Liverpool vs Sevilla – UEFA Europa League – Preview

Posted on May 18, 2016 by Sreya

Liverpool take on Sevilla at St Jakob-Park, Basel on 18th May, Wednesday in the finals of the UEFA Europa League. While Sevilla is aiming to become the first team to win three consecutive Europa League titles, Liverpool are hoping a win would not only help them culminate the season in a success, but also secure Champions League football next season.

Liverpool’s Premier League form may have stuttered in the recent weeks but they have gone from strength to strength in their European campaign. Sevilla finished their La Liga campaign on the seventh position in the league table, out of the European places and only a win tonight can secure European football next season.

Team News

Joseph Gomez, Danny Ings, Jordan Rossiter and Divock Origi are sidelined through injuries while Jordan Henderson is yet to regain match fitness. Mamadou Sakho is suspended. Sevilla will be without the injured Reyes and Michael Krohn-Dehli.

Liverpool Possible Starting Lineup: Simon Mignolet, Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren, Kolo Toure, Alberto Moreno, Emre Can, James Milner, Adam Lallana, Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, Daniel Sturridge.

Sevilla Possible Starting Lineup: David Soria, Mariano, Adil Rami, Daniel Carrico, Sergio Escudero, Steven N’Zonzi, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Coke, Ever Banega, Vitolo, Kevin Gameiro.

Thoughts From Both Camps

“I came here because I was really convinced about the qualities of these players and this squad, despite the doubts people had. To see how they have reached this final gives me a really good feeling.

I am really happy they can show how strong they are and it is a big opportunity to make the final step this season and achieve something. I don’t feel the pressure. I cannot change. I feel opportunity.”

– Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool.

“This is an opportunity to play in a third final and win it to change history and to have our names recorded forever and ever is very motivating. We are winners, we are the champions and we have the possibility to defend our title. Sevilla does not fail when we are really focused.”

– Unai Emery, Sevilla

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, this is the first ever meeting between Liverpool and Sevilla. Sevilla (four) and Liverpool (three) have both won all of their finals in the Europa League/Uefa Cup till date.

It will be Liverpool’s 12th major European final, but their first since 2007 when they lost 2-1 to AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League final. Although Liverpool will enter the final on the back of an impressive Europa League record, losing only one of their previous fourteen matches in the competition (the first-leg of the semi-final against Villarreal), Jurgen Klopp has lost his last four finals with his previous and current club.

Sevilla have won four of the last ten Europa League/Uefa Cup finals. Sevilla have won thirteen of their last eighteen games in the Europa League, losing only twice.

It should be a closely contested affair but Liverpool are likely to win 3-2.