Live Europa League final 2016, Liverpool vs Sevilla: Trouble in stadium as rival fans clash
European time
Lots and lots of fans
Klopp had encouraged Liverpool fans without tickets to travel to Basel, so surely that - besides the fact that loads more were obviously going to come - should have alerted Uefa to the need for extra security.
Not so, though. And here we are, left hoping that the football can take the attention away from some nasty pre-match scenes.
Not so, though. And here we are, left hoping that the football can take the attention away from some nasty pre-match scenes.
Time for some football!
After the day (of drinking) they have all had, it was pretty predictable that two sets of fans who were not kept apart would fight - yet those who organised the occasion decided that just a few stewards were needed.
ANYWAY. Time to start thinking about the actual football. It's nearly here. Can Sevilla make it three in a row? Can Liverpool win a first trophy under Klopp?
ANYWAY. Time to start thinking about the actual football. It's nearly here. Can Sevilla make it three in a row? Can Liverpool win a first trophy under Klopp?
Trouble in the ground
There seems to be some issues with segregation in the ground. Just a handful of stewards are being tasked with splitting up rival groups of fans and some fights have broken out as a result.
Riot police are now in the area, but reports suggest things had already calmed down.
Riot police are now in the area, but reports suggest things had already calmed down.
Feeling Klopp, Klopp, Klopp
Jurgen Klopp doesn't have the greatest record in finals - just the one win in 15 years of management - but is determined that this doesn't mean anything for Liverpool going into the match against Sevilla.
After the near miss in the League Cup final at Wembley earlier this year, Klopp will be even more determined to mark his first season at the club with some silverware.
The St Jakob-Park stadium is ready
A look inside the, ah, cavernous arena where a few lucky fans will be trying to cheer Liverpool to a fourth-ever triumph in this competition.
There might not be many supporters able to fit into the ground, but it should still be a cracking atmosphere come 7:45pm tonight.
The big talking points
So, onto some actual football - here's a quick run through of what issues there may be tonight in Basel:
- Will Sturridge start? Jurgen Klopp hasn't always used the England man even when he is available, sometimes opting to play Roberto Firmino through the middle. Sturridge is the best finisher in the squad, though, and should start, but even though he is fit again, he might struggle with extra time.
- Can Liverpool keep Gameiro under wraps? One of the more recent results of Sevilla's unbelievable recruitment policy has been the development of Gameiro, who stuttered in his first two seasons in Spain but is now one of Europe's top marksmen. He has 16 league goals plus seven in the Europa League, and he may target Kolo Toure as a weakness.
- What part will Henderson play? He returned to action at the weekend but might not actually play here. Even so, his leadership skills could be crucial.
- Will Coutinho rediscover form? The Brazilian has neither scored nor assisted a goal in his last six games and keeps getting substituted off early. Liverpool could do with him at his best tonight.
- Expect goals! There have been 13 goals in Sevilla's last three games and Liverpool are hardly goal-shy. There should be a few more later today.
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