Champions League football is back tonight and we’re getting to the stage in the groups where things start getting serious.
Indeed, with four games down and just two to go, now is the time for sides to really stake their claim for progressing to the knockout stages and the Reds are looking as though they’re in decent shape.
After two frustrating draws with Sevilla and Spartak Moscow respectively, two big wins over Maribor have put us in the driving seat and now we’re on the brink of making a return to the last 16.
Certainly, as Sky Sports have written, a win over Sevilla tonight will see us into the next stage of the competition, whilst a draw could also be enough if Spartak Moscow lose to Maribor.
With Maribor’s record and the fact we should have beaten Sevilla on Matchday 1 in mind, though, we’d expect the Reds to go for the win and get things done over in Spain tonight.
It might not be that straightforward, though. Sevilla – despite a few heavy away losses this season – are as strong as ever at home this year and are just a point behind us in the league table.
Their domestic form has been decent again this year, too, but so has ours with another win coming at the weekend against Southampton.
Looking at Sevilla v Liverpool betting odds the Reds are favourites as well. We’re at 7/5 whilst the home side is at 7/4 and the draw 5/2, meaning it’s a close call but one the Reds are edging.
That could be down to the Reds’ domestic rally in recent weeks with wins over Huddersfield, West Ham and Southampton in mind and so we’re hoping that the momentum can be carried into one of the biggest games of our year so far.
First goal-scorer, meanwhile, sees Wissam Ben Yedder installed as 27/5 favourite for first goal-scorer ahead of, somewhat surprisingly, Daniel Sturridge, (11/2) who has not played much this season.
Following Sturridge, less surprisingly so, is Mo Salah (23/4) and Sadio Mane (23/4) with Salah becoming the Premier League’s top scorer over the weekend.
All the odds suggest we’re in for a close-run thing this evening against the Spanish side, then, and we certainly think it’ll be decided by the odd-goal with both sides strong going forward.
With the Reds’ attack in decent form at the moment, though, we’re hoping that that’s enough to see us through this evening.
Predictions, Reds? Let us know below!
