Image source, Getty Images

Mike Hughes, BBC Radio Merseyside

The 14 December is a very important day in the history of Liverpool Football Club.

It was on this very day back in 1959 that Bill Shankly was appointed as manager.

He was the founding father of the modern Liverpool and took them from from the old Second Division, to periods of incredible success in the 1960s and 70s.

The team and the club we know now, probably wouldn't exist if it wasn't for the great 'Shanks'.

I spoke to former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson about some of his Shankly memories and he recalled: "There was all this talk about the great Shanks and we believed.

"We were all on a journey together. Everything about him, the league in 1964, the FA Cup in 1965. There was a myth if we won the FA Cup the Liver birds would fly off the Liver Building.

"We had the best music, the best comedians, it was like the centre of the universe Merseyside.

"Remember his words, I want to build Liverpool into a "bastion of invincibility".

"We were all with him on the journey. He was a wonderful character to be around. I loved every moment of it."

There are three teenagers in Liverpool's starting XI tonight - 18-year-old Scottish winger Ben Doak, 19-year-old left-back Luke Chambers and 19-year-old midfielder Kaide Gordon.

Centre-half Jarell Quansah and Northern Irish right-back Conor Bradley are both 20, as is established first-team squad member Harvey Elliott in midfield.

Wataru Endo, at 30, is the only man in the squad older than 27.

On the bench, a host of youngsters will be hoping to get on, including 18-year-olds Calum Scanlon and Lewis Koumas; 19-year-old James McConnell and 20-year-old goalkeepers Marcelo Pitaluga and Fabian Mrozek.

Image source, Getty Images

Zrinjski Mostar have lost four European games in a row since beating AZ Alkmaar 4-3 in their opening fixture.

John McGinn scored a last-minute winner when these sides met at Villa Park in October.

Domestically, Zrinjski have lost two of their last five games.

Jurgen Klopp was unhappy that he can't stay for a post-match beer with fellow German and Union Saint-Gilloise manager Alexander Blessin as he has to catch the plane home.

Union Saint-Gilloise have lost all three of their European matches against English opponents.

Liverpool are unbeaten in all five of their away major European matches in Belgium.

They have won 15 of their past 17 group stage matches across the Champions League and Europa League.

They have scored in every one of those games, netting 50 goals across those 17 matches.

Image source, Getty Images

Jurgen Klopp says Harvey Elliott will be "super influential" in years to come for Liverpool.

"What we really forget from time to time is he is still super young," said Klopp.

"He has [played] an incredible amount of games already - and top games. Before the bad injury, Harvey was the best player we had.

"With his skillset he will be, in the future, super influential. He has to connect things, he has the ability to do that, he has the overview, he has the technique, the dynamic. He has it.

"Did he bring that always on the pitch when he played? No, but that’s normal. I am really happy he can show it because a player with his ability needs to have finishes as well because he can shoot.

"That was a really good sign again [against Palace] how good this boy can be. Of course we want to use that."

Image source, Getty Images

This is Zrinjski Mostar's 14th European game of the season - and the final one.

They started off in the Champions League qualifiers, then dropped into the Europa League qualifiers and then fell into the Europa Conference League group stages.

But they have no hope of reaching the knockout stages.

Image source, Getty Images

Harvey Elliot's custom footwear ready to come out of the traps...

kinderjurgen: Couldn't be happier with that team sheet! Excited to see the youngsters and happy that Salah, Ali, Trent, Virgil and more have been left at home before the big one on Sunday.

Image source, Getty Images

Harvey Elliott hopes to move on from his "super-sub" tag this season and re-establish himself in Liverpool's starting line-up.

The 20-year-old came off the bench to score Liverpool's winner against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

He has made 20 appearances in all competitions this season, but hasn't completed a 90 minutes in the Premier League.

"I don’t really want to be known as a super-sub," said Elliott.

"It’s a great headline and a nice one, but at the same time I want to be in the team.

"It’s time to establish myself again and to hopefully get a good run of games. I need to be patient and be the super-sub for the moment.

"I’ll happily come on and do whatever I can for the team. I’m just happy to be putting the shirt on but this season I really want to kick on my game."

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool are without several first team players tonight as some are being rested given Jurgen Klopp's side are already through.

Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker will not feature.

Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is also out through injury after he suffered a cut knee in a win at Sheffield United on 6 Decemer.

"It's a bit more tricky than we thought at the first moment," said Klopp.

"The other boy stepped on his knee and the stud went through pretty much the muscle on to the bone.

"Now, we have to wait until the bone is healed and until [Mac Allister] can deal with the pain, because it is pretty painful.

"I never had this injury for one of my players before but now we have it. I hope it will not take that long."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport

When you are involved in a first European campaign, moments arise when there can be a positive from a negative result.

There is no doubt Roberto de Zerbi's side want to beat Marseille tonight so Brighton finish top of their Europa League group.

It would complete a fine achievement for a start.

From a purely football point of view, it would also offer two midweeks off in the new year, which have been rare before Christmas, and allow for the kind of intense training De Zerbi likes.

But for the fans? Last night's dramatic events at St James' Park mean AC Milan will drop into the Europa League play-offs.

It means, for Brighton, one of Europe's most famous clubs, and a trip to the San Siro, might be on the agenda for February if De Zerbi's side do not get the win tonight.

