Liverpool v Sevilla: Reds really need to talk about Kevin
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For all the fanfare surrounding Liverpool’s rollercoaster ride to the 2015/16 Europa League final under Jurgen Klopp, it seems like the claims of their esteemed opposition are being somewhat ignored.
As Uefa’s own website will tell you, Sevilla have a crack at breaking five separate (and mightily impressive) Europa League/Uefa Cup records in Basel.
Undoubtedly the most eye-catching is the Spaniards entering the history books as the first club to land a trio of consecutive successes.
That 11/5 to overcome their English counterparts suddenly looks a lot juicier.
Although Sevilla’s list of Europa League victims after dropping out of the Champions League earlier this season are less glamorous, there is no team on the continent the Reds should arguably fear more in this particular tournament.
Unai Emery is on course to become the most decorated manager in charge of one club in the competition’s history and nailing such an achievement is made all the more doable thanks to his most prolific player this term.
Kevin Gameiro may not have sufficiently impressed Didier Deschamps to make an extremely competitive France squad for the Euros, but his 28 goals in 50 appearances for Sevilla are an ominous sign for Liverpool.
If La Liga’s cup specialists go on to topple Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final as well the Europa League, no one will be more deserving of their medals than Gameiro.
Only three players have bagged more than the seven goals Los Rojiblancos’ number nine has scored in Uefa’s B competition this season.
Including a brace to seal Shakhtar’s fate at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in the semi-final second leg, Gameiro has now netted nine in as many matches in all comps and in five consecutively.
Those punters more interested in profit-spinning over sentiment may wish to consider one or all of the following bets as a result.
Gameiro to score any time is a 7/4 chance, while those odds increase handsomely to 9/2 for the showpiece’s opener.
The Spanish club’s greatest threat is 7/2 to notch as part of a Sevilla win.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
