Even so it is an immense feat. They have won this competition in five of the last 11 seasons; increasingly, they are to it what Real Madrid are to the Champions League.
Not that this will be any consolation to Liverpool, of course, or to the many thousands who made the journey, with or without tickets, expecting to win.
There was huge confidence around Liverpool’s challenge in England, a belief that was exposed by 45 humbling second-half minutes in which Sevilla took them apart.
Fair to say, observers from Spain were fairly certain of Sevilla’s superiority, too. By the end, it was their optimism that appeared better forged in reality.
There was controversy around Sevilla’s third goal, perhaps, but not their third trophy. Disappointing in the first-half, they were comfortably superior by the end, sweeping Liverpool aside with three second-half goals.
Jurgen Klopp was left to contemplate another final defeat in a fog of impotent fury. There has been much to laud about his first season at Anfield, but ultimately it concludes with two final defeats, a mid-table league position, and no European football next season.
That certainly makes the summer transfer market tougher to negotiate, with a Champions League berth the bonus prize for victory here. He will have to sell Liverpool hard, and while he has the personality to do that, his options will unquestionably be limited now.
Klopp has never won a final, whether in Germany, England or UEFA competition, yet when Liverpool took the lead here it looked as if that depressing run may be broken.
It was a quite magnificent goal, too – a reminder of the player Liverpool, and England, have if Daniel Sturridge can stay fit. And if Klopp doesn’t want him – then after scoring such a goal on this stage plenty will.
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