UEL: The win is all they need - Hammers and Reds on the verge of the knockout stage
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 30.11.23. | 15:27
West Ham face Serbian side Backa Topola, while Liverpool await Austrian slot LASK in the Europa League
Two Premier League teams, West Ham United and Liverpool, are one step away from reaching the UEFA Europa League last-16 round. To make it there, they both need to win tonight in their respective battles against two European minnows.
The Hammers travel to Serbia to face TSC Backa Topola, whom they defeated in London 3-1 in the opening match of Group A.
David Moyes' side has earned nine points thus far and is neck-on-neck with the Bundesliga slot Freiburg, with their last-matchday clash at West Ham soil to decide who'll go directly to the knockout stage, and who'll have to try their luck through playoffs (against one of third-placed UCL clubs).
West Ham United will still be without Michail Antonio, who Moyes confirmed would be out for around two to three weeks prior to Saturday's Premier League win at Burnley.
Jarrod Bowen was also absent from the matchday squad at Turf Moor, and the former Man Utd gaffer hopes the England international is fit enough to make the trip to Serbia.
On the other hand, Liverpool return to action tonight when they take on LASK. The Reds currently sit at the top of Group E after four games with nine points, just like West Ham. However, Jurgen Klopp's side lost to Toulouse in France in their ultimate European game.
Just as in the case of the Hammers and their rival, the Scousers celebrated a 3-1 win in the opening match against tonight's opposition.
As we reported yesterday, Klopp revealed that he would not be able to count on Alisson and Diogo Jota in the upcoming period. Both were injured in the game against City on Saturday. In particular, Alisson injured his hamstring at the end of the match and will be out of action for at least two weeks. Jota, on the other hand, expects a slightly longer break.
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE
Group stage - Matchday 5
Thursday
20:45: (1.90) Freiburg (3.60) Olympiakos (4.50)
20:45: (10.0) TSC Backa Topola (6.50) West Ham (1.30)
20:45: (4.00) AEK (3.60) Brighton (2.00)
20:45: (2.55) Sparta Praha (3.50) Betis (2.85)
20:45: (2.20) Atalanta (3.50) Sporting (3.45)
20:45: (1.87) Sturm (3.50) Rakow (4.20)
20:45: (4.90) Maccabi Haifa (3.60) Rennes (1.75)
23:00: (1.67) Olympique Marseille (4.00) Ajax (5.60)
23:00: (1.32) Rangers (5.30) Aris Limmasol (9.50)
23:00: (1.15) Liverpool (10.5) LASK (17.0)
23:00: (2.30) Toulouse (3.50) St.Gilloise (3.25)
23:00: (2.05) Villareal (3.60) Panathinaikos (3.90)
23:00: (4.20) Servette (3.50) Roma (1.87)
23:00: (5.60) Sheriff Tiraspol (3.70) Slavia Praha (1.65)
23:00: (8.00) Hacken (5.00) Leverkusen (1.38)
23:00: (1.95) Molde (3.60) Qarabag (4.20)
***odds are subject to change***
