Liverpool vs. Sevilla: Philippe Coutinho Talks Europa League Final, Jurgen Klopp

Liverpool maestro Philippe Coutinho is motivated to see his side stop "hitting the post" and beat Sevilla to this season's UEFA Europa League crown on Wednesday, tipping manager Jurgen Klopp's experience as a crucial factor. 

The Reds have come close to clinching silverware already this season, only to fall to Manchester City in the Capital One Cup final, but Coutinho has said it's time to end those near misses, per the Mirror's David Maddock: 

"

The expression we use in Brazil is ‘we hit the post’ on quite a few occasions recently. So it will be really important for us to finally achieve something and win something with Liverpool. That will be special for everyone, the whole of the club.

We have a great chance to get things right now and go on to achieve the things we want to achieve.

"

It's been 11 years since Liverpool last tasted victory in a European final. While none of the current squad were present for the famous UEFA Champions League comeback in Istanbul, many were for the Premier League title win that never was two years ago.

However, complete with a raft of new faces comes a new leader in the form of former Borussia Dortmund chief Klopp, and Coutinho added that the German tactician has already had a great impact at Anfield:

"

Klopp is experienced in European competitions, a great manager and has made a few changes since he came in. The biggest one has been to change the mentality and make the players believe they can actually achieve something.

Then, step by step towards the end of the season, Liverpool have improved performances and now we are close to winning something.

Things tend to take time to bear fruit, but it has been just over six months and it is the second final we are playing in. It is a great opportunity, and the changes he has implemented have had a big part in that.

"

It's difficult to deny the progress Liverpool have made under their first-year boss, who looks to have now grasped the English calendar that once confused him so much upon first arriving at Anfield, per the Telegraph's Chris Bascombe.

And just as Coutinho has major words of praise for his boss, so too did Klopp for his Brazilian playmaker, per the official Europa League Twitter account:

Klopp claimed two Bundesliga titles and one DFB-Pokal trophy during his seven-year stint at the Westfalenstadion, but European success is something the German is yet to add to his repertoire.

According to BBC Radio 5 live reporter John Murray, Klopp has been doing all he can to motivate his troops ahead of Wednesday's showdown in Basel and "was close to his inspirational best" in the build-up:

Sevilla are looking to become the first team to win three successive Europa League titles, having become experts in the competition over recent years.

And while Klopp's work off the pitch will be a major component in dismissing Liverpool's tag as "nearly men," Coutinho will be looked upon as one of the team's chief resources in attack.

OLI SCARFF/Getty Images

Victory in Switzerland could be the beginning of something massive for Liverpool, a crown that would give Klopp's appointment near-instant validation and a building point for the years to come under his reign.

However, defeat threatens to only extend the club's reputation for coming close to silverware without winning it.