Wednesday 18 May 2016 21:52, UK
Steven Gerrard believes a Liverpool victory in the Europa League final would be a springboard to a Premier League title challenge next season.
The former Reds captain, currently playing for LA Galaxy in MLS, insists Jurgen Klopp could attract a greater calibre of player if they deny Sevilla a third successive trophy on Wednesday and secure Champions League qualification.
Writing in his column in The Telegraph, Gerrard warned against the alternative path of a season without European football next term and the potential difficulties it could pose the club in the transfer market.
"Winning the final against Sevilla will mean a European trophy, a place in history for all those players and the sense they are at the beginning of a new era under one of the greatest coaches of his generation," Gerrard said.
"All the talk in August would be about what was next for Jurgen Klopp's side - a possible title challenge. With the calibre of player they could attract, and Champions League qualification, there would be confidence Liverpool could challenge.
"Then there is the darker road, the one none of us who love Liverpool want to contemplate. It's the second final defeat in a matter of months, disrupting the feel-food-factor achieved in securing that flight to Switzerland, undermining the meaning of those notable wins over Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal.
"Not just another year without a trophy, but no European competitions at all next season. That would have an impact on the quality of players Klopp could attract, the financial rewards for the club and the morale of the squad.
"In both 2001 and 2005, I came off the pitch saying they would be the catalysts for a new era of success. We were given the perfect platform to go on and we never took it, especially after Istanbul."
