Europa League permutations: West Ham, Liverpool, Brighton and Rangers can ALL qualify for next round with wins… but which team is most in danger of an exit if they lose? Who needs what to qualify for the round of 16 with two games to go

• West Ham and Liverpool are both top of their groups with nine points so far
• Atalanta and Leverkusen only two teams to have been confirmed qualification
• Why it’s NEVER OK to cheer in the press box (even if England win the World Cup!) – Listen here to It’s All Kicking Off

The Europa League is now edging towards the knockout stage of the competition, with clubs hoping to either qualify directly for the round of 16 or the knockout round play-offs where they will face third-place Champions League teams.

Only Atalanta and Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen have been confirmed to finish in the top two of their groups as we head into matchday five.

Every British team in the competition has a good chance of qualifying, with Liverpool needing a win and Toulouse to lose to finish as group winners.

But, for West Ham, Brighton and Rangers they face a tough task to try and avoid playing a Champions League relegated side in a play-off to reach the round of 16.

So, what are the permutations for each of the eight groups ahead of this week’s fixtures? Sport Mail takes a deep dive into the potential outcomes.

Liverpool can all but seal their place into the next round by avoiding defeat against LASK

The Hammers sit joint first in Group A alongside Freiburg after three wins in four games

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GROUP A

Fixtures: (November 30) TSC Backa Topola vs West Ham and Freiburg vs Olympiacos (14 December) West Ham vs Freiburg and Olympiacos vs TSC Backa Topola

Group A has so far been dominated by two teams as West Ham and Frieburg sit top on nine points each.

Both sides have three wins to their name and they have only lost once, meaning it will be a fierce battle to decide who finishes top.

Below them on four points is Olympiacos and then below them is TSC Backa Topola, who cannot qualify for the next round. 

West Ham will be confirmed in the top two of their group if they beat TSC Bačka Topola, or if Olympiacos do not beat Freiburg.

But, they cannot be confirmed as group winners until the next match week.

West Ham have impressed so far during their Europa League campaign and sit top of group

Freiburg will also be confirmed in the top two if they avoid defeat by Olympiacos. 

Meanwhile, Olympiacos will be unable to finish in the top two if they do not beat Freiburg.

If TSC Bačka Topola lose, Olympiacos will be confirmed in the third spot for the Europa Conference League knockout round play-offs.

GROUP B

Fixtures: (November 30) AEK Athens vs Brighton and Marseille vs Ajax (14 December) Ajax vs AEK Athens and Brighton vs Marseille

Last game week in the Europa League, Brighton recorded one of their finest ever victories in Amsterdam as they beat Ajax 2-0.

The struggling Dutch side lost to the Seagulls by the same scoreline two matches in a row in the competition, leaving them bottom of the group.

Marseille are top of Group B with eight points after recording two wins and two draws.

AEK Athens sit just below Brighton on four points, as the sides meet in Greece on Thursday night to battle it out for qualification.

Marseille will be confirmed in the top two if they beat Ajax, or if Marseille draw and AEK Athens do not beat Brighton. 

Brighton claimed one of their most famous wins of all time by beating Ajax in Amsterdam

They will also be confirmed in the round of 16 as group winners if they win and Brighton lose. 

Brighton will be confirmed in the top two if they beat AEK Athens with the Greek side needing a win to keep their Europa League hopes alive.

Ajax will be unable to finish in the top two if they do not beat Marseille and they will finish fourth if AEK then win.

GROUP C

Fixtures: (November 30) Sparta Praha vs Real Betis and Rangers vs Aris Limassol (14 December) Real Betis vs Rangers and Aris Limassol vs Sparta Praha

Rangers have enjoyed a promising Europa League campaign so far in Group C, despite not securing their qualification for the next round yet. 

The Scottish side sit second in their table after notching two wins, a draw and a loss.

Real Betis are top of the group on nine points with three wins in four, meanwhile Sparta Praha are third on four points.

Aris Limassol then sit in fourth position on three points after recording three losses.

Betis will be confirmed in the top two if they avoid defeat by Sparta Praha but they can go directly to the round of 16 if they win and Rangers lose.

Rangers are another British side who have impressed in the Europa League and they sit second

Rangers need to beat Aris Limassol to finish in the top two or Sparta Praha have to not beat Betis.

They can also be confirmed in second place for the knockout round play-offs with a draw and Real Betis win.

Sparta Praha will be unable to progress in the Europa League if they fail to beat the Spanish group leaders or if they draw and Rangers avoid defeat.

Aris Limassol will also be unable to finish in the top two if they do not beat Rangers and they will be confirmed fourth place if Sparta Praha beat Real Betis and they lose.

GROUP D

Fixtures: (November 30) Atalanta vs Sporting CP and Sturm vs Raków (14 December) Sporting CP vs Sturm and Raków vs Atalanta

The situation in Group D is slightly more simple. Atalanta are one of the only two teams in the competition to be confirmed in the top two of their group.

The Italian side have ten points to their name after winning three times and drawing once with no losses. 

They will be confirmed in the round of 16 as group winners if they avoid defeat against Sporting CP, who are second.

The Portuguese side have seven points after two wins, a draw and one defeat.

