Carlton Cole
Former West Ham striker on TNT Sports

The West Ham fans are very hard to please, but when it comes to these sort of nights in Europe they know what to do. They know how to get behind their team and how to put the opposition off.

The away fans will be here but you won't be able to hear them, West Ham fans will be taking them to the cleaners. It is an early kick-off too so they will have even more energy in them.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Image source, Michael Emons

Aston Villa will be relying on Unai Emery's experience in Europe to help them navigate a way through their Conference League last-16 tie tonight - and they could not have a better manager for the job.

Emery has won the Europa League on four occasions - three times with Sevilla (2014, 2015 and 2016) and once with Villarreal (2021) and also took Arsenal to the final in 2019.

He is hoping for more continental success this season and said: "Europe is prestige, a Uefa competition, it is another objective in our season and very important for the players and the club. I don't want to finish my way in Europe with Aston Villa just yet."

Mina Rzouki
European football expert on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

According to some Italian papers Romelu Lukaku started coming in on his days off because he wanted to work on specific training.

You then look at his teammates; Paulo Dybala has been ridiculously good in the last nine games, Lorenzo Pellegrini has become this pot of creativity, and Lukaku scored in the opening game of Daniele De Rossi's tenure but didn't really do much after that.

Then came the point where he was dropped to the bench against Torino, even though he is still seen as one of the best number nines.

That was the moment he thought, 'Do you know what? I'm going to start coming in, doing more specific training, and I'm going to get back in.' And that's what he did, and he scored a great goal [in the first leg v Brighton].

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Another huge week for Liverpool - as most of the remaining weeks of the season could well be.

Their big first-leg lead over Sparta Prague should be enough to ensure safe passage through to the quarter finals in the Europa League on Thursday.

Then, thoughts will turn to Sunday's FA Cup tie at Old Trafford.

There was so much to like in the performance against Manchester City- a brilliant game played by two formidable sides with great intensity. That will be needed again on Sunday, because games against Manchester United at Old Trafford are always a bit different.

Jurgen Klopp has been able to come through the terrible run of injuries and now has most of his major players back playing again, including Mohamed Salah, who has had two recent sub appearances.

Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister were superb on Sunday and, as each week goes by, the options get stronger and stronger.

That is crucial at a time when so much hangs on every single match.

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham manager David Moyes and midfielder Tomas Soucek have both backed Kalvin Phillips to turn his form around.

The Manchester City loanee has struggled to cement a regular place in the Hammers side since his January loan move - and lost his place in the England squad today.

He came off at half-time at the weekend before West Ham came back to draw 2-2 with Burnley.

"We made the changes and, unfortunately, Kalvin was one of the players who I chose to take off and see if we could turn it around," said Moyes.

"Kalvin just has to keep his head down and I'm sure things will turn for him here."

Soucek said: "I see him every day. It's very difficult for him. For players who don't play often, it is difficult to play in the games.

"It's is difficult for him but we all support him and we are with him. He is a hard worker, that's what I like about him and his style."

West Ham are playing at a kick-off time not often seen on English soil, 17:45 GMT.

That is because three other English teams are also at home in Europe tonight and someone needed to move to the early slot for TV reasons.

"It's a strange kick-off time for a football club in London," said boss David Moyes.

"We have got to hope that the fans can get through all the rush hour and that flexible working allows people to get to the stadium in plenty of time so we can get that backing we badly need."

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Simon Stone
BBC Sport at London Stadium

Kalvin Phillips drops down to the bench for West Ham, with Mexico international Edson Alvarez replacing the England midfielder.

Aaron Cresswell remains at left-back, with Brazilian Emerson not risked after he picked up a groin injury in the first leg.

West Ham are looking to overturn a first-leg deficit to progress for the fifth time in their history. They famously did it against Sevilla at the same stage of this competition two years ago.

West Ham XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma, Cresswell, Soucek, Alvarez, Kudus, Paqueta, Bowen, Antonio. Substitutes: Areola, Knightbridge, Johnson, Ward-Prowse, Phillips, Ings, Ogbonna, Aguerd, Earthy, Casey, Mubama, Orford.

Freiburg are unchanged from the first leg as they look to reach the quarter-final of a European competition for the first time.

Freiburg XI: Atubolu, Sildillia, Ginter, Gulde, Gunter, Hofler, Doan, Eggestein, Holer, Grifo, Sallai. Substitutes: Muller, Uphoff,Leinhart, Szalai, Keitel, Kubler, Adamu, Muslija, Philipp, Makengo, Rohl, Gregoritsch.

The Europa League quarter-final draw is on tomorrow at 12:00 GMT in Nyon, Switzerland.

They will also do the semi-final draw then too - so eveyone will know their potential route to the Aviva Stadium final.

The Europa Conference League draw is an hour later and has the same format.

Image source, Getty Images

Robbie Keane is looking to take Maccabi Tel-Aviv into the quarter-finals tonight. The Israeli side lead Olympiakos 4-1 from the first leg.

Fenerbahce and Lille hold 3-0 first-leg leads in their ties, while Fiorentina are 4-3 up on Maccabi Haifa from last week.

Dinamo Zagreb and Molde are also bidding to see out first-leg victories, while Viktoria Plzen and Servette drew 0-0 last week.

Image source, Getty Images

AC Milan go to Slavia Prague at 17:45 GMT taking a 4-2 lead from the first leg at San Siro.

Marseille visit Villarreal (also at 17:45 GMT) with one foot in the quarter-finals. The French team won 4-0 at home.

It's tight between Atalanta and Sporting Lisbon, who drew the first leg 1-1, and meet in Italy at 20:00 GMT.

Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen, unbeaten in all competitions, host Qarabag at 20:00 GMT with that score at 2-2.

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Here's what's on the British agenda tonight. although our focus will be on the English teams because you can follow Rangers' game on dedicated BBC Scotland live text and radio commentary.

Europa League

West Ham v Freiburg (17:45 GMT, first leg 0-1)

Rangers v Benfica (17:45 GMT, first leg 2-2)

Brighton v Roma (20:00 GMT, first leg 0-4)

Liverpool v Sparta Prague (20:00 GMT, first leg 5-1)

Europa Conference League

Aston Villa v Ajax (20:00 GMT, first leg 0-0)

Image source, Getty Images

Hello and welcome to live text commentary of Thursday's Europa League and Europa Conference League fixtures.

Liverpool are almost certainly through, Brighton are almost certainly out but it could go either way for Aston Villa and West Ham.