Liverpool Klopp Episode 52 - You'll Never Walk Alone

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk

You'll never walk
You'll never walk alone

Read more: Gerry And The Pacemakers - You´ll Never Walk Alone Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Liverpool vs. Sevilla. It is big. It is huge. LFC has a lot riding on this. Excerpt:

The downside is that defeat in games like this slows down progression. It shuts down possibilities. Losing at St. Jakob-Park would mean Liverpool have endured another season of underachievement. The back door to the Champions League would be shut. The first phase of Jurgen Klopp's swift, joyous revolution would be over and he would need to start planning for slower, more difficult forward motion. Lose and the long haul starts on Thursday morning.

As much as the Liverpool manager craves the glory of lifting the cup in Basel, he knows that the real prize on offer is a place in the Champions League next season. The eighth-place Premier League finish would no longer matter. Entry into Europe's most significant competition next season changes the landscape for Liverpool. It means Klopp can recruit a better level of player and the increased revenues from the Champions League allow greater flexibility on fees and wages. Players enjoy playing for managers like Klopp, but they find Champions League football even more attractive.

Here are stats from the Echo on the road to Basal.

Am figuring most fans and analysts anticipate the starting XI to be the same as the unit that won the semi-finals 3-0 against Villarreal at Anfield. The open question is who will be the substitutes and under what scenarios would they be utilized? Also, the other thing to keep in mind is the possibility of extra-time and penalty kick shootout.

Pre-game build up reading

Here is an item by Honigstein over at ESPNFC that mentions that Klopp led teams have struggled in final competitions. The video companion piece with the roundtable of commentators gave Sevilla the edge (only Ian Darke picked Liverpool) in what should be a pretty even match. They feel that Sevilla being the two-time defending Europa League champions have the experience advantage.

In this UK Guardian item, the records of the two managers in Final competitions are recapped.

Game on

Wasn't able to be near a TV or internet radio until now. Sadly, LFC is going down to a dreadful defeat after taking a first half lead 1-0. It would seem Spanish football is just too much and too good as 3 unanswered goals have sunk the Reds.

It's a final!

Excerpt:
Having taken the lead with a touch of brilliance, Liverpool gave it away carelessly 20 seconds after the restart. Moreno, the former Sevilla left-back and boyhood Sevilla fan, made a hash of clearing a crossfield ball and headed straight to Ferreira. The full-back burst through Moreno and Coutinho into the area and crossed low for Gameiro to score his eighth goal of the campaign from close range.[......]Sevilla were now the dominant, dangerous force and they went in front when Vitolo dissected Liverpool’s midfield with a series of passes followed by a twist inside Lovren. As the ball broke loose on the edge of the area Coke arrived first and swept an excellent finish around Mignolet into the bottom corner.[.....]Liverpool were struggling to stem Sevilla’s threat and their third arrived through Coke once again. The ball was deflected into the path of the captain, who appeared offside as he controlled before beating Mignolet with a close-range finish.

Sevilla are the champions of the Europa League competition. Congratulations to Sevilla, it was well earned. LFC couldn't keep up with them for the full 90 minutes. Another Spanish league team will lift up the Champions League Cup (Athletico Madrid or Real Madrid) later this month cementing the dominance of Spanish football in European competitions.

As for LFC, "Though your dreams be tossed and blown, walk on walk on with hope in your heart." It has been an exciting season and will see what kind of progress they can make for next season.

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark

Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk

You'll never walk
You'll never walk alone