Sturm Graz and Raków then sit in third and fourth on four points and one point respectively.

Atalanta’s Berat Djimsiti celebrates after the Italian side defeated Sturm Graz 1-0 at home

Sporting CP will be confirmed in the top two if they collect more points than Sturm do in their match.

Sturm Graz will be out of the Europa League if they collect fewer points than Sporting. 

Sturm will be confirmed in third place and the Europa Conference League knockout play-offs if they draw and Sporting win.

Raków cannot finish in the top two and they will be confirmed in fourth place if they do not beat Sturm Graz.

GROUP E

Fixtures: (November 30) Liverpool vs LASK and Toulouse vs Union SG (14 December) Union SG vs Liverpool and LASK vs Toulouse

Liverpool looked to be in total control of their group before their shock 3-2 to loss to Toulouse.

The Reds are still heavy favourites to top their group, but there may be a hint of doubt creeping in for Jurgen Klopp.

After racking up nine points from three wins and one defeat, Liverpool will be confirmed in the top two if they avoid defeat by LASK, or if Union SG do not beat Toulouse.

They can also be confirmed group winners and go to the round of 16 if they win and Toulouse do not.

Liverpool slipped to an uncharacteristic slip against Toulouse earlier this month, losing 3-2

Union SG will be unable to finish in the top two if they lose to Toulouse.

LASK will also be unable to progress in the Europa League if they do not beat Liverpool and they will finish bottom if Union SG then win.

GROUP F 

Fixtures: (November 30) Maccabi Haifa vs Rennes and Villarreal vs Panathinaikos (6 December) Villarreal vs Maccabi Haifa (14 December) Rennes vs Villarreal and Panathinaikos vs Maccabi Haifa

Rennes – who top Group F on nine points – were 3-1 victors over third-placed Panathinaikos when Europa League matches were last played.

Second-placed Villarreal on six points secured a 2-1 win over bottom-of-the-table Maccabi Haifa.

While no side has confirmed top rankings yet, Rennes look best placed to do so with the Spanish La Liga side likely finishing second.  

Rennes will be confirmed in the top two if they beat Maccabi Haifa, or if they draw and Panathinaikos do not beat Villarreal.

Villarreal will progress further if they beat Panathinaikos and Maccabi Haifa do not beat Rennes.

Rennes are dominating Group F so far and enjoyed a 3-1 win over Panathinaikos on November 9

Panathinaikos will, however, be unable to finish in the top two if they lose to Villarreal.

Maccabi Haifa will also go out of the Europa League if they do not beat Rennes and Villarreal beat Panathinaikos.

GROUP G

Fixtures: (November 30) Servette vs Roma and Sheriff vs Slavia Praha (14 December) AS Roma vs Sheriff and Slavia Praha vs Servette

Group G has well and truly been a two-horse race between Roma and Slavia Praha who have matched each other every step of the way. 

Roma sit second on nine points – the same as Praha – and are only behind on goal difference. 

Servette are the only side who could challenge for a top two spot and Sheriff cannot progress further in the Europa League. 

The permutations follow as such that Slavia Praha will be confirmed in the top two of their group if they beat Sheriff or if Servette do not beat Roma. 

Roma will also be confirmed qualification to the Europa League if they avoid defeat by Servette.

Jose Mourinho’s Roma are tied at the top of Group G alongside Czech team Slavia Praha

Servette’s fate is sealed and they will go out of the Europa League if they fail to beat Roma.

They will, however, be confirmed in third place and the Europa Conference League play-offs if they do not win and Sheriff lose to Slavia, or if they both draw.

Sheriff, meanwhile, cannot finish in the top two and they will be in fourth if they lose to Slavia or if they fail to collect more points than Servette. 

GROUP H 

Fixtures: (November 30) Molde vs Qarabag and BK Häcken vs Bayer Leverkusen (14 December) Bayer Leverkusen vs Molde and Qarabag vs BK Häcken

Last but not least, Group H has seen Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen side dominate proceedings.

The German outfit have so far bossed the Bundesliga and sit top of the table, two points ahead of Bayern Munich. 

After already earning qualification in the top two last week, they can go straight to the round of 16 as group winners if they avoid defeat by Häcken or Molde do not beat Qarabağ.

Qarabağ will then be confirmed in the knockout play-offs as runners-up if they beat Molde. 

Molde can go through to the Europa League next round if they beat Qarabağ by more than one goal.

Xabi Alonso has impressed fans and pundits alike during his spell in charge at Leverkusen

If they lose, they will finish in third place and go through to the Europa Conference League knockout play-offs.

Häcken will also be confirmed in fourth place if they do not beat Leverkusen or if Qarabağ avoid defeat by Molde. 

SUMMARY 

Far from the chaos of the Champions League, each British team looks to have a brilliant chance of qualification to the next round of the Europa League. 

Liverpool and West Ham in particular look the strongest to go straight through to the round of 16. 

Rangers and Brighton will be happy to get through in the top two of their groups, but they may face a tough task in the knockout round play-offs against third-placed Champions League teams. 

With games coming thick and fast in the Premier League, it could prove to be essential to skip past that play-off round.

Nonetheless, every British team in the Europa League competition has done very well so far.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

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