Liverpool returns to Premier League action on Saturday hoping to banish the memory of its UEFA Champions League collapse in Seville, but visitor Chelsea will be out to compound its misery.
Jurgen Klopp's men raced into a 3-0 lead at half-time at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Tuesday , but a spectacular Sevilla comeback saw the host claim a 3-3 draw, with Guido Pizarro netting a stoppage-time equaliser.
The Reds' manager conceded at full-time that the draw felt like a defeat, with the failure not in keeping with their form leading into the match, having won four games in a row beforehand.
That run has seen Liverpool move to within three points of the Premier League champion, which itslef has won a maximum 12 points from its last four league games.
And it endured no such European woe like Liverpool, as it comfortably saw off Qarabag 4-0 on Wednesday to secure a spot in the knockout phase.
With both sides seemingly back on track after difficult starts to the season, victory for either could provide real evidence of its long-term credentials this term.
FORM GUIDE
If it is possible to ignore Liverpool's Champions League blemish on Tuesday, both teams go into the match in decent form.
Since a 4-1 hammering at Tottenham, Liverpool has won three in a row in the Premier League, scoring 10 and conceding just once in the process.
But Chelsea - which has won its last four league games - will be confident of being able to trouble a Liverpool defence which has looked vulnerable on numerous occasions this season, particularly after watching Sevilla on Tuesday.
'Has nothing to prove to Chelsea'
After all, Liverpool has allowed its opponents the highest quality goalscoring chances in the Premier League this term.
According to Opta's "expected goals" (xG) statistics, Liverpool's opponents should be expected to score with 14.6 per cent of its chances.
PLAYER HEAD-TO-HEAD (Mohamed Salah v Eden Hazard)
Saturday's Anfield clash will see two of the Premier League's most exciting attackers on the same pitch, with Mohamed Salah and Eden Hazard looking to continue their fine form.
Salah certainly seems to be the more effective of the pair so far this season, however, having scored nine times – making him the league's top scorer – and set up another two, compared to three goals and one assist for the Belgian.
But do not let that detract from Hazard's importance to Chelsea, as he has created 17 chances – Salah has created one more in three extra appearances – and is averaging 35 passes per match, as opposed to 26.3 for the former Blue.
Hazard also has been more effective with his dribbling, completing 31 to Salah's 23, with both attempting 45.
THE SPANISH ARMADA
Last time out against West Brom, Marcos Alonso was the 42nd different player that Cesc Fabregas has set up for a Premier League goal, leaving him three shy of Ryan Giggs for the record.
Those two were not the only Spaniards making a splash at the Hawthorns, as Alvaro Morata scored and claimed an assist, meaning he has been involved in 12 goals this term (eight goals, four assists).
That is a better record than any Chelsea player has ever managed in its first 11 Premier League games for the club.
Morata's goal at the Hawthorns was Chelsea's 15th scored by a Spaniard this term, a figure made all the more impressive given there are only two teams in LaLiga which have had more goals scored by Spanish players - Real Sociedad (18) and Valencia (16).
HISTORY SAYS
Looking beyond the last few weeks, it is fair to say that Liverpool has an excellent record against other 'big six' sides since Klopp took over, winning more Premier League points (37 in 22 games) in head-to-head matches between them than the other five.
The Reds are also unbeaten in their last five league meetings with Chelsea, winning two and drawing the other three.
But those two wins both came at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea has not suffered defeat at Anfield since May 2012.
However as the match finishes, we can expect to see some goals, as both teams have scored in 11 of their last 12 league meetings against each other.
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