Liverpool vs Atalanta – Europa League quarter-finals: Live score, team news and updates as Reds make six changes for tie, while West Ham face Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa host Lille in the Conference League

It’s going to look odd, but the Kop will have no flags on it tonight.

Fans have decided to remove the flash in protest of rising ticket prices for next season.

Jurgen Klopp said he understands why the fans are making the stand:

I understand the concerns, definitely. It’s a tricky one from my point of view. It’s clear we want to make the stadium available for everyone. I understand where the supporters are coming from.

Peter Crouch, former Liverpool striker, speaking on TNT Sports:

I think the proof’s in the pudding, I think he [Harvey Elliott] has been involved in every single squad that’s been named this season. He’s been fit and off the bench he’s done really well and he’s changed games.

I think sometimes that can do him a disservice, you don’t want to be known as one of those players who makes an impact off the bench.

The atmosphere is building at Villa Park and it looks like the Lille fans are enjoying themselves.

I’m surprised that the policeman is smiling when having his hat taken off him, I’m not sure I’d get the same response if I did it after work tonight.

Anyway, it’s nice to see them having a good time.

There were two early kick-offs in the Europa Conference League, so let’s have a look at the current scores after 70 minutes.

• Olympiakos 3-2 Fenerbahce
• Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Fiorentina

Things are suddenly looking nervy for Olympiakos who have conceded two goals after flying into a 3-0 lead.

Hooray, it’s finally arrived!

So Ademola Lookman does not start at Anfield, he is named among the substitutes.

Four ex-Premier League stars do start though. Davide Zappacosta, Gianluca Scamacca, captain Marten de Roon’s and Mario Pasalic.

Darwin Nunez has enjoyed the Europa League this season, bagging five goals in the competition so far.

Many Liverpool fans voiced their frustration over Nunez’s missed chances at Old Trafford on Sunday, so tonight is a chance for him to put smiles back on their faces.

Will he find the back of the net tonight?

We are still awaiting Atalanta’s starting 11, but we have clocked a photo of a certain former Toffee.

If he is indeed playing, Ademola Lookman would love to bag a goal against his former rivals!

Kathryn Batte, Mail Sport, at the BayArena:

A huge task for West Ham tonight against the 41-game unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen. The locals are certainly confident – one fans was telling me on the train that he’s already booked his hotel for Dublin, where the final will be played.

They need just one more win to secure the Bundesliga title and tickets for their final game of the season are allegedly going for 1,000 Euros. A buoyant atmosphere in these parts.

The fact Jurgen Klopp has made six changes and the team is still this strong proves the strength in depth Liverpool have.

Cody Gakpo, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, and Kostas Tsimikas all come in.

There is also a place on the bench for both Diogo Jota and Trent Alexander-Arnold, which is a huge boost for Jurgen Klopp.

Gabriel Gudmundsson and Bafode Diakite start in the defence for Lille as the only two changes for the French side.

Former Manchester United man, Angel Gomes, has to settle for a place on the bench.

Well, I wasn’t expecting that.

Unai Emery has named an unchanged starting 11 from the one that drew 3-3 with Brentford on Saturday.

There is our answer, Michail Antonio replaces the injured Jarrod Bowen up top.

He is one of just two changes to the starting 11, as Aaron Cresswell comes in for Edson Alvarez.

Does that suggest a change of formation?

Xabi Alonso has run the changes, making seven in total.

Patrik Schick, the here of the last 16, returns to start in the hope of adding to his goal tally.

Jeremie Frimpong is also a standout to start as Nathan Tella drops to the bench.

The amount of changes proves their strength in depth

Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool manager, speaking on Wednesday:

We expect a super-organised opponent, so that’s what we expect. An experienced opponent as well. It means two legs, [the] first [one] away is a clear advantage, what everybody says. It just will be interesting. We are not the same [from] three-and-a-half years ago.

We are definitely different and the opponent probably as well. But in these three-and-a-half years I saw 1,500 games probably. I saw Atalanta playing but I cannot really compare it with three-and-a-half years ago because that’s not very prominent in my mind. But it will be tricky for both.

West Ham have arrived in Leverkusen.

It’s a huge night for them, and they are scouting out the surroundings before the night ahead.

I must say, the pitch looks like a carpet.

Angel Gomes, remember the name?

Gomes was one of the most sought-after talents while at Manchester United, everyone expected him to have a brilliant career, and so far he has.

The midfielder has proved his worth at Lille and is set to make his return to English soil tonight.

Watch out for what he does…

Look at Anfield right now, so peaceful.

This place really does get rocking on nights like tonight, the European atmosphere inside Anfield is no myth.

They’ve seen many highs, and they’ve seen many lows, and tonight another chapter is set to be written in Liverpool’s book of European history.

Will it be one to remember?

Unai Emery, Aston Villa manager, speaking on Wednesday:

Firstly, we must always respect the competition and Europe is always difficult. It is good to have experiences in this competition.

Sometimes we have difficult moments like against Legia Warsaw, when we won against Zrinjski in the last minute. We played two legs against Ajax and that was a very good experience for us.

