Former Brighton player Adam Virgo believes the Seagulls and Europa League last-16 opponents Roma are closely matched, but thinks the Italian side are "slight favourites" to progress to the quarter-finals.

Brighton are ninth in the Premier League but are missing two of their main attacking threats, Joao Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma, because of injury.

Meanwhile, Roma are fifth in Serie A and enter the first leg in good form, having won six of their past seven league games.

"If I look at the line-ups of the teams, goalkeepers are 50-50, defence is 50-50, I think Brighton have got a better midfield but I think Roma have got a better attacking line," said Virgo on BBC Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast.

"I'm pleased the away leg is first. You can set your stall out slightly easier than at home because you would expect to attack a team a little bit more. So I think that does work into Brighton's favour a little bit, but I do start Roma as slight favourites with the quality they've got and the squad Daniele [de Rossi] has got available to select from.

"For me Serie A is the second best league now. You've seen them go far in Europe - they had three finalists last season in each of the competitions. It's arguably the top two leagues going against each other.

"Brighton have shown resilience before and they're going to have to do it again. There are no easy teams now at this stage - it's not like teams have got there by chance.

"But Roma are going to fear Brighton as much as Brighton will respect them."

Listen to a full preview of Roma v Brighton on BBC Sounds

Khan Karn: This is a big game but surely the Man City game is the biggest one this season? Why not give Tsimikas, Clark, Gordon, McConnell and Koumas a game. They've all done superb when called upon. You can rest 5 more players especially Robbo, Macca, Diaz, Endo and Konate

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, speaking to TNT Sports on naming a strong XI: "It's proof how much we want to win the game. We have players available. We had to make decisions who should play again. Yes, it's a good line-up and we have options on the bench. It's a tough game. We're playing a positive and optimistic opponent.

"If you can rotate it's a luxury problem. It's just figuring out who to use and when. Two or three came back and hopefully more will in next few weeks. It's a tough period but we are used to it."

On if Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai will figure off the bench and for how long: "Who can tell you that? I'd say Dom a bit more than Mo because Dom has been longer in training. We have to see. They are not injured anymore and that's good."

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea and Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Liverpool have gone strong. Klopp wants this game won and he wants it won as soon as possible. Suddenly Liverpool's squad looks pretty good after the way the youngsters have performed.

BBC Radio 5 Live coverage has started from the Epet Arena. Tune in at the top of this page or however you usually listen to the radio.

Ajax midfielder Jordan Henderson says Aston Villa are "probably one of the teams in Europe with the best form".

"I have played against them 22 times, but the game I remember most is a lost FA Cup semi-final at Wembley," the ex-Liverpool captain said.

"I have won more often than lost when playing them, but that is the one that hurts the most. Funnily enough, defeats always linger longer.

"Against Aston Villa, it is always difficult. That was true as a young Sunderland player and later with Liverpool as well. And it will also be the case on Thursday.

"I watched Aston Villa on television this week against Luton Town and they are just a very good team. I am a fan of the manager Unai Emery."

Mike Taylor
BBC WM commentator

Aston Villa’s biggest week of the season seems to come round quite often. Each time, we say - quite correctly - that this really is the crunch, this is going to be the one that defines the season.

Unai Emery, on the whole, seems to shrug off these thoughts, at least in public.

"Enjoy the ride" has become one of his catchier phrases, although this season all his utterances - even his cheery "good evening" - are treated by Villa supporters with reverence, as if found on an ancient scroll unearthed beneath the Holte End. Every word carries weight when you're a winner.

And Villa are winning again, regularly and with some style, after their brief mid-season dip. There may have been a few too many dramas for Emery's liking along the way, however.

There will be a lot of Villa fans enjoying the ride here in Amsterdam this week, as Villa resume their Europa Conference League tour.

Later in a very big 'big week', there is Sunday’s date with Tottenham to look forward to - a game offering Villa huge rewards if they win, widening the gap to their chasers - and perhaps more thrills beyond that.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery wants to add the Europa Conference League to his collection of European trophies.

The Spaniard has won the Europa League four times with Sevilla and Villarreal.

"I respect each competition a lot in Europe," said Emery.

"We are going to face Ajax, and they were playing in the semi-finals of the Champions League five years ago.

"I was in the semi-final with Villarreal in Spain in the Champions League. I played in the Europa League and won. I appreciate European football in every competition and now want to enjoy the Conference League.

"If we are playing here with two teams like Ajax and Aston Villa, it is good for both teams.

"European football always has prestige. This competition started two years ago, Roma and West Ham have won and both are prestigious clubs."

Image source, Aston Villa

Aston Villa will have children's hospice Acorns on the front of their shirts tonight.

