Reds can sink Yellow Submarine, Sevilla seek Shakhtar success in Europa League

Lee Gormley | May 4, 2016

Liverpool v Villarreal

Reds seek comeback at Anfield

After suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat on their travels to Spain, Liverpool will need to secure a comeback at Anfield to reach the Europa League final, as they contest Villarreal in the semi-final second leg on what could be another electrifying European night on Merseyside.

The Reds came away from the first leg licking their wounds after Adrian Lopez’s late winner but, having enjoyed a great revival against Borussia Dortmund in the quarters, they are 5/4 with Coral to qualify and will be confident having not been beaten at Anfield in seven outings on all fronts.

Although, Jurgen Klopp’s men have do enter on the back of three games without a victory and their visiting Spanish opponents are 4/1 to earn an away victory to set up a final meeting with either Sevilla or Shakhtar Donetsk, while a draw can be had at 13/5.

Klopp rallies troops

Reds boss Klopp made eight changes to his starting line-up in the recent defeat to Swansea City, though Daniel Sturridge and Martin Skrtel did advance their chances of featuring here with encouraging outings, and the German coach declared his team will be much better this time around.

“We have to accept the result because our performance wasn’t good enough,” stated Klopp. “We played like we played and I saw it for the whole 90 minutes and there was not a lot I enjoyed, to be honest.

“We have to think about it and we have to recover, which is very important, and we will play much, much better than we did on Sunday. We have to accept the result, which is what we do, and then we work and we will be better on Thursday.”

Sturridge is 6/5 to strike anytime, as he looks to build form and catch the eye of Roy Hodgson with Euro 2016 swiftly approaching, while key Brazilian star Philippe Coutinho is 5/1 to open proceedings on home soil.

The Yellow Submarine have plenty of threats themselves which can help them stay afloat in this year’s European competition, with first leg match-winner Lopez 15/8 to find the target again, while former Spurs striker Roberto Soldado is 8/1 to net last.

Sevilla v Shakhtar Donetsk

Champions target third successive final

Unai Emery’s Sevilla are tracking down a historic third consecutive Europa League crown this year but must deal with the threat of Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk first, after being held to a 2-2 draw at the Donbass Arena.

The Bathtubs have two away goals to fall back on when they take to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan and are 5/2 to triumph in 90 minutes with both sides scoring once again (£20 max stake), while the visitors are 4/1 to prevail in normal time.

Sevilla have won 11 of their last 12 outings on home soil in the Europa League, while Shakhtar have failed to win any of their last five games against Spanish opposition, and a draw in this second leg encounter is 16/5 to occur.

Vitolo backs fans to help cause

Three-times capped Spain winger Vitolo has backed the Sevilla faithful to help the side’s cause and create history on their own patch, with Sevilla having faced Ukrainian opposition six times previously in European competition and never losing.

“I don’t have to say anything, the fans know how important the game is,” said Vitolo, who scored the opener in Ukraine. “We must go after the game from the first minute. We’ll fight with all our strength to get to the final.

“They are very competitive, they have good people like Taison or Marlos. We’re working well in our matches and in training in order to face the attacks when the day comes.”

The first leg goalscorer is 6/4 to strike in the return leg again, while frontman Kevin Gameiro, who fired in a penalty in Ukraine, is 4/1 to open proceedings, and towering Basque targetman Fernando Llorente is 5/1 to net last.

For Mircea Lucescu’s visitors, attackers Facundo Ferreyra, Oleksandr Gladky and Taison are all 2/1 to dispatch in 90 minutes, with Samba stars Wellington Nem and Bernard both 7/2 to get on the scoresheet.

Related

Read our extensive Europa League archive.

Coral’s top tip: Back Philippe Coutinho to strike first for Liverpool at 5/1.