Liverpool head into the Quarter Final of the Europa League knowing their season is hanging perilously in the balance. A draw to Manchester United at Old Trafford was far from perfect and means the pursuit of a Premier League title in Jurgen Klopp’s last season is now out of their hands. If Arsenal and Manchester City manage to capitalise on those drop points however, the Europa League provides a gateway for silverware to see off the German’s swansong with a trophy.
Throughout the competition Liverpool have flexed their muscles in Europe, comfortably cruising through the group stages before beating Sparta Praha 11-2 on aggregate as a real statement of intent in the Europa League. They now take on Atalanta at Anfield, who sit sixth in Serie A and will be the strongest opponent the Reds will have faced on their road to Dublin for the final in May.
Despite using the Europa League as a platform to give fringe players and youth a chance, you’d imagine at this point in the season, and with only a maximum of 13 games remaining in the German’s tenure, that Klopp takes the competition seriously and starts the big guns. The latest betting offers in the UK market reflects Liverpool's strong position, evident through their status as even money favourites in the Europa League outright markets.
Klopp reached the final in his first year on Merseyside but fell short to Sevilla in Basel 3-1. Before he leaves he will surely want to add another trophy to the Champions Wall back at Anfield, and provide the fans with another great memory in Europe. The Reds have shared some fantastic times in the continent’s secondary competition, and with that in mind, let’s look at Liverpool’s best moments in the Europa League. Read on to find out more.
Houlier’s treble winners
Having dominated the majority of the 1970s and 80s, including winning two UEFA Cup titles - the Europa League’s original name before changing in 2010 - it may have come as a surprise to Liverpool fans that the 90s were so sparse on trophies. However, the turn of the millennium represented fresh ideas as the late Gérard Houllier assembled a talented side that would compete for the Premier League while also winning a treble of League Cup, FA Cup, and Europa League.
Michael Owen spearheaded a side that also featured the likes of Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler, Danny Murphy, Emile Heskey, and Jamie Carragher that would achieve so much in the 2000/01 season. Throughout the European run, the Reds defeated a Barcelona side with Pep Guardiola in, before meeting further Spanish opposition in the final in Deportivo Alaves.
The final in Germany’s Westfalenstadion was a classic, with Liverpool winning 5-4 on the night after the game went to extra time. An own goal from Alaves defender Delfí Geli prevented a penalty shootout, with the Golden Goal rule coming into play in the 116th minute. It was Liverpool’s first European title since 1984 and was thoroughly deserved in an emotional rollercoaster.
A hat-trick hero
The early 2010s were a tough time to be a Liverpool fan. With Roy Hodgson struggling to make an impact as manager, one of his saving graces at Anfield was from the 2010/11 Europa League campaign at the start of Fenway Sports Group’s ownership. John Henry was in the stands to watch a magic night at Anfield as Liverpool beat Napoli 3-1.
The result was defined by Gerrard, who came off the bench to score a hattrick in front of the Kop and earn a standing ovation as the Reds overcame the Italian opposition. It was a Liverpool side that included the likes of Paul Konchesky, Christian Poulsen, David Ngog, Jay Spearing, and Milan Jovanović - hardly a side any bookmakers would fancy to go and win the competition like Klopp’s cohort this term.
Dortmund comeback
Perhaps the game that put Klopp on the map was when his old side Borussia Dortmund came to town and provided one of the best moments in Anfield’s history. Having gone to Germany in the first leg of the 2016 Quarter Final, Thomas Tuchel took Dortmund to Merseyside and started emphatically, with a star-studded side taking a quick 2-0 lead on the night.
The spirit of Anfield shone through and even when Marco Reus added a third to cancel out Divock Origi’s strike at the start of the second half, the Kop roared and goals from Phillipe Coutinho, Mamadou Sakho, and a late header from Dejan Lovren sent the ground into raptures with a 4-3 win on the night. Klopp had demonstrated what an elite coach he was and while he couldn’t quite go all the way that season, his first trophy would arrive three years later in Europe when the Reds won the 2019 Champions League against Tottenham Hotspur.
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There’s no doubt the Irish contingent in Dublin will be in full voice if the Reds are to make the Europa League final in what will be Klopp’s final game in charge of the club. Liverpool play Atalanta over two legs this week, with the first at Anfield on Thursday evening before the return leg in Bergamo.
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