Liverpool get best Europa League quarterfinal draw possible
Final against Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen on the cards
Jurgen Klopp reached the Europa League final in his first season as Liverpool manager. Having taken over from Brendan Rodgers on October 8, 2015, Klopp proceeded to lead the Reds all the way to the Europa League final in Switzerland.
The journey to the Europa League final saw plenty of highs, with a round of 16 win over Manchester United and an incredible comeback against Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinal second leg to advance to the final four. It also saw a major low, with the Reds losing 3-1 to Sevilla in the final.
Perfect Symmetry
Klopp now has the chance to finish his Liverpool career by winning the trophy he missed out on in season No. 1. There is still a lot of football left to play before the Reds reach the final, however. It would be perfect symmetry for Klopp, if he is able to bring home the trophy that eluded him in his first eight months in the Anfield hotseat.
On Friday, Liverpool discovered their route to the final in Dublin, with the Europa League quarterfinal draw taking place. The Reds will face off with Serie A’s Atalanta in the quarterfinals, with the first match at Anfield on April 11.
Could Liverpool face their future coach?
If Liverpool win the tie, they will play the winner of Benfica versus Marseille in the semifinals. It is a great draw for the Reds, leaving them with the potential to play against Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the final. Alonso, a former midfield great for Liverpool, is the coach most Liverpool fans want to take over the reins from Klopp.
Leverkusen are one of the most exciting teams in Europe this season. The Die Werkself have not lost a match this season in any competition. They are currently 10 points clear of Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga, in the semifinals of the DFB Pokal, and in the elite eight of the Europa League.
Bayer will face off with West Ham in the quarterfinals, with the winner of the tie playing either AC Milan or AS Roma. On paper, it feels like the side of the bracket with Bayer, West Ham, AC Milan, and Roma is the more difficult side.
Liverpool’s last-16 win over Sparta Prague by an aggregate score of 11-2 may have flattered the team. However, it cannot be denied the Reds were brilliant in attack in both legs. The youngsters once again rose to the occasion and Darwin Nunez scored three goals across the two legs.
Liverpool to Dublin via Manchester
Liverpool supporters will turn Dublin into a sea of red if the team can reach the final at the Aviva Stadium on May 22. Flights to Dublin from Manchester are currently just £82.51 if you want to flight the morning of the match. A flight the day prior will cost just £69. The one-hour flight from Manchester on Ryanair gets more expensive as you get to mid-day, with prices topping out at £175 for a flight at 10:40 a.m.