Internet Desk: The stakes are high for the first competitive meeting between Liverpool and Sevilla in Wednesday’s Europa League final.
The two teams have been in seven finals of the competition between them and won on every occasion, but something has to give in Basel with a spot in the Champions League group stage on offer to the victors.
Sevilla are record four-time winners of Europe’s secondary competition, lifting the trophy in 2006, 2007, 2014 and 2015 and they are now looking to make history by winning it for a third straight year.
But Liverpool, who had success in 1973, 1976 and 2001 as well as being five-time Champions League winners, also have a fierce continental pedigree.
The Reds have won eight of their previous 11 major finals in Europe, but manager Jurgen Klopp is hoping to end an unpleasant personal streak that has seen him lose four cup finals in a row with Borussia Dortmund and the Reds – a Champions League final, two DFB-Pokals and this year’s League Cup loss to Manchester City.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson (knee) came off the bench to return from over five weeks out against West Brom on Sunday and Klopp is hoping Divock Origi (ankle) will be passed fit, but Mamadou Sakho is suspended.
Sevilla have been without Michael Krohn-Dehli (knee) and Jose Antonio Reyes (appendix) since April.