Top players to watch in the Europa League this season

The Europa League 2023/2024 season is one of the most exciting of the competition in recent times, especially as we will see Liverpool compete in it for the first time since 2016.

The Reds have been one of the top European clubs and have reached the Champions League final three times since they played in the final of the Europa League in 2016.

Jurgen Klopp would rather play in the UCL, but his team made a poor start to last season and paid for it by missing out on the top four in the Premier League, with Newcastle United taking their place in the competition.

Brighton is another club we expect to make an impression in the competition as they progress under Roberto de Zerbi in the Premier League.

The Seagulls added Ansu Fati to their squad from Barcelona, arguably the biggest summer transfer among Europa League clubs.

We expect the Spaniard to be a star in this team as he is used to possession-style football as they play at the AMEX.

Bayer Leverkusen is also another club to watch after they landed Victor Boniface, who has become a sensation in the German top flight.

Xabi Alonso also signed Granit Xhaka from Arsenal, and his team seems to be one side that will end Bayern Munich’s dominance of the German league after Borussia Dortmund failed for several years.

The number of top players that will compete in the Europa League this term will make you buy your tickets as soon as possible so you do not miss out on all the fun.

James Ward-Prowse, West Ham

Ward-Prowse was a free-kick merchant in the Premier League with Southampton for several seasons, and we all forgot he was a good midfielder.

However, since he moved to West Ham in the last transfer window, he is proving to be one of the most productive midfielders in Europe.

After just four Premier League games, he has scored twice and provided three assists for teammates.

West Ham will play in the Europa League because they won the Conference League last season and we expect Ward-Prowse to be one of their top performers.

Jarrod Bowen, West Ham

Bowen has been in top form since he swapped Hull City for West Ham in 2019 and was one of the key men for the Hammers in Europe last season.

The attacker scored six times and provided two assists in 12 European matches as David Moyes’ men ended the term as European champions.

Despite interest in his signature, Bowen stayed at West Ham in the last transfer window and would be key in their success in the Europa League this season.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Olympique Marseille.

After poor spells at Barcelona and Chelsea, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was expected to follow the riches of Saudi Arabia this summer.

But he surprisingly moved to Olympique Marseille. They failed to qualify for the Champions League and would be in the Europa League this term.

Auba always scores goals and already has two goals in two games in Europe this season, so we will see some strikes from him in this Europa League term.

Ansu Fati, Brighton

Brighton adding Fati to their squad is the biggest transfer among Europa League clubs this term, and there is so much expectation on the Spaniard.

Fati could not get into the Barcelona team under Xavi, but there is no doubt that he is one of the finest attackers on the continent and we expect him to prove his worth for the Seagulls in this competition.

He already has a lot of competition for a place as De Zerbi’s team is awash with talented players from all over the world, but Fati will be a key player for them.

Kaoru Mitoma, Brighton

Mitoma has been a sensation since last season, and he is one reason the Seagulls did so well in the league and won a place in the top six.

The Japan star has been one hell of a footballer and makes the Premier League look so easy with his dribbling, runs and fantastic goals.

This season, he already has three assists and one goal from his five league games so far and he is one player that will shine Bright in the Europa League this term.

Adding the likes of Ansu Fati to their group in this campaign means Mitoma has even better players as teammates, which should help the Japan star thrive.

Evan Ferguson, Brighton

Ferguson is set to become the next top player off the Brighton Production line and the Irish teenager is a player to watch this term.

After scoring against the likes of Arsenal in the last campaign, he has bagged a hat trick in this campaign already, achieving the feat against Newcastle United.

His performance in that game made people sit up and notice him, but he had already shown last season that he could be a key player for his club and country.

Ferguson is still just 18 and would want to get noticed by more fans on the continent, which should make him shine in the Europa League this term. 

Marcus Edwards, Sporting Clube de Portugal

Edwards left Tottenham as a teenage prodigy and has continued to do strongly in Portugal, where he first played for Vitoria Guimaraes.

He now wears the colours of Sporting, one of the top sides in the country, and he is a personal favourite of their manager.

The Englishman is a player who likes to go on dazzling runs like the Lionel Messi of old and would be one man to watch in the Europa League.

Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

Liverpool’s presence in the Europa League is still a shock, but we expect them to try to win the competition.

We have the rare privilege of watching Mo Salah in the competition and expect him to star for the Reds.

The Egyptian was the subject of a big-money move away from England this summer, but Liverpool turned down the money, and he already has two goals and four assists in five league games this term.

If Liverpool will succeed in the competition this term, the Egyptian will be a key contributor to their success.

Darwin Nunez, Liverpool

Nunez was supposed to challenge Erling Haaland for the top scorer award in the Premier League last season, but he failed.

The Norwegian was unstoppable in front of goal, while Nunez struggled and continued to miss good chances. 

But he was fantastic in pre-season and came off the bench to score twice for Liverpool against Newcastle United.

He seems to have his shooting boots back on now, and we are expecting a big season from the talented Uruguayan.

Romelu Lukaku, AS Roma

Lukaku has been one of the best goalscorers in European football over the last few years, and the Belgian will spend this season on loan at AS Roma.

With Jose Mourinho as their manager, Roma has the chance to win the competition after reaching the final in the last campaign.

Lukaku is expected to form a strong partnership with Paulo Dybala, and he proved in spells at Inter Milan that he is one of the best strikers in the continent.

If Mourinho can get the best from him, the Chelsea loanee has all it takes to make them champions.

Victor Boniface, Bayer Leverkusen

Boniface is a sensational player who is making the Bundesliga look like a child’s play.

The Nigerian only moved to Bayer this summer, but he is already challenging Harry Kane for the top scorer award and won Player of the Month for August.

At 22, Boniface is just starting and he is one player that will take European football by storm in this campaign.

He has four goals and two assists from his first four league games and will be key if Bayer reaches the semi-final of the Europa League as they did last season.

There are so many top players in the Europa League this season, and we expect to see some of the best footballs being played.

Liverpool are the favourites because of their pedigree and their reputation in European football, but we know the Europa League always spring up surprises, so another team could win the competition.