Basel (Switzerland), May 19 (IANS): Sevilla came from behind to defeat Liverpool 3-1 in the Europa League final as the Spanish football club earned their third consecutive title and fifth overall in the competition.

Liverpool were content at the start to here on Wednesday let Sevilla press forward and wait for chances on the counterattack, reports Efe.

While dominating the ball, the Spanish side struggled to generate an effective attack even as Liverpool grew more and more threatening on the counter.

Sevilla goalkeeper David Soria was forced to make a save on Daniel Sturridge in the 25th minute, five minutes before Kevin Gameiro fired just wide on the defending champions' first scoring opportunity of the night.

Sturridge opened the scoring in the 35th minute and Liverpool looked to have taken a commanding lead when Dejan Lovren put the ball past Soria in the 38th, but the goal was disallowed due to an offside.

The outlook changed dramatically just 18 seconds into the second half, when Mariano Ferreira eluded two defenders - including former Sevilla player Alberto Moreno - and fed the ball to Gameiro, who made it 1-1.

Only a timely intervention by Liverpoll defender Kolo Toure prevented Gameiro from scoring a second just two minutes later.

Gameiro was thwarted again at the hour mark, this time by Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet. Four minutes later, Coke got the go-ahead goal for Sevilla.

The Sevilla captain delivered the final blow in the 70th minute, as the ball bounced off two Liverpool players to end up on his foot.