Europa League group stage predictions: Seagulls can come through tough draw

Joe Casey

Spotlight

Roberto De Zerbi's talented Brighton side will be looking to stamp their mark on the Europa League

English teams have dominated the Champions League in recent years and West Ham won the second ever Europa Conference League last season. However, Premier League clubs have not had as much success in the Europa League, winning just one of the last six editions.

Three teams start out in the group stages of the competition, with Liverpool, West Ham and Brighton flying the flag for English football.

Hammers looking to replicate Conference League glory

West Ham won the Europa Conference League last season and part of their reward was to qualify for this year's Europa League, despite finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League.

David Moyes' side have landed a winnable group, paired with Freiburg, Olympiacos and Serbian side Backa Topola.

The Germans should be the toughest challengers but the Hammers, who are an 18/1 shot to win the entire tournament, showed their ability to compete in Europe last season and should be able to top the section.

Seagulls can make big splash

Brighton's meteoric rise continues as they embark on a European campaign for the first time in the club's history after finishing sixth in the Premier League last season.

Roberto De Zerbi has turned the Seagulls into one of the most entertaining teams to watch in all of Europe and they have continued to improve despite losing the key figures of Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo and Robert Sanchez over the summer.

The signings of Joao Pedro, Bart Verbruggen and particularly the on loan Ansu Fati are extremely eye-catching and show that the club is continuing to impress with their recruitment.

Albion do face a tough group in this year's Europa League, however, facing Dutch giants Ajax, French side Marseille and the Greek AEK Athens.

Despite the quality of that opposition, they have been installed as 12/1 second favourites behind Liverpool to win the tournament and look very likely to progress from this group, given their impressive performances in the Premier League.

Reds favourites to win tournament

The Europa League looks like it could provide Liverpool with a real opportunity for silverware

Liverpool won the Champions League in 2019 and reached the final in 2022, so it is not hard to see why they have been installed as 7/2 favourites to win this year’s Europa League given they are normally battling Europe's elite.

The Reds finished fifth last season after disappointing in the Premier League but their squad has been refreshed over the summer and they still have an enormous amount of quality in their side.

Jurgen Klopp's team have landed a winnable section, up against LASK, French cup winners Toulouse and Union-Saint Gilloise.

Gers may struggle

The other British representation in the Europa League group stages comes from Rangers, who face Aris Limassol, Sparta Prague and Real Betis.

The Gers were beaten 5-1 by PSV in the return match of their Champions League play-off and they may struggle on the European stage. They look a shadow of the team that lost the final of this competition in 2022 and are 66/1 to win the tournament.

Prediction

West Ham demonstrated their ruthlessness in European football last season, topping their Europa Conference League group with ease, and they are fancied to replicate that effort by winning Group A.

Brighton have been drawn in a tough section alongside the likes of Ajax and Marseille but they have enough quality to progress from Group B.

Union Saint Gilloise have been one of the most progressive teams in Europe since being taken over by Brighton's owner Tony Bloom and they can continue to surprise, they could finish runners-up to Liverpool in Group E.