Depor on familiar ground

Although Liverpool FC and RC Deportivo La Coruña have never faced each other in European club competition, the Reds have played five matches against Spanish opposition at Anfield in the past six seasons, while Deportivo's trip will be their seventh to England in the last six years.

Spanish influence
With a Spanish coach at the helm, Liverpool will certainly hope that Rafael Benítez will be able to improve a record which has seen them win only twice at home in eight attempts against teams from Spain. The last success came in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup semi-finals when Gary McAllister's 44th-minute spot-kick in the second leg, following a scoreless draw away, eliminated FC Barcelona. Liverpool, then managed by Gérard Houllier, went on to win the final 5-4 against Deportivo Alavés at Dortmund's Westfalenstadion.

Home defeats
Since then, home defeats have followed by Barcelona and Valencia CF in the UEFA Champions League. Barça took three points from their trip to Anfield in the 2001/02 second group stage when they fought back from Michael Owen's 27th-minute opener to score three goals without reply from Patrick Kluivert (41 minutes), Fábio Rochemback (65) and Marc Overmars (84). Liverpool would hold Barça to a scoreless draw away from home as both sides advanced to the quarter-finals where the English side lost 4-3 on aggregate to Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The following season, Liverpool were on the receiving end of a 1-0 home defeat against Valencia in the first group stage, Francisco Rufete on target after 34 minutes. Liverpool went on to finish third behind Valencia, with FC Basel 1893 second.

Two wins
Three of Deportivo's last four visits to England have come against Manchester United FC, winning once but losing on the last two occasions against Sir Alex Ferguson's side. Depor stunned United with victories home and away in the 2001/02 Champions League first group stage, 2-1 at home and 3-2 win at Old Trafford. Ruud van Nistelrooij scored twice (6 and 40 minutes) for the home side only for Sergio González (37) and Diego Tristán (39 and 60) to reply for Javier Irureta's side.

Impressive victories
Depor then faced Arsenal FC in the second group stage, winning 2-0 both home and away, with Juan Carlos Valerón (30) and Nourredine Naybet on the mark at Highbury. Deportivo were then paired with United in the quarter-finals where the Mancunians would have their revenge, winning 2-0 away from home and 3-2 at Old Trafford.

Mixed results
The two sides met again in the 2002/03 season at the second group stage, both recording 2-0 home successes, although United topped the group standings, while Deportivo exited the competition following their fourth-placed finish. Overall, Deportivo have played seven matches in England, winning three and losing four.