Image source, Getty Images

The Times' Charlotte Duncker speaking on the Football News Show: "For these supporters that have not seen them lift a trophy since 1996 and they've not won a European trophy since the 80s, I think the opportunity to go to Athens and see their team lift the Europa Conference League would be a great memory and I think for Unai Emery in his first full season in charge to get silverware would be a great success.

"But on the flip side if they were to miss out on the Champions League after being in and around the places for most of this season I think it would really hurt them. With that as well could be huge revenue sums that could be invested back in the team."

This is shaping up to be Aston Villa's best season since the 1990s.

Villa's last trophy was the Coca-Cola Cup (League Cup, EFL Cup in new money) in 1996.

They are the favourites to win the Europa Conference League.

They are fifth in the Premier League, which would be their highest finish since 1996-97.

As things stand that would be enough to seal their first ever place in the Champions League.

They have been in the European Cup before, winning it in 1982, but have never been in the new format of the competition.

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Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim has denied verbally agreeing a deal to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

Reports earlier this week claimed the Portuguese coach had provisionally agreed to move to Anfield this summer.

Amorim, 39, does not want the speculation to be a distraction during his side's title run-in.

"There's been no interview with any club, no agreement with any club," said Amorim.

"This is the last time I'm going to talk about my future. The only thing we all want, is to be champions with Sporting. Nothing will change."

Anon: Usually, I like the English teams to do well. But this season I'd like them out as soon as possible. As a rival midlands club fan, the thought of Villa getting CL football by finishing fifth is sickening.

Dubious: As someone whose team never gets in Europe, I back our glorious beefy boys with the same spirit of detached irony I usually reserve for (redacted).

Brian: Absolutely not, other than the one I've supported all my life Liverpool. Could never bring myself to do that!!

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Liverpool fan groups are protesting at the rise in ticket costs and have agreed to take all banners off the Kop for tonight's game at Anfield.

Gareth Roberts, who represents The Spirit of Shankly and the Supporters' Board, spoke about the protest, led by Spion Kop 1906, with BBC Radio Merseyside.

"There's just a worrying direction of travel, not just from Liverpool putting prices up but across the league," said Roberts.

"Lots of the things that felt like wins for supporters are being grabbed back. I think it's why people are angry because people are being priced out.

"Liverpool are guaranteed extra income next season anyway without doing this. There's now a bigger Anfield capacity. They'll be playing more Champions League games at home because of the new format.

"There's plenty of income coming into Liverpool without squeezing the people who are hit the hardest. Football is already too expensive, and this is a stand against that."

Aston Villa are yet to win a European trophy since the 1982 European Super Cup.

Their last major trophy in any competition came in 1996; the League Cup.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott says they "want to give everything back" to Jurgen Klopp by winning the Europa League.

If they reach the final on 22 May it will be Klopp's last match in charge of the club. It's the only trophy he has not yet won with Liverpool.

"Winning it would be the best possible way for that to end," said Elliott.

"We as players will be doing everything we can for that to happen and we want to give everything back to him.

"He's been so influential in all our careers."

Do you back English teams in Europe, even if you don't support them?

We want to know your thoughts, with three Premier League sides in action this evening.

Get involved via the means above.

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Striker Michail Antonio says West Ham have "nothing really to lose" tonight because everyone expects Bayer Leverkusen to win.

"The thing is everyone thinks we've got this game [lost] already," Antonio told the Footballer's Football podcast.

"One thing with us is when people expect us to lose, other things happen.

"You could talk to Tottenham when they came to us top of the league in 2016 thinking they were gonna win the league. Who stopped them? It was me.

"Two years ago we went to Sevilla away, lost 1-0, came back and everyone thought it was over, they always win the Europa League and stuff like that. What happened? It was us, knocked them out, home game, atmosphere was unbelievable.

"Last year everyone thought Fiorentina had the better team, West Ham is just alright, thinking we've done well just to get to the final. Nope, we're holding the trophy.

"We're gonna take it easy, go there, believe and go out there and do what we can.

"As long as we perform well it doesn't matter if we win or we lose. We just have to go out there and do enough for the fans to be happy."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Don't sit on the fence, Tom!

Peter Crouch
Ex-England and Liverpool striker on TNT Sports

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I think the proof is in the pudding. I think he has been involved in every single squad and has stayed fit.

