Group E analysis: Sevilla, Maribor, Spartak, Liverpool
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Article summary
Sevilla and Liverpool will replay their 2016 UEFA Europa League final while Spartak Moskva hope to repeat a famous victory against the Reds in a section also involving Maribor.
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Who's in Group E?
Spartak Moskva (RUS)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 104
• How they qualified: first in Russian Premier League
• Previous group stage campaigns: 11 (last appearance: 2012/13)
• Last season: UEFA Europa League third qualifying round
• Best European Cup performance: semi-finals (1990/91)
Sevilla (ESP)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 8
• How they qualified: fourth in Spanish Liga, play-off winners
• Previous group stage campaigns: 4 (last appearance: 2016/17)
• Last season: UEFA Champions League round of 16
• Best European Cup performance: quarter-finals (1957/58)
Liverpool (ENG)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 34
• How they qualified: fourth in English Premier League, play-off winners
• Previous group stage campaigns: 9 (last appearance: 2014/15)
• Last season: not in UEFA competition
• Best European Cup performance: winners x 5 (1976/77, 1977/78, 1980/81, 1983/84, 2004/05)
Maribor (SVN)
• UEFA coefficient ranking: 94
• How they qualified: first in Slovenian First League, play-off winners
• Previous group stage campaigns: 2 (last appearance: 2014/15)
• Last season: UEFA Europa League play-offs
• Best European Cup performance: group stage (1999/2000, 2014/15, 2017/18)
Matchday one fixtures (Wednesday 13 September)
Maribor v Spartak
Liverpool v Sevilla
Key facts
• Sevilla and Liverpool met in the 2016 UEFA Europa League final in Basel, the Spanish side coming from behind to win 3-1 in Basel. Six of those Sevilla players remain at the club, while ten of Liverpool's starting XI are still at Anfield.
• Liverpool's Spanish full-back Alberto Moreno came through the ranks at home-town club Sevilla, making 62 first-team appearances before joining the Reds in 2014.
• Sevilla beat Maribor en route to their 2013/14 UEFA Europa League triumph, winning 4-3 on aggregate in the round of 32.
• Maribor have never played Spartak or Liverpool.
• Spartak beat Liverpool 6-2 in the 1992/93 European Cup Winners' Cup third round, winning 4-2 at home and 2-0 away. The English club came out on top emphatically in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League first group stage though, winning 5-0 at home and 3-1 away.
