Liverpool advanced to the round of 16 of the Europa League with a game to spare after Luis Díaz and Cody Gakpo scored early to set the tone in a 4-0 victory over Austria’s LASK.
Díaz headed in a cross from Joe Gomez for the opener in the 12th before Gakpo tapped in Mohamed Salah’s pass three minutes later at Anfield. Salah made it 3-0 early in the second half in what was his 199th goal for the Reds. Gakpo added his second in stoppage time.
Liverpool is four points clear atop Group E with 12 points. Toulouse in second on eight after a 0-0 draw with Union Saint-Gilloise.
Leverkusen remained the only team with a perfect record after five games. Victor Boniface and substitute Patrik Schick contributed a goal apiece for a 2-0 victory at Hacken in Group H and a place in the round of 16.
Tomáš Soucek struck late again to help West Ham beat TSC Backa Topola 1-0 and advance to the knockout stage. The midfielder met Maxwel Cornet’s cross at the far post to volley home the winner in the 89th minute in Serbia.
Soucek, who has scored in five straight games, had snatched a 2-1 victory for West Ham against Burnley with a stoppage-time winner Saturday in the Premier League. West Ham is tied atop Group A with Germany’s Freiburg, which routed Olympiacos 5-0. Michael Gregoritsch had a hat trick by the 36th minute. Kiliann Sildillia and Ritsu Doan also socred. The winners both have 12 points.
The Hammers need only a point against Freiburg on Dec. 14 in London to win the group and avoid a two-legged playoff in February. Brighton advanced from Group B after João Pedro converted from the spot for a 1-0 win over 10-man AEK in Athens.
Pedro’s fifth goal came from a foul in the box, securing victory for his team. Marseille’s Aubameyang scored a hat trick, leading them to a 4-3 win over Ajax. In Europa League, group winners directly enter the last 16, while second-place teams face playoffs. Atalanta topped Group D with a 1-1 draw. Slavia Prague leads Group G after a 3-2 win. Sparta defeated Real Betis 1-0 in Group C. Maccabi Haifa lost 3-0, and Villarreal won 3-2 with Pepe Reina making his 189th European appearance.
EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE
PAOK secured a 2-1 away win against Eintracht Frankfurt, topping Group G alongside Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League’s round of 16. Czech Republic’s Ballkani lost 1-0 to Plzen in Group C. Aston Villa’s 2-1 victory over Legia Warsaw propelled them to the top of Group E, needing a two-goal margin for the lead. Club Brugge dominated Besiktas 5-0, leading Group D with 13 points, while Bodo/Glimt follows closely after a 5-2 win over Lugano. First-place finishers advance directly to the last 16, with second-place teams entering playoffs against Europa League third-place finishers.