Villa's main shirt sponsor, betting firm BK8, cannot be used because of Dutch advertising regulations.

Acorns were on the front of Villa's shirts between 2008 and 2010.

These sides have met once before, well over two legs - in the last 32 of this competition back in 2010-11. Dirk Kuyt scored the only goal as the Reds won 1-0 on aggregate.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister says it is important he has a strong "connection" with forward Darwin Nunez off the pitch because it helps them work together on the pitch.

However, the Argentina midfielder, who assisted Nunez's match-winning goal in the dying seconds of their away game at Nottingham Forest, has downplayed the role he has played in the Uruguay striker's development.

"My relationship with Darwin is very good," Mac Allister said. "Since the first time we met, you could see the connection between us off the pitch and then on the pitch we try to be connected.

"When I play as an eight of course that connection has to be important. He is an amazing guy, he is doing very well and works very hard and that's why I am very happy for him."

Nunez has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season, one off his total of 15 in his debut season for the Reds.

"Sometimes I hear people saying I help him a lot but that's not true," Mac Allister added. "His level is because he trains very well, he works very well and that's why he is scoring goals and that is why he is important for this team."

What are the lyrics of Fatboy Slim's 'Praise You' song all about?

The DJ and celebrity Brighton fan tells The Football News Show of his journey following the club and how their near exit from the Football League makes their current success even sweeter.

Peter Crouch
Former Liverpool striker on TNT Sports

Liverpool are the standout candidates [to win the Europa League]. If they get through this one - which is tricky - they will then have players back. These are difficult places to come. That's why Jurgen Klopp has gone with a strong XI.

Brighton midfielder Pascal Gross wants his side to do "something special" in their first European knockout tie.

The Seagulls face Italian giants Roma in their Europa League last-16 first leg at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

After finishing top of Group B, Brighton now have a chance to create more club history as they aim to reach a first quarter-final.

"We are very excited," said German midfielder Gross. "We will be humble but will want to do something special."

Italian manager Roberto de Zerbi said he is "proud to be back in my country with my team".

"We will give it a go," he added. "We will be humble. We know what we have done in the last year and a half. This is unprecedented for this club and we are making history."

Image source, Getty Images

Jordan Henderson hopes Jurgen Klopp will enjoy a "fairytale" ending to his time as manager at Anfield.

Henderson, who is the Ajax skipper tonight against Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League, captained the Reds to the Champions League and Premier League under Klopp.

The England midfielder said: "Jurgen has had an amazing time at Liverpool. Everything he achieved was because of him. I just hope the end of the story is a fairytale for him, the boys and the club.

"With the news coming out like it has over the past few weeks, [it] will give him an extra energy boost until the end of the season. We have seen that already, and [in] the players as well.

"Hopefully that will get them over the line on a few trophies over the next few months."

Sparta Prague's only defeat this year was against Galatasaray in the last round.

They have won 12 of their last 14 games, with their last two matches both derbies against Slavia Prague in the cup and league.

Boss Brian Priske said: "I think every sportsman believes that they can win any game, but of course we are also realistic and know very well that Liverpool are one of the big giants in international football.

"Liverpool are playing great this season and my boys will have their hands full. It is also difficult to predict who will start for them, considering the size and quality of their squad. However, we're more interested in their style of play than specific personnel."

Boss Roberto de Zerbi says he is happy at Brighton but knows he will return to Italy to manage one day.

The Italian returns to his homeland with the Seagulls, who face Roma in their Europa League last 16 first leg.

De Zerbi has caught the eye of many clubs after leading Brighton to sixth in the Premier League last season and into Europe for the first time.

He told a news conference: “I do what makes me happy and right now I am happy where I am. It makes me happy when we win but also when we lose.

“One day I will return to Italy but I don’t know when that day will come.”

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says he doesn't know how to prioritise a competition.

The Reds are in Prague three days before their Premier League home match with title rivals Manchester City.

"I know it is the only game we play tomorrow night so that is the most important game we have," he said yesterday.

"We wouldn't have won the League Cup, be in the next round of the FA Cup and still in the Europa League if we prioritised a competition. I don't know how to do that."

Liverpool have made 230 changes to their starting XI in all competitions this season, 51 more than any other Premier League side. Manchester City have made 179 changes.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has history with Sparta Prague counterpart Brian Priske.

Priske was the Midtjylland when they faced Liverpool in the 2020-21 Champions League group stages - with the Reds picking up four points from the two games.

"I think if I remember rightly, we had some arguments," said Klopp.

"The style of play of the opponent was really rough. I saw the last game. It was not a friendly game as well. It is the knockout stages now - they will go for everything. Everyone in this competition is ambitious and we are as well."