Europa League fixtures today - your guide to Thursday's games | OneFootball

All four British clubs competing in the Europa League currently occupy strong positions in their respective groups as we enter the penultimate matchday of the competition's first phase.

However, it's arguably of even greater importance to secure top spot in the group in this competition compared to the Champions League as a result of the Europa League knockout play-offs.

While those that top their groups will advance into the round of 16 right away, the eight second-place finishers will compete over two legs against the eight teams that drop down from the Champions League in a glorified round-of-32 tie. Given the hectic nature of every team's schedule, an extra two games aren't ideal.

Liverpool should still top Group E despite their matchday 4 defeat, while Brighton, West Ham United and Rangers each have a shot of winning their groups. Here are guides to each of their fixtures on Matchday 5.

Backa Topola vs West Ham - Group A

West Ham are joint-top of Group A with Freiburg / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages

West Ham's campaign kick-started with a comfortable home win over the relatively unknown Serbian side TSC Backa Topola in September, and they can secure their progression into the knockouts with victory on Matchday 5.

The Hammers' form has picked up on either side of the November break, and they'll be expected to bypass TSC on Thursday evening.

While the Premier League side were beaten on their last European away trip in Greece, TSC have mustered just a single point from their four group games thus far.

AEK Athens vs Brighton - Group B

Back-to-back wins over Ajax has left Brighton in a good position to progress / Koji Watanabe/GettyImages

Brighton will be eternally grateful for Ajax's woeful slump when their two meetings rolled around. The Seagulls took full advantage of the dishevelled Dutch outfit, beating the four-time European champions home and away to likely prolong their maiden continental venture.

After a shaky start to Group B, Brighton are now in second place with seven points. The Seagulls are three ahead of Thursday's opponents, who beat them at the Amex on Matchday 1. If they secure revenge in Athens, Roberto De Zerbi's side will progress into the knockout stages.

Brighton will be hoping that an improving Ajax can do a number on current group leaders Marseille in search of top spot.

Rangers vs Aris Limassol - Group C

Rangers can book their place in the knockouts with a home win / Ian MacNicol/GettyImages

Rangers are going to find it hard to topple Real Betis at the top of Group C, but their triumph over Sparta Prague on Matchday 4 significantly boosted their chances of finishing in second place.

The Scottish outfit currently boast a three-point lead over the Czechs ahead of Thursday's meeting with bottom side Aris Limassol. Rangers were defeated in Cyprus, but it should be a different story at Ibrox with a full-time manager in the form of Philippe Clement now at the helm.

A win on Thursday would be enough to see Rangers into the knockouts.

Liverpool vs LASK - Group E

Liverpool came from behind to beat LASK on Matchday 1 / Guenther Iby/GettyImages

Liverpool blew the chance to top Group E with a pair of matchdays remaining as they fell to a 3-2 defeat in Toulouse.

That result brought the French side right back into the mix for top spot, and the Reds won't be guaranteed of avoiding the knockout round play-offs if Toulouse beat Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday.

Nevertheless, Liverpool should have no issues brushing aside Austrian side LASK at Anfield, although they were forced to come from behind to win in the reverse fixture.

Europa League group stage matchday 5 fixture list in full