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    West Ham vs Backa Topola LIVE SCORE: Latest updates as Hammers back in Europe after Conference League success

    WEST HAM take on Serbian minnows Backa Topola in the Europa League tonight. The Hammers are months removed from their Europa Conference League success and will be out for more this season, having reached the semi-finals of the competition two years ago.

    Kick-off time: 8pm BST
    Stream/TV: TNT Sports 2

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    Ajax vs Marseille LIVE SCORE: Latest updates from Europa League match as former European Cup winners clash

    AJAX take on Marseille tonight in a juicy opening group stage match in the Europa League. Both sides are former winners of the Champions League and are in the same group as Premier League side Brighton in Europe’s secondary competition.

    Kick-off time: 8pm BST
    TV channel/Stream: TNT Sports 4

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    LASK vs Liverpool LIVE SCORE: Latest updates from Europa League clash, team news and kick-off time

    LIVERPOOL kick off their Europa League campaign on Thursday night with a trip to LASK. The Reds make the trip to Austria with hopes of getting their campaign off to the perfect start.

    Kick-off time: 5.45pm BST
    Stream: BT Sport 1

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    Eden Hazard ‘offered shock return to football by European side’ which would see him take on Premier League giant

    EDEN HAZARD has reportedly been offered a shock return to football with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise interested in making a move. Hazard left Real Madrid this summer after agreeing to terminate his contract with the Spanish giants and is currently a free agent.
    Union SG are reportedly interested in offering Eden Hazard a return to footballCredit: Getty
    And despite being linked with calling time on his career and heading into retirement, Union SG are hoping to change his mind.
    According to AS, the Belgian outfit are interested in taking Hazard on and getting him back out on the pitch.
    The 32-year-old is said to be considering the offer which would see him face up against an old Premier League foe from his days with Chelsea.
    Union SG are in the Europa League where they face Liverpool in Group E alongside LASK and Toulouse.
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    The spectacular offer would also see all three of the Hazard brothers play in the same city in Belgium.
    Thorgan made the switch from Borussia Dortmund to Anderlecht this summer who play their football in Brussels, alongside Union SG.
    Whilst Kylian is also currently playing in the Belgian capital with RWD Molenbeek who were promoted from the Belgium’s second division last season.
    Eden Hazard has been the most successful of the three brothers with an incredible 126 international appearances for the Red Devils.
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    Thorgan Hazard was recently presented as an Anderlecht player after a move from Borussia DortmundCredit: AFP
    Kylian Hazard is playing for RWD MolenbeekCredit: Getty – Contributor
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    But he struggled during his time in Spain with Real where he featured just 76 times across his four year spell with the club.
    As well as considering retirement there has been other offers for the former Lille winger with Crystal Palace also reportedly interested.
    He is said to have rejected a big money offer from the Saudi Pro League during this summer’s transfer window too.
    Hazard failed to live up to his eye-watering £115m price tag at Real MadridCredit: Getty More

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    How Newcastle lined up last time they played in Europe including cult icon striker and midfielder ‘streets won’t forget’

    NEWCASTLE are preparing for their return to European competition against AC Milan – more than ten years on from their last appearance.Then managed by Alan Pardew, the Newcastle squad boasted some memorable Premier League figures for the Europa League defeat to Benfica.
    Papiss Cisse scored Newcastle’s last goal in EuropeCredit: AFP
    Yohan Cabaye was a key player for Toon in the 2012-13 seasonCredit: PA:Press Association
    Prem cult hero Hatem Ben Arfa featured from the benchCredit: PA:Empics Sport
    Newcastle’s team featured several cult figures
    Veteran goalkeeper Tim Krul started between the posts with Prem cult hero Papiss Cisse leading the attack.
    The striker scored four goals in nine Europa League games that season, including the winner against Anzhi Makhachkala in the last 16.
    He also scored in both legs against Benfica as Toon fell to a 4-2 aggregate defeat in the quarter final.
    Cisse was not the only cult hero playing for Newcastle, with club favourite Jonas Gutierrez lining up on the left flank.
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    Another fan favourite, Johan Cabaye, started at number 10.
    The Frenchman had an instant impact in the Prem and is fondly remembered by fans – and not just supporters of Newcastle or Crystal Palace, who he joined in 2015.
    The rest of Newcastle’s midfield consisted of Vurnon Anita, Gael Bigirimana and Moussa Sissoko, who was another integral part of Pardew’s squad.
    After starring for the Magpies into Europe he joined Tottenham and helped them reach the 2019 Champions League final.
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    Sissoko was joined on the right flank by full-back Danny Simpson, who would go on to win the Premier League with Leicester in 2016.
    Massadio Haidara featured at left-back and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa partnered Williamson in central defence.
    While a player the ‘streets won’t forget’, Hatem Ben Arfa, came on as a second-half substitute. More

