Europa and Conference League Tips: Group-topping Liverpool to march on as Aston Villa use home advantage

While Tuesday and Wednesdays are for the Champions League, we all know that come Thursday it’s all eyes on the other two European competitions…

In total we have four English sides in action across the Europa League and Europa Conference League, and all of them are still very much in with a chance of making it out of the group stages. 

We took a look at how Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool, West Ham United and Aston Villa might get on as they head into continental action once again.

Europa League

Ajax v Brighton & Hove Albion

Kick off: 5.45pm Thursday

The Dutch giants are having a torrid time of things this season and are currently 11^th in the Eredivisie, which is why it’s the visitors (1.81) who are favourites to come out on top here.

Ajax have picked up a couple of wins on the bounce though – doing so for the first time in 2023/24 – so will be in a better frame of mind to their last meeting with the Seagulls, a game that they lost 2-0.

Roberto De Zerbi’s side have faltered a bit recently, and while they’ve only lost one of their last six, they’ve only won one of them (against Ajax) as well. Collectively the two sides have only failed to score four times this season, so goals feel likely – 1.51 for both to score.

Prediction: Brighton to win and both teams to score @ 3.05

Toulouse v Liverpool

Kick off: 5.45pm Thursday

Despite having home advantage, the Ligue 1 side are big outsiders (at 7) to secure a win in this fixture, and part of the reason for that is that Liverpool have won 12 of their 16 games across all competitions this season so far.

Jurgen Klopp’s Reds have also scored 3+ on eight different occasions up to now, however they’ve found clean sheets harder to come by – hence them being at 2.56 to keep one at Stadium de Toulouse.

Les Violets are hardly in sparkling form, though, with just three wins in 2023/24, and they head into this game having conceded 10 in their last three matches – including five at Anfield.

Prediction: Liverpool to win and over 2.5 goals @ 1.92

West Ham United v Olympiacos

Kick off: 8pm Thursday

The Hammers head into this game top of Group A, and will be very confident that their venture on the continent will continue in some shape or form. The reigning ECL winners are favourites at 1.7, even though they lost against the Greeks when they met last month. 

David Moyes’ outfit have been beaten in four of their last five matches, but they do have a goal in them – only once this season have they failed to score, even in defeat. It’s why the visitors are at 6.6 to keep a clean sheet.  

Up top, Jarrod Bowen is 2.3 as anytime goalscorer after grabbing three in his last four games, with Mohammed Kudus not far behind him on 2.74. It wouldn’t be a shock to see either of them on the scoresheet at London Stadium.

Prediction: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals @ 1.96

Europa Conference League

Aston Villa v AZ Alkmaar

Unai Emery’s side are still in a strong position in Group E, and even after their surprise Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest at the weekend, they’re favourites but their battles to keep a clean sheet mean they’re at 2.2 to win to nil. 

Domestically AZ have been in fine fettle this season, and with 10 games played they find themselves in second place in the Eredivisie. They were heavily beaten by the Villains last month in a 4-1 defeat, and conceded four in their most recent ECL game on the road against HŠK Zrinjski Mostar – over 2.5 goals here is at 1.71.

The Dutch outside have scored in all of their last 20 matches in a run that stretches back to last season, and you can get them at 4.2 to get more than one in Birmingham.

Prediction: Aston Villa clean sheet – no @ 1.73

Recommended Bets

Back Brighton to beat Ajax and BTTS @ 3.05
Back Liverpool to beat Toulouse and over 2.5 goals @ 1.92
Back BTTS and over 2.5 goals in West Ham v Olympiacos @ 1.96
Back Aston Villa clean sheet - no @ 1.73