Joe Rindl
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Millimetres in it.

Video Assistant Refereepublished at 21:13 Greenwich Mean Time 9 November 2023

21:13 GMT 9 November 2023

Aston Villa 0-1 AZ Alkmaar

There's a VAR check but the GOAL STANDS.

Olympiakos won't be shy to break up the game and stall West Ham's momentum, that is for sure.

Sotiris Alexandropoulos, to the ire of home fans, goes down after a coming together with James Ward-Prowse.

Safe to say the Hammers faithful don't reckon there is much wrong with him.

AZ striker Vangelis Pavlidis bursts into the box but his low blast is held by Emiliano Martinez.

The answer to the question in the previous entry seems to be a 'no'.

The Hammers have hardly come out flying from the break.

Lucas Paqueta, who was fit enough to reappear in the second half, demonstratively shows his frustration when a West Ham attack breaks down.

Villa dominating the ball in the early stages of this half. Leon Bailey burns his man on the wing and his cross is deflected by a defender into Mat Ryan's gloves. Could have been an own goal there.

We're going again in east London.

Wonder if David Moyes plugged in the hairdryer?

Under way in the second half.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport at the London Stadium

A draw wouldn't be disastrous for West Ham tonight but, apart from affecting their chances of winning the group, it would also mean they lose their head-to-head with Olympiakos.

That means if the two sides end up on the same points, West Ham are currently ahead by two, the Greek side would go above their hosts tonight.

West Ham could do with a goal in the second half.

Rangers lead Sparta Prague 2-0 at the break in the Europa League.

My brother is opening an Irish pub in Prague soon but it would probably be inappropriate to plug it here...

Anyway here's the live text. Of the game, not Sally O'Brien's.

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport at Villa Park

When Villa had a goal ruled out inside the first three minutes it seemed like VAR was merely delaying the inevitable.

Unai Emery's side were class across the opening quarter, racing down the wings at will and firing crosses into the box.

But the final ball hasn't clicked. AZ ended up finishing the half the stronger.

Work to do.

Chris Hargreaves
Former Northampton, Brentford and Oxford midfielder

A topsy-turvy game, one which again will be defined by VAR, ended in a 3-2 loss for Liverpool.

For most of the 97 minutes, Toulouse had the perfect game plan. This for a team whose recent form has been poor.

Toulouse sat back in and made it extremely difficult for Liverpool to break down, it's more of a compliment to the home team with their shape in and out of possession, than Liverpool’s lack of attacking prowess or creativity.

In the main, Toulouse played with two very rigid banks of four and two strikers who worked their socks off. Whenever the home side had to drop deep and were penned back, they sat in, at times as a 6-3-1. keeping their lines and spaces to an absolute minimum.

I’m sure that this will have been worked on relentlessly on the training ground, if one person switches off defensively it fails.

A horrendous own goal by Cassera - who turned his back from a Diaz cross only to see it bounce off his back and drop into the net - gave Liverpool a glimmer, but as is often the case in football when a team scores they immediately concede, substitute Magri capitalising on a cross that wasn’t cleared to slot home to the delight of the home support.

Toulouse centre-half Nicolaisen marshalled his back line brilliantly and when Liverpool did manage to get to the byeline to cut crosses back the Toulouse defending was brave, blocks and interceptions were timely and brave.

The midfield two of Sierro and Casseres were everywhere, shifting across the pitch in synchronised fashion, and in the forward line Toulouse looked dangerous whenever breaking, Dallinga and Schmidt and both wide players Donnum and Suazo always willing to run and chase, and track back defensively for the cause.

Dallinga was outstanding for Toulouse, 18 goals last season and he looked like he had the bit between his teeth tonight on the European stage. When all units work in harmony it is extremely difficult for a team, even as good as Liverpool’s attacking players are, to break down.

When playing against a very organised defence, any team has to be so incisive and accurate with forward passes and crosses, and tonight Liverpool couldn’t replicate the 5-1 home performance against the same opposition.

Only once or twice did Liverpool get in behind, a young keeper in goal for Toulouse and he wasn’t really tested with any venom, shots or crosses were at a minimum. Liverpool didn’t get their passing game going as they would have liked, having won three from three in the tournament so far, but credit has to go to Toulouse, who with a home crowd behind them gave everything from the first to the last whistle.

A brilliant individual goal from Jota in the 88th minute, turning his man and running beyond the Toulouse back line to slot past Restes gave Liverpool renewed hope, and on the stroke of the seventh minute of injury time Liverpool thought they had salvaged a point through Quansh, only for VAR to rule it out for an earlier handball by Mac Allister.

A famous win for Toulouse, considering their recent hammering at Anfield and hats off to their coach Carles Martinez Novell for setting his team up so well, it wasn’t pretty at times but they got the job done.

Perhaps there is a bigger picture going forward for Jurgen Klopp’s men. A wry smile from the Liverpool manager at the end of the game probably masked his frustration and annoyance, namely at VAR.

Lots of perspiration, very little inspiration.

West Ham have been the better side but are continuing to lack confidence against a workmanlike Olympiakos side.

David Moyes has got some galvanising to do in the dressing room.

Worryingly for the Hammers, Lucas Paqueta looks to be in some discomfort.

The break coming at precisely the right time for the Brazilian, who David Moyes will be hoping can be patched up for the second half.

Goalless at the break. Also level on disallowed goals (1-1).

The fourth official informs us there will be three minutes of stoppage time.

Hammers fans must be tempted to head downstairs early for a warm cup of soup.

Can't see the deadlock being broken before half-time.

Villa win a corner which they take quickly and short. Eventually Leon Bailey's cross swings wide.

Another sparky run from Said Benrahma in the left channel, but his low cross lacks accuracy and purpose. Olympiakos keeper Alexandros Paschalakis puts his hat on it.

Two minutes added on.