Wednesday 18h May 2016 Kickoff 1945hrs
Sevilla v Liverpool
Football – Europa League – Europe
Sevilla are incredibly looking to win their third successive Europa League title as they face Liverpool in Basel on Tuesday evening. As neither team have qualified for next season’s Champions League courtesy of their domestic league, the final at the St Jakob-Park takes on even more significance as it’s not only a trophy that the two clubs are playing for – it’s the opportunity to mix it with European’s elite in the next campaign, which is where both Liverpool and Sevilla want to be playing their football.
Unai Emery has done a remarkable job since arriving at Sevilla in 2013. As well as winning this competition on two occasions, the club have also finished fifth in La Liga before a seventh-place finish this time around – and even that is quite the achievement considering Sevilla went through the full season without winning a league game on their travels. Despite their excellent efforts domestically, they have not quite been able to finish in the top four and earn a Champions League spot via that route which is why UEFA’s decision to award the winners of the Europa League entry into the competition has been a very welcome one for Emery and his players. Sevilla’s participation in this year’s running was nothing to write home about as they finished behind Manchester City and Juventus, illustrating just how big the gap is between good teams and the very best Europe has to offer. Nevertheless, you feel that a team such as Sevilla will only benefit from further exposure and experience playing at that level and if they can get another opportunity to do so next season, you can see them being much more streetwise and should progress from their efforts this term.
It’s been an amazing European run for Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool side since the turn of the year. In what appeared to be a period of time where the German was getting to know his team with a view to building towards next season, the Reds have surprised everybody (including their own supporters, I’m sure) by playing some excellent football and rolling back the years on big European nights at Anfield. Liverpool have seen of Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Villareal on their way to this final – and all three of their home performances have been something to savour. The game that ultimately sticks out, however, was the sensational 4-3 win over Klopp’s former club when it looked for all money Liverpool would be eliminated after losing two early away goals. However, if history has taught us anything it’s that this club never know when they are beaten – particularly in Europe. Although it may not have the same prestige – or even importance – that their famous comeback in Instanbul carries, it was a special night and one that could well lead them to Champions League football next season – which seemed unthinkable at only a couple of months ago.
Sevilla have not had the same sort of drama up until this point, although they did have to go to penalties to see of La Liga rivals Athletic Bilbao in the quarter-finals. Comfortable success over Basel and Shakthar Donetsk either side of that has got them here with relative ease, but they face a different type of challenge this time around. After dropping down to the Europa League from the Champions League, Sevilla have actually only won one of their four away ties (ironically against Bilbao), being able to rely on their home form to get them through the other three ties. That is not an option here, of course, with a one-off 90 minutes, or extra-time and penalties as required, all that they have. Dnipro gave them a scare in last year’s final whilst they were taken all the way by Benfica the year before only to succeed in the shootout.
One of the big decisions that Klopp must make for this game is who to start in the central striking position. Daniel Sturridge has found it difficult to nail that spot down for himself under the eccentric German, who has often deployed Divock Origi instead. Sturridge, however, was given the chance to show everybody his quality in the win over Villareal in the semi-finals, scoring one and proving a constant menace with his movement throughout. He was only given that chance because of Origi’s injury but there is some talk that the young Belgian could make a surprise return and his athleticism may just be what is required here, providing he’s fully fit.
Sevilla v Liverpool Betting Tips
It’s been a long time since an English team took this competition so seriously but with the added incentive of entry to the Champions League for the winners, I very much doubt Liverpool will be the only club to try and target this more in the coming years. Klopp has not only instilled confidence and belief in the Liverpool squad, he’s brought a new culture with him and it has seen a dramatic improvement in such a short space of time. Few gave them a chance against Dortmund, or Villareal for that matter, and whilst they have enjoyed the underdog tag, they now approach this game as favourites and expectations are building all the time. Their opponents know this environment all too well and even have experience of playing at this stadium already this season. Sevilla did finish their domestic campaign poorly, however, and it’s never easy having to go into a big game such as this after losing three straight league games.
This is definitely the contest many were hoping for when the semi-final draw was made and it promises to be a cracker. Both Emery and Klopp are extremely passionate on the touchlines and that will transit to both sets of players, too, in what is often a very atmospheric stadium. Finals can often be cagey affairs but the strength of both these teams is in their attack, and I expect the game to be open from the start. Sevilla’s last five games in the competition have seen three or more goals scored whilst Liverpool have shown the threat they carry going forward by knocking four past Dortmund and three past an extremely well drilled Villareal team. I suggest backing over 2.5 goals and sitting back to enjoy what could well be a classic.
Over 2.5 goals 11/10 @ Coral
