andalusians hammered Steve McClaren's Middlesbrough back in 2006 and backed that up the very next year by beating domestic rivals Espanyol on spot-kicks at Hampden Park.

If winning it back-to-back once was not quite enough, they did so again in 2014 and 2015 by seeing off Benfica and Ukraine's Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. The former of those victories came via another penalty shootout, while the latter was secured thanks to a brace from Carlos Bacca.

Both of tonight's teams have significant pedigree in Europe's secondary club competition, with Liverpool having won it on three separate occasions beginning with a two-legged victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1973 that came during the latter stages of Bill Shankly's reign.

They repeated the feat under successor Bob Paisley against Club Brugge three years later. Their last triumph came in 2001, when Gerard Houllier's side outlasted Alaves in a nine-goal thriller thanks to an extra-time golden goal OG from Delfi Geli at Westfalenstadion in Dortmund.

After failing to reach a single cup final during the three-and-a-half year reign of Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool contest their second in just three months under Jurgen Klopp tonight as they face La Liga outfit Sevilla at St Jakob-Park.

February's Capital One Cup showpiece brought a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Manchester City after a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Wembley, but the Reds will be more confident of victory here against a side that have won this competition twice in as many years but have struggled badly for wins away from the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán this term.

IBTimes UK will have live coverage of this evening's eagerly-anticipated clash in the picturesque Swiss city of Basel, beginning with all the latest teams news and confirmed line-ups. You won't miss a kick with us.