Liverpool vs Sevilla – Champions League Group E Preview

Liverpool vs Sevilla - Champions League Preview

Liverpool vs Sevilla – Champions League Preview – On Wednesday night, Champions League football returns to Anfield, as Liverpool host Sevilla in their first group game.

After a crushing 5-0 defeat against Manchester City last weekend, Jurgen Klopp’s side will be determined to get back to winning ways. The Reds played most of that game with ten men, with Sadio Mane sent off for a high footed challenge on City ‘keeper Ederson. The Malian international will now miss their next three league games, but is still eligible to play in the Champions League.

Liverpool secured their place in the Champions League group stages by defeating Hoffenhiem in a two legged play off match. A 2-1 away victory in Germany, was followed up by a 4-2 home victory, which saw them progress. This is only the second time in the last seven years they have appeared in the competition, with their last appearance back in 2014.

Mane and Salah’s pace could be pivotal against Sevilla Photo Credit: skysports.com

Despite their disappointing result at the weekend, Liverpool have started the season in good form. After a disappointing 3-3 draw with Watford on the opening day of the season, they bounced back with a 1-0 home victory against Crystal Palace, before annihilating Arsenal 4-0 at Anfield. The front three of Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamad Salah have been devastating, with them scoring a combined nine goals in all competitions so far. With Phillipe Countinho also now set to re-enter the fold, there is cause for optimism on Merseyside.

Sevilla will hope to progress further than last seasons campaign in the Champions League Photo Credit: skysports.com

After reaching the last 16 of the Champions League last season, Sevilla have proved themselves to be tough opponents. Despite being knocked out by Leicester, the club have shown that they are more than capable of mixing it with Europe’s finest. The Spanish club have a number of household names, with Ever Benega, Steven N’Zonzi and Wissam Ben Yedder standing out. After three games in La Liga, they currently sit third with seven points, and are yet to taste defeat in any competition so far this season.

The last time these two sides met was in the Europa League final, back in 2016. That day, Sevilla came away with a 3-1 victory and won the competition, leaving Jurgen Klopp’s team without Champions League football for another season. That surprisingly is the only time these two sides have met, meaning Sevilla are facing their first ever trip to Anfield. I think both teams to score is a safe bet, with Liverpool notoriously dangerous going forward, but leaky at the back.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Sevilla

SKYBET: LIVERPOOL TO WIN 2-1- 7/1
SKYBET: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE AND OVER 2.5 GOALS- 10/11
SKYBET: FIRMINO TO SCORE FIRST AND LIVERPOOL TO WIN 3-2- 60/1
SKYBET: MANE AND BEN YEDDER TO BOTH SCORE- 5/1
SKYBET: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE IN BOTH HALVES- 11/1
SKYBET: LIVERPOOL TO WIN FROM BEHIND- 17/2

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