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    Liverpool add exciting starlet Ben Doak, 17, to Europa League squad but are forced to drop Premier League winner

    LIVERPOOL have announced their squad for the Europa League – with Jurgen Klopp forced to leave Adrian out.Youngster Ben Doak swooped in to snatch the “A list” place due to UEFA rules pushing him into the Red’s senior squad.
    Adrian has been dropped from Liverpool’s Europa League squadCredit: Reuters
    Liverpool starlet Ben Doak has made the cut for the Reds’ senior squadCredit: Reuters
    Liverpool will spend their first campaign outside of the Champions League since 2016.
    Doak, 17, has made the headlines recently for the Scotland U21 team after his impressive performance against Spain went viral.
    Meanwhile, Premier League winner and third-choice shot-stopper Adrian has been exiled from the Europa League team sheet.
    The deadline recently passed for clubs to provide their squad list to UEFA, with a maximum of 25 players permitted to be on the A list of players.
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    A minimum of eight of those spots must be allocated to “locally trained” players – with a maximum of four “association trained”.
    This means Liverpool had to elect eight players who were trained by clubs from the same national league from ages 15-21- with four of them being from the club’s own youth system.
    Teams can also register an unlimited number of players on their B list, which comprises players born on or after January 1st, 2002, who have spent at least two years at their respective clubs.
    Those restrictions left Klopp with a tough decision to make as he was required to cut one foreign player from his selection following the signing of Ryan Gravenberch.
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    Unlucky for Adrian he was the chosen man to be swiped from the squad.
    But lucky for teen Doak, who turns 18 in November, and has only been registered with Liverpool since the summer of 2022, he is neither List B eligible or considered ‘locally trained’.
    The Liverpool starlet spent his youth career at Scottish sides Ayr United and Celtic.
    And with Scotland not being part of the English FA, Doak had to take up one of 17 “foreign” slots in Liverpool’s squad for the Europa League.
    Adrian still has hope as a loophole in the UEFA rule book confirms he could feature in the event of long-term injury to Alisson or Caoimhin Kelleher.
    Otherwise, there are no surprises in Liverpool’s squad to play in the double-headers with LASK, Union SG and Toulouse.
    The Reds were drawn in Group E and will get their campaign underway at LASK on September 21st. More

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    Dream Team to ramp up several notches in Gameweek 5 as European competitions get underway

    THE international break may have provided a momentary lull but Dream Team will go up several notches once Gameweek 5 gets underway.That’s because EIGHT clubs will be in continental action in midweek after a full round of Premier League fixtures at the weekend.

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    Dream Team ramps up once the European competitions startCredit: DREAM TEAM
    Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle will begin their Champions League campaigns before Liverpool, Brighton and West Ham get going in the Europa League – with Aston Villa being England’s representative in the Europa Conference League.
    Gaffers only have to reflect upon last season, when Pep Guardiola’s side and the Hammers triumphed in their respective quests, to understand the value the European competitions bring to Dream Team.
    The formula is simple: more fixtures equals more point-scoring opportunities.
    The likes of James Maddison (£4.1m), Raheem Sterling (£3.8m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£3.7m) are justifiably popular after their electric performances across the first few Gameweeks but without European games to bolster their schedules, their rivals are likely to gain ground in the coming weeks.
    Saying that, it would be a risky move to ditch an asset like Tottenham’s in-form No10 because his imposing tally of 46 points is evidence of the fact he’s more than capable of making up for his comparatively relaxed schedule with massive domestic hauls – he’s taken Bournemouth and Burnley for 15 points each in his last two league outings.
    Can Maddison maintain top spot among midfielders without European games?Credit: Rex
    However, it’s generally advisable for Dream Team bosses to ensure they have ample active players in midweek once the European group stages commence.
    Striking this balance can be difficult.
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    For example, which player will score more points in Gameweek 5: Maddison against Sheffield United or Moussa Diaby (£3.5m) against Crystal Palace and Legia Warsaw?
    The latter averages seven points-per-game this season while the former averages 9.2 so in theory the Frenchman should comfortably outscore the England playmaker given he has potentialyl twice as many minutes at his disposal.
    However, any gaffer that makes such a transfer could easily be punished if Maddison continues his fine form and Diaby fails to register a goal involvement in either of his fixtures.
    It’s also wise to consider which players have favourable continental fixtures and who might be up against it.
    For example, Arsenal and Man City were gifted relatively friendly groups in the Champions League while Man United will face Bayern Munich twice and Newcastle have a ‘group of death’ to negotiate.
    Newcastle will play PSG, Borussia Dortmund and Milan in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUPS:

