Sevilla lowdown: Jesus Navas and Steven N'Zonzi will play key roles for Eduardo Berizzo's attacking side in Champions League tie with Liverpool

  • Sevilla face Liverpool in the Champions League group stages on Wednesday 
  • Former Manchester City winger Jesus Navas is a key man at his boyhood club
  • Another ex-City man Nolito has been ruled out of the clash due to a thigh injury 
  • Eduardo Berizzo was appointed as Sevilla manager to replace Jorge Sampaoli

Sevilla will bring a familiar face to Anfield on Wednesday night with Jesus Navas, the former Manchester City winger playing in Eduardo Berizzo’s attack. 

He may have underwhelmed at City but has responded to the huge responsibility put on his shoulders back at his boyhood club and will lead from the front as Sevilla try once more to go where they have never gone before – into the Champions League last 16 - once they are out of a potentially straightforward group.

Navas will play one side of striker Wissam Ben Yedder and Carlos Correa will play the other in a quick front three that will look to get in behind Liverpool’s full-backs and expose the soft centre of their defence as Manchester City did at the weekend.

Jesus Navas has thrived since returning to his boyhood club Sevilla from Manchester City

Jesus Navas has thrived since returning to his boyhood club Sevilla from Manchester City

Without the ball both Correa and Navas will look to drop back and make a five in midfield for the visitors and it’s in the middle of the park where Sevilla were most impressive in the transfer market. 


Ever Banega was their first piece of business signed for around £8million from Inter. It’s his second spell at the club after being released to move to Inter a year ago. Immensely talented he has always been held back by a lack of application and consistency but the heat in Southern Spain seems to favour him.

Everton looked at him on several occasions but he has so far not taken the Premier League plunge – alongside him in the Sevilla midfield is one man who can tell him all about performing on cold wet nights at Stoke.

Steven N'Zonzi previously played in the Premier League with Blackburn and Stoke

Steven N'Zonzi previously played in the Premier League with Blackburn and Stoke

Steven N’Zonzi left them in 2015 for £6m and might have gone back to England for four times that amount if Manchester City had taken the gamble this summer after the Frenchman’s impressive season.

The third man in the midfield trio is Guido Pizarro who replaced Leicester-bound Vicente Iborra. If Iborra was an institution at Sevilla playing 172 games and wearing the armband, Pizarro is more of free-spirit for hire. 

They were sad to see him leave Tigres in the Mexican league and Sevilla coach Berizzo is hopeful that his compatriot will bring leadership and character to a team that will need it after the departure of one of the dressing room heavyweights. 

He was one of the principal requests of Berizzo when he took the job and he has been given the player he believes will help Sevilla play as he wants them to.

Ever Banega rejoined Sevilla this summer after one season in Serie A with Inter Milan

Ever Banega rejoined Sevilla this summer after one season in Serie A with Inter Milan

Nolito (centre) is unavailable for selection after suffering a thigh injury at the weekend

Nolito (centre) is unavailable for selection after suffering a thigh injury at the weekend

Sevilla are not about to suffer the Crystal Palace complex, they have not gone from chalk to cheese in the technical area. They lost Jorge Sampaoli at the end of last season but not only have the hired a new manager of the same nationality but they have opted for someone who will want the team to play with a similar style and intensity.

Berizzo proved his worth last season taking Celta Vigo to the Europa League semi-finals where they were beaten by Manchester United. They were giddy heights for a team of such limited resources and Berizzo took much of the credit and then the Sevilla job as soon as it was offered him.

He is an attacking coach but they have only conceded once so far this season with sometime Spain No 3 Sergio Rico in goal and Sebastein Corchia, Simon Kjaer, Clement Lenglet and Sergio Escudero across the back. Nico Parejo could get in ahead of Clement if he is passed fit.

Eduardo Berizzo was appointed by Sevilla this summer after three years with Celta Vigo

Eduardo Berizzo was appointed by Sevilla this summer after three years with Celta Vigo

Escudero is probably the pick of that rearguard. He was close to a Spain call-up last season and will give his team attacking options as well as defensive security. It's not the same Sevilla last year, it never is.

And the team had to cope without the magic of Monchi in the transfer market this summer as they looked to rebuild once more. 

But you always get passion, commitment and up-and-at-em approach from Sevilla and that will be the same as always - led by Navas who was never more than a bit-part player at City but returns as Sevilla's leading man on Wednesday night.