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Swedish Ref Jonas Erikkson To Head Europa League Final

Liverpool haven't won a game refereed by Erikkson, and Klopp hasn't lost. Something has to give.

Stu Forster/Getty Images

UEFA has appointed 42-year-old Swedish chef ref Jonas Erikkson to oversee the impending Europa League final in Basel, Switzerland in a week.

This appointment is a bit of a mixed bag for Klopp & Co. Erikkson is an experienced referee, with both Champions League and World Cup experience. However, both times Erikkson has presided over a Liverpool match, the Reds have gone home in defeat. In fact, one of those defeats, last year's 1-0 Champions League group stage loss to Basel, occurred in St. Jakob-Park, the very same stadium as next week's final.

On the flip side of the coin, Klopp's Dortmund side were the benefactors of a controversial decision to not send off Robert Lewandowski after a rash challenge on Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny. Lewandowski would go on and score the match winner in the contest.

Despite the two losses, it seems unlikely that Erikkson has it out for the Reds. But for Liverpool fans looking for an ETW angle, feel free to let your imaginations run wild.

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