    ARSENAL
    Sevilla
    PSV
    Lens

    MANCHESTER CITY
    RB Leipzig
    Red Star Belgrade
    Young Boys

    MANCHESTER UNITED
    Bayern Munich
    Copenhagen
    Galatasaray

    NEWCASTLE
    AC Milan
    PSG
    Borussia Dortmund

    In the Europa League, Liverpool’s group looks ripe for plentiful points assuming Jurgen Klopp plans to take the competition seriously – he is more accustomed to the Champions League these days.
    Brighton and West Ham’s groups are harder to gauge but given the former are one of the most dynamic attacking sides in the Premier League the likes of Kaoru Mitoma (£3.7m), Solly March (£3.9m) and Evan Ferguson (£3m) should enjoy themselves on Thursday nights.
    EUROPA LEAGUE GROUPS:

    WEST HAM
    Olympiacos
    Freiburg
    TSC

    BRIGHTON
    Marseille
    Ajax
    AEK Athens

    LIVERPOOL
    LASK
    Union Saint-Gilloise
    Toulouse

    Too good for the Europa League?Credit: PA
    The story of Villa’s season so far is that they’ve come undone against strong opposition (Newcastle, Liverpool) but swept aside weaker outfits (Everton, Hibs, Burnley) in some style.
    If that’s to be a long-term trend then Dream Team managers can expect healthy returns from Unai Emery’s boys in Europe’s tertiary competition.
    Last season, David Moyes’ side struggled domestically but the likes of Said Benrahma (£3.3m) and Jarrod Bowen (£4.8m) maintained lofty rankings by milking the Europa Conference League for all it was worth.
    Surely Matty Cash (£2.8m), Ollie Watkins (£4.4m) and company will do the same again this term.
    EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE GROUP:
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    Aston Villa
    AZ Alkmaar
    Legia Warsaw
    Zrinjski Mostar

    The start of the European competitions represents a pivotal turning point in the Dream Team season – don’t get left behind!

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    Watch Alexis Mac Allister’s brother and team-mates’ wild celebration on plane after drawing Liverpool in Europa League

    ALEXIS MAC ALLISTER’s brother was absolutely over the moon after learning of his imminent family reunion with the Liverpool star.Premier League big boys Liverpool eagerly awaited their fate for their Europa League campaign on Friday.
    Alexis Mac Allister and his Liverpool team-mates learned their Europa League fate on FridayCredit: Alamy
    Mac Alister will twice face brother Kevin when the Reds face Union Saint-GilloiseCredit: Rex
    Union SG were buzzing to have drawn the RedsCredit: TWITTER@UNIONSTGILLOISE
    Kevin had a message for his younger brother after learning of the drawCredit: TWITTER@UNIONSTGILLOISE
    The five-time Champions League winners were drawn into Group F of Europe’s secondary club competition, which pitted them against Union Saint-Gilloise, Toulouse and LASK.
    The matches with Union SG will be of major significance to Reds newboy Mac Allister, whose brother Kevin plays for the Belgian side.
    Union’s stars learned of their group while on board an aeroplane, with the moment being captured by the social media team.
    And they burst into cheers of joy after learning they would face the Kop club.
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    Kevin grinned like a Cheshire cat as he processed two games against his younger brother later this year.
    And he was quick to send a message to his £45million sibling.
    He said with a wry smile on his face: “See you soon, bro.”
    A buzzing Kevin then took to Twitter to send a message to Liverpool’s No.10
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    The Argentine tweeted: “I told you yesterday!!
    “Beyond the result, the experience of facing each other in one of the most beautiful soccer venues will be very special and will last a lifetime.
    “See you soon bro @alemacallister.”
    Alexis joined Liverpool from Brighton in the summer in a deal which could rise to £55m.
    But the 24-year-old’s career on Merseyside got off to the worst possible start as he was SENT OFF for a dangerous challenge in Liverpool’s first home game of the season against Bournemouth.
    But the dismissal was overturned upon appeal and he’s gone on to make three appearances for the Merseysiders so far this campaign.
    Alexis and his Liverpool team-mates will be back in action on Sunday, welcoming Aston Villa to Anfield. More