London: Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno made a name for himself at Sevilla thanks to his thrusting forward runs but nearly ruined his career in England with a disastrous performance against his former side in the 2016 Europa League final.

The Spaniard's defensive frailties were exposed for Kevin Gameiro's equaliser for Sevilla and Moreno was singled out for blame from former Liverpool greats Mark Lawrenson and Jamie Carragher for the team's second-half collapse in Basel and eventual 1-3 defeat.

He lost his place in the team the following season to midfielder James Milner and started only two Premier League games, with his days at Anfield looking numbered when Liverpool signed Andrew Robertson from Hull City for $13.24 million in July.

Moreno, however, returns to his old stadium, the Sanchez Pizjuan, on Tuesday having vindicated himself on Merseyside.

Moreno has played 16 of Liverpool's 18 games in the league and Champions League, completing each one, and this month was recalled to the Spain team for the first time in four years, boosting his hopes of going to next year's World Cup.

Moreno, who signed for Liverpool from Sevilla in 2014 for £12 million, is now so indispensable for the English club that he missed the birth of his son to be with the team to prepare for Saturday's 3-0 win over Southampton.

Klopp praised Moreno's attitude for transforming his own fortunes after his peripheral role in the team last term.

"I never had something like this, I never had it to be honest.

"This season is not a surprise, the surprise is how he dealt with last season. There was not one bad word in the whole season," Klopp told the club's official website on Monday.

Reuters