Liverpool reaches Europa League final

Liverpool defeated Villarreal 3-0 at Anfield as they comfortably overturned a one goal first leg deficit to reach the Europa League final.An early own goal from Bruno was followed by second-half

strikes from Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana saw them over the line.

The Reds will meet Sevilla, the two-time defending champions, in the final at St-Jakob Park in Basel, Switzerland on May 18. The winner is guaranteed entry into next season's Champions League.

Villarreal were largely anonymous throughout and seemed to wilt in the face of a raucous atmosphere and early onslaught by the hosts, while their demise was hastened by a sending off for Victor Ruiz for a second booking after 71 minutes.

It was a superb evening for Sturridge, whose place in the starting line-up had been in doubt after he was left out of key recent fixtures, but he was instrumental in a one-sided victory that prevented Spanish dominance of Europe's two major finals.