Europa League Team Expectations
How will British Teams fare in the Europa League?
There’s a strong British representation in the Europa League this season and Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham and Rangers will be hoping to lift the trophy.
The draw for the group stage took place on Friday and we take a look at how the four British sides may fare in this season’s competition.
Liverpool hold a red-hot chance
Liverpool would hold a strong chance in the Champions League and they look to have excellent claims in Europe’s second tournament. The Reds are the 29/10 favourites to lift the Europa League trophy this season and it hard to argue with that price.
Jurgen Klopp can call on fantastic performers Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota, to name a few, and that attacking unit is capable of hurting any European defence.
Liverpool are likely to have Premier League title considerations throughout the season, but there shouldn’t be any issues progressing from a group containing Toulouse, LASK and Union SG.
Seagulls set to soar
Brighton are the second favourites to win the Europa League behind Liverpool, and it’s a measure of the strength of the Premier League.
The Seagulls are a superb side and they have started the domestic season in flying form. Roberto de Zerbi is a seriously impressive manager and the Italian has a fantastically talented squad.
Brighton have been handed a fairly tough group-stage draw alongside Ajax, Marseille and AEK Athens, but offers of 21/2 about the Seagulls lifting the trophy give a strong indication of their chances.
Irons could prove tough opponents
West Ham are another side to have started the Premier League season in excellent form and they have real recent European pedigree. The Hammers lifted the Conference League trophy last season and it’s hard to rule out David Moyes’ excellent counter-attacking outfit.
West Ham are 16/1 to make it back-to-back European trophies and 5/6 to top a group containing Freiburg, Olympiacos and Backa Topola.
Rangers face a tough task
Rangers reached the final of this competition two years ago, but the Gers look a mile off that level. The Light Blues have lost the first Old Firm of the season and they were hammered 5-1 by PSV Eindhoven in the second leg of their Champions League play-off.
A group-stage draw alongside Real Betis, Sparta Prague and Aris Limassol offers some hope but Michael Beale’s side are 66/1 to lift the trophy and that perhaps illustrates their current shortcomings.