Brighton have already played two European Cup winners in their memorable debut campaign.

But the San Siro? That would be incredible.

There are two Scottish teams in action tonight and you can follow text and radio commentary of those matches here.

Aberdeen host Eintracht Frankfurt at 17:45 GMT in the Europa Conference League, but they are already out.

Rangers go to Real Betis in the Europa League at 20:00 GMT, knowing a win takes them into the last 16 but anything could see them knocked out.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool have already secured top place in Group E and have qualified for the knockout stages of the Europa League.

They have won four out of their five matches and come up against Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise, who sit third in the group.

Jurgen Klopp said on Wednesday his side would have a mixture of youth and experience - and that is the case with his starting XI.

"We want to go for it, that's it," Klopp said this week.

"We have a really good group of young boys [in the under-23s] and some of them we shall see, that's clear."

A big night for the likes of Luke Chambers, Kaide Gordon and Conor Bradley. Ben Doak also has another night to impress.

Teenagers Calum Scanlon, James McConnell and Lewis Koumas are on the bench, alongside 21-year-old Thomas Hill.

Captain Nemanja Bilbija, who has scored Zrinjski Mostar's only goal since their opening 4-3 win over AZ Alkmaar, leads the line for the hosts, while Slobodan Jakovljevic returns from injury in defence.

Zrinjski Mostar XI: Maric, Canadija, Corluka, Zlomislic, Radic, Malekinusic, Ivancic, Cuze, Jakovljevic, Memija, Bilbija.

Aston Villa make wholesale changes to the side that began their Premier League win over Arsenal last weekend. Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Douglas Luiz are the only players retained by boss Unai Emery.

Jhon Duran starts up front while the likes of Leander Dendoncker and Nicolo Zaniolo come into midfield.

Aston Villa XI: Marschall, Cash, Konsa, Luiz, Torres, Moreno, Diaby, Zaniolo, Duran, Dendoncker, Ramsey.

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham manager David Moyes says the Premier League will be "first and foremost" in his plans but cup competitions will be approached "as seriously as we possibly can" following their recent success in Europe.

Moyes guided the Hammers to a Europa League semi-final in 2021-22 and they have already qualified for this season's knockout stage.

The Hammers also famously lifted the Europa Conference League trophy last season.

"I don't really prioritise, I'm looking at the next game and taking one game at a time," said Moyes.

"I've always said that the Premier League will be first and foremost for me. It's the thing you have to focus on.

"But the cup competitions have become pretty special for us. We've been to a semi-final, we've won a final, so we're now seeing the cup competitions as something which we have try to take as seriously as we possibly can."

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa just need a point in Bosnia tonight to seal a place in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League.

They are already guaranteed a spot in the knockout stages, but if they finish second in the group they would go into a play-off round in February.

"We respect this competition and we respect Zrinjski. Of course, we want to be first in the group," said Villa boss Unai Emery.

"Our objective is trying to play, improving our team tactically, trying to give some players a real chance to play and being first in the group.

"It is a very good opportunity for someone to try to play and get minutes, get confidence. I want to try to build and create a strong structure in our squad with the players."

Image source, Getty Images

Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi has said he wants the "prestige" of winning their Europa League group.

The Seagulls, who are guaranteed at least second place in Group B, host leaders Marseille needing a win to top the pool and book their place in the last 16.

Failure to win would mean they enter February's play-offs.

"Marseille are a very good team, but we have the ambition to finish top of our group," De Zerbi said.

"It is a prestigious thing to finish at the top of the table, because we will play two games less in February, and also for the history of our club.

"We want to try to win because we are serious people. When we work, we always want to show our best and do our best."

Image source, .

Liverpool are already guaranteed to be top of their Europa League group and Jurgen Klopp has been able to leave Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah at home.

Only Jarell Quansah and Waturu Endo remain in the starting XI from the side that won 2-1 at Crystal Palace as Klopp makes nine changes.

Youngsters Luke Chambers, Conor Bradley, Kaide Gordon and Ben Doak all get chances to impress.

Liverpool XI: Kelleher, Chambers, Konate, Quansah, Bradley, Jones, Endo, Elliott, Gordon, Doak, Gakpo.

Subs: Pitaluga, Mrozek, Gomez, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, McConnell, Scanlon, Diaz, Nunez, Koumas, Hill.

Image source, .

Union St-Gilloise still have a chance of finishing second in the group and moving into the play-offs, but need to beat Liverpool and hope second-placed Toulouse lose in Austria against Lask.

The Belgians include Kevin Mac Allister, brother of injured Liverpool midfielder Alexis, in their starting XI:

Union St-Gilloise XI: Moris, Machida, Burgess, Mac Allister, Lapoussin, Sadiki, Amani, Castro-Montes, Puertas, Amoura, Nilsson.

West Ham will reach the Europa League round of 16 as group winners if they avoid defeat by Freiburg.

Brighton could join them as group winners if they beat Marseille.

Aston Villa will finish in the top two of the Europa Conference League and they will be through to the last 16 as group winners if they avoid defeat by Zrinjski or if Legia do not beat AZ.

If Villa lose and Legia win, their final ranking will be determined by overall goal difference, then overall goals scored, then overall away goals scored (which would favour Villa).