We can see his quality when he plays. He wants to be a mainstay in this team and be one of the main cogs and I think that his age has worked against him a little bit.

But there is no doubting his quality and he could be a massive player for Liverpool.

West Ham boss David Moyes is looking forward to getting a crack at beating unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen.

"I see it as a great opportunity," said the Scot. "We've been on a really good run over the last few years, so we're not coming here without expectancy.

"We've done very well in Europe over the last three years.

"We're looking forward to the game. It'll be difficult, but there are two legs and we're hopeful.

"We have character, and it's probably a bit about my character as well.

"We'll need leadership, composure and tactical understanding in this tie, against a team who are unbeaten in 41, so we need to try and handle that."

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Harvey Elliott has featured largely as a substitute in the Premier League this season - with 21 of his 27 appearances from the bench - but has played a key role in the Europa League and starts again today.

"I look for areas I can get myself into and attack that way. But frankly, I want to be starting games," said Elliott.

"I want to be the player that's walking out, not coming on. It doesn't mean I'm not grateful.

"I'm always grateful for every opportunity in the shirt but it's about kicking on and getting myself a starting place in that team.

"I'm working very hard to make that happen for myself. I know I'm still young but I'm not a kid, I'm a man.

"I've had to grow up quickly so I am taking that responsibility into my own hands. If that means knocking on the gaffer's door then I'll do it."

Stephen Warnock
Former England and Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

The fact that Nunez is the only player from that front line who has survived shows that Klopp feels Salah needs a break.

I think he feels he has got enough to get through this tonight, with the game at the weekend ahead of them.

Bayer Leverkusen can win the Bundesliga on Sunday if they beat Werder Bremen, sitting 16 points clear at the top with six games to go.

Boss Xabi Alonso is focused though on this game.

"We know what West Ham can do. They have experience in Europe - last season they were champions of the Conference League," said Alonso.

"We want to go further and starting tomorrow and then next week in London, we have to play to our own game. We are ready."

As Jurgen Klopp nears the end of his tenure at Liverpool, BBC Sport visits Anfield to analyse the impact of the German on the club, the city, and discuss how the Reds will handle his impeding departure.

Vito Mannone (Arsenal, Sunderland) and Remy Cabella (Newcastle) both spent time in the Premier League previously and have faced Lille's Europa Conference League opponents, Aston Villa, before.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Jurgen Klopp has addressed the fan protests planned tonight in response to rising ticket prices at Anfield.

In recent weeks, the club confirmed there will be a 2% rise in the cost of season tickets and members’ tickets for next season.

Fan group Spion Kop 1906 confirmed there will be no flags on the Kop tonight but they will pay their respects to the 97 with Hillsborough flags only at this weekends Premier League match,.

"We are disappointed in the football club’s decision towards ticket prices for 2024-25," they added in a statement on X.

"There is still a chance for the club to hold some positive dialogue with the supporters board in time for Saturday’s meeting.

"Until then the supporters have one message: No to ticket price increases."

Asked in his media conference this week, Klopp said: "What we should make sure is that there is nothing that gets between us and the supporters. Discuss it.

"But between the two big whistles, we just have to be Liverpool. That is what I am asking for. They will find a solution I'm sure."

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery sticks with the side who drew 3-3 with Brentford on Saturday as he takes charge of his 1,000th game as a manager.

Villa remain without Matty Cash, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Clement Lenglet is also out with a minor knock.

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne, Bailey, Tielemans, Luiz, Rodgers, McGinn, Watkins.

Subs: Olsen, Gauci, Moreno, Diaby, Zaniolo, Duran, Iroegbunam, Kesler-Hayden, Kellyman.

Image source, BBC Sport

Lille makes two alterations to the side who were 3-1 winners against Marseille last Friday.

Gabriel Gudmundsson and Bafode Diakite come into the defence.

Alexsandro and Remy Cabella drop to the bench.

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nabil Bentaleb starts for the away side while ex-Man Utd midfielder Angel Gomes is on the bench.

Lille XI: Chevalier, Santos, Yoro, Diakite, Gudmundsson, Ismaily, Bentaleb, Andre, Haraldsson, Zhegrova, David.

Subs: Mannone, Negrel, Alexsandro, Toure, Gomes, Bouaddi, Cabella, Yazici, Cavaleiro, Morais, Ferrah.

Image source, BBC Sport