Sevilla vs Liverpool

Adam Lallana has been included in the Liverpool squad as they look to book a Champions League last-16 spot when travelling to Sevilla on Tuesday.

The England midfielder, yet to play in a competitive game this season, has been stepping up his recovery from a thigh injury.

Liverpool top Champions League Group E with eight points, one more than second-placed Sevilla, and will qualify for the next round with a win on Tuesday, or with a draw if Spartak Moscow lose at home to Maribor.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds head into the contest at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on a winning streak that extended to four matches in all competitions with the result against Southampton.

The only game Sevilla have not won in their last five was a 2-1 defeat at Barcelona.

Team news

Defender Joel Matip does not feature after he was absent from Saturday’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Southampton due to a groin problem.

Another man included in the 23-man squad is striker Danny Ings, who has made only one first-team appearance so far this term.

Opta stats

Sevilla have taken on Liverpool two times before in European competition; claiming a 3-1 Europa League final victory at the end of the 2015/16 campaign as well as a 2-2 draw at Anfield earlier this season.

The Spanish club have won three of their four previous home games in European competition against English opposition (L1).

Liverpool are already assured of a spot in the Europa League and are well placed to reach the last 16 of the Champions League; 28 of the 31 teams (since 2003/04) to be on eight points after four group games have progressed to the knockout phase.

Liverpool ended a four-game winless run on the road in the Champions League (D2 L2), winning 7-0 in Slovenia against Maribor.

Charlie’s prediction

Well this is a big one for Liverpool. I covered them at the weekend and if it wasn’t for the Mohamed Salah opener it was pretty subdued.

You look at their forward line and it is a very exciting four, but they are still fragile at the back and I can see pain for Jurgen Klopp’s side here.

Is he bold enough to pick that front four? This Sevilla side isn’t as good as we’ve seen in recent years but they’re still a decent side and this is a hostile place to go.

I thought Liverpool would wipe the floor with them at home and they failed to do so and I’m expecting a struggle for them here, with Nolito, who is looking happier back in Spain, doing the damage.