Liverpool vs Sevilla

Liverpool and Sevilla are set to trade tackles in a handsomely-looking pre-season friendly at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s managerial tenure at Liverpool has been off to a flying start as the Reds won all three pre-season friendlies by an aggregate score of 6-1, overcoming Arsenal, Manchester United, and Real Betis. All three matches saw Liverpool open the scoring in the first half, with the opening goal in two coming inside the first 13 minutes, highlighting the potential for a quick-fire start. Bringing the tail-end of the 2023/24 campaign into the equation, Slot’s men are unbeaten in their last seven outings (W5, D2), which bodes well for their bid to avenge a 2-1 defeat in their most recent friendly clash against Sevilla in 2019. Considering Liverpool also netted 2+ goals in six of those seven abovementioned games, they’ll likely spice this fixture with a couple of goals.

On the other hand, Sevilla spent the entire 2023/24 campaign in La Liga’s lower reaches but avoided relegation, securing an underwhelming 14th-place finish. Keen to improve on two disastrous domestic seasons, Los Rojiblancos have heavily reinforced their squad in the summer, with Saul Niguez and Kelechi Iheanacho topping a sizeable list of arrivals. After back-to-back defeats to Orlando Pirates and Sporting CP at the start of their pre-season preparations, Garcia Pimienta’s men have won their last three summer friendlies, most recently dispatching Liverpool’s fellow Premier League rivals Fulham 2-1. Interestingly, Sevilla held the Reds to a goal-glutted 2-2 draw on their only visit to Anfield in the 21st century, meaning they could continue to build momentum against the odds.