Sturridge sends Liverpool into Europa League final - Liverpool 3-0 Villarreal

Daniel Sturridge was involved in all three goals as Liverpool impressively beat Villarreal 3-0 at Anfield on Thursday to set up a Europa League final date with holders Sevilla.

Daniel Sturridge was involved in all three goals as Liverpool impressively beat Villarreal 3-0 at Anfield on Thursday to set up a Europa League final date with holders Sevilla.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Liverpool levelled the tie when Bruno Soriano put through his own goal under pressure from Sturridge, who scored the second goal in the 63rd minute before helping to tee up Adam Lallana for a late strike that completed a 3-1 aggregate win.

It took Liverpool into their first continental final since the 2006-07 Champions League, preserving Jurgen Klopp's hopes of finishing his first season as manager with both a trophy and a place in Europe's elite competition next season.

England Joined Spain as Uruguay win by 2-1 ; Luis Suarez double wins it after Wayne Rooney scores first World Cup goal to equalise

The Uruguay players remain on the pitch after the final whistle to celebrate with their fans. After their calamitous opening defeat to Costa Rica, it's quite a turnaround. There's one man who can take a large portion of the credit: Luis Suarez.

For England it was all in vain. Wayne Rooney’s first goal, the mighty effort in Manaus – almost certainly it ends here. England will need to be the first team in World Cup history to lose their opening two games and go through, if they are to qualify from here.

That isn’t going to happen. It won’t happen, most likely, because there is no guarantee England can win, even against Costa Rica, with a defence that cannot be trusted, not even for five minutes.

That was how long remained when Luis Suarez struck, a second time. It was a goal of almost agricultural quality. A long kick upfield by goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, perhaps glancing the header of captain Steven Gerrard, inexplicably catching Gary Cahill unaware.

Brazil World Cup: Wayne Rooney hopes partner Daniel Sturridge for England

Wayne Rooney hopes to strike up a partnership with Daniel Sturridge that emulates his England colleague’s club success with Luis Suarez.

Rooney believes Suarez and Sturridge were the best front pair in the Premier League last season(external) as they fired Liverpool into title contention. Now he wants to play the Uruguayan’s role with Sturridge for England.

“It’s easier at a club but we have had time to work on stuff. Hopefully we’ll see the benefits of that,” said Rooney. “Suarez and Sturridge have certainly been the best two front men in the Premier League this season.