Don Hutchison
Ex-Scotland midfielder on TNT Sports

Good early spell. Villa will want to keep that pressure on and finding the width.

Liverpool almost in again as Kostas Tsimikas gets away down the left for a cross that floats past everyone in the box. Trent Alexander-Arnold rescues the ball and fires a cross from the other side that is hacked clear.

Image source, Getty Images

Jhon Duran rides a challenge and has a shot from a tight angle which is deflected wide.

The resulting corner comes in and Diego Carlos' volley is blocked.

Steve McManaman
Former Liverpool winger on TNT Sports

He thinks he should have scored. Of course he does - he always thinks he is going to score.

You think it would be perfect for the left-footer as well but he anticipates it, the goalkeeper.

First big chance!

It goes to Liverpool and there is a bit of luck about it as the ball deflects off Ryan Gravenberch and into Mohamed Salah's path behind the visitors' defence. He takes a touch and shoots but sees his effort saved by Anthony Moris.

Image source, Getty Images

It is as you'd expect in the opening exchanges here. Liverpool are on the ball, patiently looking for an opening. Union have 11 men behind the ball.

Image source, Reuters

Couple of early attacks for Villa. Lucas Digne's cross is caught by the away keeper.

The visitors spring forward for their first attack and have a man motoring in the middle but Ibrahima Konate comes over to the left to tackle and prevent a ball coming in to the middle.

Steve McManaman
Former Liverpool winger on TNT Sports

Very strong [line-up]. You fully expect Jurgen Klopp to take this competition very seriously.

They can mix and match and it is good to see Jota, Nunez and Salah together giving that threat up front.

Image source, Reuters

We are under way in Liverpool and in Aston.

Union Saint-Gilloise didn’t lose any of their five away games in last season’s UEFA Europa League (W3 D2), winning all three such outings in the group stage.

Indeed, they are one of only two sides to play more than one away game in the competition since it began in 2009 without ever losing, along with SC Heerenveen (3 games).

Tonight is one of the tougher away trips in Europe, though. Liverpool have only lost one of 21 previous Europa League games at Anfield (W15 D5), a 2-3 defeat to Udinese under Brendan Rodgers in October 2012. Indeed, across all major UEFA competitions, the Reds have won each of their last seven group stage games at Anfield, all in the Champions League from 2020-21 to 2022-23.

Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery speaking to TNT Sports: "This competition is an opportunity to get something important but we are not thinking about the end position. We lost the first match and now we try to win.

"We will try to respect them, they have to win as well."

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaking to TNT Sports about the impact of the weekend's VAR controversy: "It is not good and we have nothing to do with it anymore and we have to focus on this.

"The week started on Monday, as far as I know, and we have been fully focused on this [game] since then."

Liz: You can't honestly tell me that's a penalty. Isn't it a terrifically blatant dive from the Brighton player? There must be virtually no contact. Officiating is the worst it has ever been!

This will be Aston Villa's first European home game since a Europa League play-off defeat by Rapid Vienna in August 2010.

After losing to Legia Warsaw 3-2 in their opener, they are looking for a first European win since August 2009 (coincidentally also against Rapid Vienna in the Europa League play-off round the previous season - although they went out on away goals).

"For me it's about trying to write a new history here," said Villa boss Emery, who has won the Europa League four times.

"And playing in Europe, the difficulty is every team is very excited in Europe, and to play against Premier League teams is a challenge.

"We must win. The first match we played and we lost, now the points are more important.

"It's not about thinking to play under pressure, it's about needing to play well, to play with personality, to try to impose our idea and get those three points."

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins has been rewarded for his fine form in the Premier League by being named in Gareth Southgate's October squad.

It will be his first call up since March 2022, just days after scoring a hat-trick against Brighton.

Addressing the media, Southgate said Ollie is a "good guy around the group."

He added: "Callum Wilson is carrying an injury and we were not certain he would be available.

"Ollie has started the season well. He's hit a bit of scoring form in the last couple of weeks. You have to be careful with that because you can't just go on recency bias with selection.

"But he is in good form and obviously coming in on a high and he's been with us before so we know his character, his personality. He is a good guy around the group.

"His team are playing well and he's playing for a team that are really well coached and they are in a good moment."

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking to Liverpool's website, the Mac Allister brothers explained their journey into football: "We've got great memories of playing football as kids and how special it was to be playing together. I think it was important for our development too," said Alexis.

Kevin revealed what he said to Alexis when he signed for Liverpool: "The most important thing is to always enjoy it. I think Liverpool is a nice place to improve for Alexis. He's in one of the best teams in the world, I think, in history. I'm very proud of him and I really enjoy it when he plays for Liverpool."

Alexis on the moment he found out Liverpool would be playing Union Saint-Gilloise: "I remember one of the guys from the staff told me that we were in the same group and I couldn't believe it. So yes, it was pretty special for me."

Kevin added: "We [the team] were on the plane and the pilot said that we were going to play against LASK, then Toulouse, and then he made a little pause. I remember thinking that we can't be playing against Liverpool, but then he said Liverpool!

"For me, being able to play against my brother was really special. If the coach puts me in the XI, playing at one of the best stadiums in history and listening to 'You'll Never Walk Alone' will be incredible."

But Reds midfielder Alexis had some fighting talk for his brother: "Hopefully you don't enjoy it. I want you to suffer and hopefully you will not want to play us again. I've been at Anfield as a Liverpool player and as an away player, and I can tell you as an away player you'll feel the stadium and the crowd."

Image source, Getty Images

Say the name Kevin McAllister and you'll probably think of a young lad setting numerous genius traps to ward off the threat of the Wet/Sticky Bandits robbing his house.

We've got a very different Kevin Mac Allister at Anfield tonight, though, and he certainly won't be away from home alone.

Union Saint-Gilloise's defender is actually the older brother of Liverpool midfielder Alexis, which could well make tonight's game a nice big family affair.

Alexis isn't starting, but the lads' dad is in the stands to watch.