Liverpool attitude towards the Europa League shifts

It seems that now Liverpool are in the Europa League quarter-final final everybody connected with the club now believe the competition to be important.

For years Reds fans and players dismissed the competition, especially when their blue neighbours were taking part in it and Liverpool was in the Champions League. Suddenly Liverpool fans are embracing the competition it seems.

Their change of feeling may have been fuelled by the fact the side Merseyside has just defeated one of their rivals Manchester United in the round of 16. The 3-1 aggregate victory over United has given Jurgen Klopp’s side a big chance to win silverware this season, their only chance.

There is still a lot of stiff opposition left in the competition with the likes of Klopp’s former-club Dortmund, and also Spanish sides Villarreal and Sevilla. However Liverpool has to be considered as possible winners of the competition.

The Reds have been inconsistent this season, until the last month or so when they have found consistent form. The fact that Liverpool’s three most potent attacking players Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge are all fit has helped the team’s level of consistency.

The Europa League is much-criticised and not usually taken seriously by English clubs until they get to the last eight of the competition.

The fact that qualification for the Champions League is now available for the winner of Europe’s second competition has added an extra incentive for teams to progress to the latter stages.

Liverpool have made it to the last eight of the Europa League and despite their fans not appreciating the competition the past, the Reds fans now seem to look at the competition as a piece of silverware worth winning.