Europa League 2023-24: Aubameyang saved Marseille while Liverpool and West Ham started their campaign with victories

Two former European champions, Ajax and Marseille drew 3-3 in their opening fixture while Liverpool and West Ham started with victories on Thursday in the Europa League group games. Liverpool fell behind for the fourth time in five matches this season but fought back to beat LASK 3-1 in Linz to make Jurgen Klopp the first coach to win 50 European games at the Merseyside club. West Ham, winner of the Conference League last season, also came back to beat visiting Serbian club TSC Backa Topola 3-1.

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Europa League 2023-24: A huge loss for Brighton

Brighton made their European debut in the Europa League, and Aston Villa returned to Europe, after 12 years, in the Conference League, both fell behind early and although they each equalized twice, lost 3-2. Brighton twice leveled with Joao Pedro's penalties. AEK twice regained the lead and ultimately won the match.

Aubameyang rescues Marseille

In Amsterdam, Ajax, who have won just two games all season and sitting 12th in the Dutch league met Marseille who are third in Ligue 1. Vos received a late red card but the match ended 3-3 credits to Aubameyang's brace.

An easy victory for Liverpool

Liverpool, playing in the Europa League for the first time since finishing runners-up in 2016, changed their entire starting 11 away to LASK. They fell behind to a 14th-minute rocket from Florian Flecker. Darwin Nunez leveled with a 55th-minute penalty kick after Luis Diaz was brought down. After 61 minutes, Klopp started to replace teenagers with regular starters. Within two minutes they were ahead when Ryan Gravenberch, on his full debut, burst down the right and crossed low for Diaz to score from close range. Two minutes from the end Mohamed Salah scored a third.

Bayer Leverkusen crushed Swedes Hacken 4-0, while Rennes cruised past Maccabi Haifa 3-0 in France. Villarreal lost 2-0 to Panathinaikos in Greece.