Big Match Breakdown: Sevilla v Liverpool
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Champions League action resumes tonight
Liverpool travel to Sevilla tonight in the knowledge that victory in Spain could see them qualify for the Champions League last-16 stage.
The Reds sit top of Group E ahead of the match, one point ahead of Los Rojiblancos after two wins and two draws from their first four games.
Jurgen Klopp’s men are in good form too. The Merseysiders have won their last four games in all competitions, including the weekend 3-0 victory over Southampton.
The Coral News Team bring you the big match breakdown ahead of this evening’s tie at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Head-to-head
This evening’s match represents only the third-ever meeting between the two sides. Of the two fixtures so far, it is Sevilla that have had more joy.
In their first match-up back in 2016, tonight’s host prevailed 3-1 over the Reds in the Europa League Final. Goals from Kevin Gameiro and a brace from Coke proved enough to cancel out Daniel Sturridge’s opener in Basel.
It was a different story when the two clubs met at Anfield earlier this season in the Champions League. The visitors took the lead through Wissam Ben Yedder before goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool a 2-1 lead.
However, it wasn’t to be for Jurgen Klopp’s men, as Joaquin Correa levelled things up late-on for a share of the spoils.
The likely XIs
Joel Matip missed the weekend win over Southampton and he is expected to be unavailable here as well. Dejan Lovren will continue in his place alongside Ragnar Klavan. Joe Gomez and Loris Karius could also return after starting Saturday’s game on the bench.
It’s up-front where Klopp has a decision to make. Sadio Mane has been suffering with a hamstring problem and may not be up to playing two games in four days. If he is deemed unfit, Daniel Sturridge is expected to be his replacement.
For Sevilla, Simon Kjaer could start after impressing off the bench against Celta Vigo at the weekend. Joaquin Correa, Ever Banega, Michael Krohn-Dehli and Yedder also look set for recalls.
Key battles
Sevilla’s expected switch to 4-3-3 should come as no surprise as they attempt to counter the visitors’ potent attacking threat. Salah, Firmino, Mane and Coutinho will cause significant damage if they start together for the second game in a row.
The hosts will be looking towards Steven N’Zonzi for inspiration. The ex-Stoke City man is a pivotal figure in midfield for Los Rojiblancos. Jordan Henderson will need to mark his man carefully if the Reds want to stem the Frenchman’s creative output.
Another concern for the Merseysiders is a defensive spine of Klavan, Lovren and Karius. The three have all had their critics and will no doubt be given a stern examination by Eduardo Berizzo’s side, who like to play on the front foot at home.
Match odds
Sevilla have won their last seven home games in all competitions but are rated as outsiders at 7/4. Meanwhile, Klopp’s Reds are a 7/5 shot to continue their good form and make it five wins in a row. You can back the draw at 5/2.
One thing that the Coral News Team are confident of is that there will be goals in this game. Los Nervionenses have scored in all of their home games so far this term, while Liverpool have bagged 21 goals in their last half-dozen matches. It’s 1/2 for Both Teams to Score and a highly-tempting 17/5 for Sevilla to Win and Both Teams to Score.
With goals likely, there are going to need to be goalscorers. Salah is a 13/8 chance to continue his good form and net Anytime, while Firmino and Sturridge are both 7/4. However, it’s Coutinho that offers the most value at 9/4.
The hosts will be looking towards Ben Yedder at 6/4, although it’s the impressive N’Zonzi that offers the most value at 5/1 to score at any point during the match.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
