Even if Xabi Alonso was still in the running to replace Jürgen Klopp, all Liverpool eyes would have been trained on Bergamo tonight.

But while the Reds tried and failed to stage another famous European comeback, their former midfielder was also in the dugout, navigating a trip to West Ham.

For a while, it was more or less presumed that Klopp would face off against Alonso in the Dublin final, in a fixture which may even serve as the passing of the torch.



But both of those dreams are now dead, with Liverpool out of the competition and Alonso staying at Bayer Leverkusen.

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Liverpool did briefly threaten to revive its hopes of advancing.

Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross was blocked with a hand inside five minutes, and Mohamed Salah stepped up to convert, giving the visitor a long time to find two goals — a far more manageable task.

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Riding a wave of momentum, Liverpool threatened to add another quickly, and Luis Díaz just couldn't quite get on the end of a neat Cody Gakpo flick to double the lead on the night moments later.

Just like Liverpool, West Ham had scored early, and it only needed one more goal to force extra-time.

Kick-started by Núñez's unlikely brace against Newcastle, Liverpool got a reputation as a comeback king.
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