We drew there, didn’t deserve more and at home we played really being consistent and with personality, seriously. We won. Lille is the same. Respect the competition and respect the opponent.

When you think of Unai Emery, you think of European trophies.

Emery is a master when it comes to European club competition, he has won four Europa League titles, with the latest coming in 2021 with Villarreal.

Aston Villa couldn’t be in better hands, so surely, their fans have no need to worry.

I know that’s not how football works. I’m sure all Villa fans will be a bag of nerves in just over 90 minutes.

Will Emery secure another European title this season?

Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen boss, speaking on Wednesday:

We know what West Ham can do. They have experience in Europe – last season they were champions of the Conference League.

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.

If tonight’s task wasn’t already tough enough for West Ham, they will have to face Bayer Leverkusen without their top marksman, Jarrod Bowen.

The Hammers star man, who has netted 19 times this season, suffered a knee injury against Wolves and may miss the second leg as well.

It’s a major blow to David Moyes’ side, Bowen would have caused Leverkusen all sorts of problems.

Well, he won’t now. Who will start instead of him?

In answer to the question, I have no clue.

On the one hand, Jurgen Klopp will not want to hold back in search of the only trophy that has evaded his grasp while at Liverpool.

But on the other hand, the Reds are in an intense three-way battle for the Premier League title, and that’s the holy grail that all fans and players alike are after.

Klopp has stated Liverpool ‘need all’ their players to help them compete in both competitions, so that could mean a lot of rotation will be done tonight, but who knows?

He may be able to call upon Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson, and Diogo Jota after they all returned to training, but they may be kept on the sidelines for a little longer.

It’s anybody’s guess what he’ll do.

Tonight is simply huge for Aston Villa.

Their fans have not seen them grace a European quarter-final since 1997-98, so we could be set to hear a special atmosphere at Villa Park.

The Premier League side have more than earned their Europa Conference League ‘favourites’ status through their fantastic performances in the league and in Europe.

While Lille may not have been best pleased to draw Villa, they will certainly feel they can cause the top-four chasers’ problems, especially with Jonathan David up top.

A big occasion, involving big teams – what European competition is about.

It’s fair to say that West Ham did not get the easiest draw.

David Moyes’ side are travelling to the Bundesliga runaway leaders, Bayer Leverkusen, who are unbeaten in all competitions this season, yes you read that right.

Xabi Alonso has been a revelation in his first season at Leverkusen and they are set to end Bayern Munich’s 11-year stranglehold on the German top-tier.

Now, after reading that, you may think West Ham have no chance but don’t be fooled, David Moyes’ side can certainly mix it with the big boys.

You have to remember, the teams Leverkusen have faced this season have been far from special, other than the bigger sides of course.

They nearly got knocked out by Qarabag in the last 16 before their powers of recovery reigned supreme again. West Ham will be one of Alonso’s toughest opponents yet.

Can the Hammers hand out Leverkusen’s first loss of the campaign?

Liverpool love European football, no matter what the competition.

The Reds have been tearing up the Europa League this season and are clear favourites to lift the trophy in Dublin late next month.

While many think they will breeze to the final, it’s not going to be a walk in the park.

Tonight, Jurgen Klopp’s men play host to Atalanta, who have caused them problems in the past – beating them at Anfield in the 2020-21 Champions League group stage.

The Italian side are European regulars these days and currently sit sixth in Serie A, five points behind fellow Europa League quarter-finalists, Roma.

However, many still rightly expect a Liverpool win here tonight. The Reds will want to take their anger out on the pitch after their 2-2 draw to rivals Manchester United on Sunday.

They will be going for goals, lots of them.

Let’s not forget, it’s not just British sides in action, there are some huge ties elsewhere in Europe, and throughout the night we will give you updates on the ongoings around the grounds.

Warning, there are some crackers here, so let’s have a look at them:

• Benfica vs Marseille 20:00 BST
• AC Milan vs Roma 20:00 BST

• Club Brugge vs PAOK Salonika 20:00 BST
• Olympiakos 1-0 Fenerbahce
• Viktoria Plzen 0-0 Fiorentina

When you get to the last eight in any competition, whether it’s your local Sunday league tournament or the Europa League, the pressure starts to rise.

Many of the teams will be feeling it tonight, it’s a big European night for all the British sides. Let’s take a look at our main feature games for you tonight:

• Liverpool vs Atalanta 20:00 BST
• Bayer Leverkusen vs West Ham 20:00 BST

• Aston Villa vs Lille 20:00 BST

Oh, do we have a busy night in store for you…

The Europa League this season is stacked with talented teams from Liverpool to Bayer Leverkusen and now we are at the quarter-final stage it is all about to heat up.

Tonight is a chance for both Liverpool and West Ham to take the initiative and gain first-leg advantages at a pivotal stage in the competition.

The Reds face Italian side Atalanta at Anfield, while the Hammers travel to Germany as they go up against Xabi Alonso’s high-flying Bundesliga leaders, Bayer Leverkusen.

Aston Villa are also in action tonight as Villa Park plays host to Lille in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final.

It’s set to be an enthralling night for all the British sides involved, so pull up a pew, and strap in, it’s about to get bumpy!