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Atalanta stuns Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield, Leverkusen beats West Ham 2-0 in the Europa League

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Atalanta stuns Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield, Leverkusen beats West Ham 2-0 in the Europa League
Sport

Sport

Atalanta stuns Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield, Leverkusen beats West Ham 2-0 in the Europa League

2024-04-12 06:16 Last Updated At:06:21

Gianluca Scamacca struck twice as visiting Atalanta upset Liverpool 3-0 in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals on Thursday.

The loss damages Liverpool's hopes of a treble of trophies in manager Jurgen Klopp's final season at Anfield.

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Brugge's Hugo Vetlesen, left, fights for the ball with PAOK's Magomed Ozdoyev during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and PAOK at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Gianluca Scamacca struck twice as visiting Atalanta upset Liverpool 3-0 in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals on Thursday.

PAOK's goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski, second left, makes a save during a penalty shot by Brugge's Igor Thiago, right, during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and PAOK at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

PAOK's goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski, second left, makes a save during a penalty shot by Brugge's Igor Thiago, right, during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and PAOK at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Lille at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Lille at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, left, challenges for the ball with Lille's Benjamin Andre during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Lille at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, left, challenges for the ball with Lille's Benjamin Andre during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Lille at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Lille at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Lille at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Benfica's Angel Di Maria celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Benfica's Angel Di Maria celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Benfica's Angel Di Maria, center, scores his side's second goal past Marseille's goalkeeper Pau Lopez, right, during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Benfica's Angel Di Maria, center, scores his side's second goal past Marseille's goalkeeper Pau Lopez, right, during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Marseille's Leonardo Balerdi, top left, goes for a header with Benfica's Nicolas Otamendi during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Marseille's Leonardo Balerdi, top left, goes for a header with Benfica's Nicolas Otamendi during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Benfica supporters light flares at the stand during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Benfica supporters light flares at the stand during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

AC Milan supporters light flares during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan supporters light flares during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan's Rafael Leao does an overhead kick during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan's Rafael Leao does an overhead kick during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Roma's goalkeeper Mile Svilar, left, saves on AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Roma's goalkeeper Mile Svilar, left, saves on AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Roma's Gianluca Mancini, left, celebrates with his teammates after he scored his side's first goal during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Roma's Gianluca Mancini, left, celebrates with his teammates after he scored his side's first goal during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Roma's Gianluca Mancini celebrates after he scored his side's first goal during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Roma's Gianluca Mancini celebrates after he scored his side's first goal during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez, left, and Virgil van Dijk and Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca jump for the ball during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez, left, and Virgil van Dijk and Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca jump for the ball during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Olympiakos players celebrates in front of their fans after the end of the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. Olympiakos won the game 3-2. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Olympiakos players celebrates in front of their fans after the end of the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. Olympiakos won the game 3-2. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Fenerbahce's Dusan Tadic scores from penalty against Olympiakos during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Fenerbahce's Dusan Tadic scores from penalty against Olympiakos during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez brings out the torch during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez brings out the torch during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez brings out the torch during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez brings out the torch during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Fiorentina's Rolando Mandragora, left, duels for the ball with Plzen's Tomas Chory during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Fiorentina's Rolando Mandragora, left, duels for the ball with Plzen's Tomas Chory during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Plzen's Matej Vydra, left, duels for the ball with Fiorentina's Rolando Mandragora during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Plzen's Matej Vydra, left, duels for the ball with Fiorentina's Rolando Mandragora during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Olympiacos' Kostas Fortounis, left, and Fenerbahce's Bright Osayi-Samuel jump for the ball during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Olympiacos' Kostas Fortounis, left, and Fenerbahce's Bright Osayi-Samuel jump for the ball during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Olympiaco's Kostas Fortounis, right, celebrates with his teammate Olympiacos' Rodinei after scoring against Fenerbahce during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Olympiaco's Kostas Fortounis, right, celebrates with his teammate Olympiacos' Rodinei after scoring against Fenerbahce during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Olympiacos' Stevan Jovetic, center, scores the second goal against Fenerbahce during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Olympiacos' Stevan Jovetic, center, scores the second goal against Fenerbahce during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface, right, scores his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface, right, scores his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Jonas Hofmann, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Jonas Hofmann, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface, second from right, scores his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface, second from right, scores his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Atalanta's Teun Koopmeiners, left, and Liverpool's Joe Gomez fight for the ball during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Teun Koopmeiners, left, and Liverpool's Joe Gomez fight for the ball during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca, right, celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca, right, celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca, second from left, celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca, second from left, celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Mario Pasalic celebrates scoring his side's 3rd goal during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Mario Pasalic celebrates scoring his side's 3rd goal during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp, back, gestures during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp, back, gestures during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Isak Hien, front, and Matteo Ruggeri celebrate after beating 3-0 Liverpool during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Isak Hien, front, and Matteo Ruggeri celebrate after beating 3-0 Liverpool during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

The Italian visitors went into the break up 1-0 after Scamacca got a low drive past goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher in the 38th minute.

Klopp sent on Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson as substitutes for the second half, but Scamacca netted again after Charles De Ketelaere fed him at the far post on the hour mark.

Mario Pašalić finished the scoring seven minutes from time.

Atalanta won at Anfield 2-0 in the group stage of the Champions League in 2020.

Liverpool won the English League Cup and is in a tight Premier League title race with Arsenal and Manchester City. Klopp's team was eliminated from the FA Cup in the quarterfinals.

The lackluster display Thursday might turn out to be Klopp's final European game at Anfield. The team needs a big comeback in Bergamo to stay alive.

“That was a bad performance and that’s how it is,” Klopp told TNT Sports. "That’s how we lost. It feels always in this moment that they are through but until we play (them again) they are not.”

If Liverpool reaches the Europa League final in Dublin on May 22, it would be Klopp’s final game in charge after nearly nine years.

Bayer Leverkusen got late goals from substitutes Jonas Hofmann and Victor Boniface to top West Ham 2-0 and extend its unbeaten streak to 42 games in a season that can also end up with a treble of trophies.

Hofmann netted on a rebound in the 83rd before Boniface clinched a well-deserved victory with a header in stoppage time.

With a 16-point lead atop the Bundesliga, Xabi Alonso’s team is on course to clinch its first-ever league title and has reached the German Cup final.

In an all-Italian matchup, Gianluca Mancini headed in a winner off a corner kick from Paulo Dybala to upset AC Milan 1-0 at San Siro.

Mancini also scored the lone goal in the Italian capital derby against Lazio on Saturday in Serie A.

It was the first win for Roma over Milan since October 2019.

Milan, the seven-time European champion, has never won the second-tier Europa League or its predecessor, the UEFA Cup.

Milan has never even reached the final — something Roma achieved twice, losing both in 1991 and last year.

Rafa Silva and veteran forward Ángel Di María scored in each half for Benfica to beat Marseille 2-1. In an encounter of two former European champions. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang pulled one back for Marseille, which lost its fifth straight game in all competitions.

Aubameyang has 24 goals this season in total.

The second-leg games will be played next week.

EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE

Kostas Fortounis scored and provided an assist to help Olympiakos beat Fenerbahce 3-2 in the first leg of the Europa Conference League quarterfinals on Thursday.

Olympiakos built a 3-0 lead in Piraeus and held on after the Turkish team fought back with two second-half goals.

Fortounis opened the scoring after just eight minutes, netting his fifth goal of the European campaign. He then set up Stevan Jovetić to double the lead before halftime.

Chiquinho made it 3-0 with a precise low drive approaching the hour mark before Dušan Tadić pulled one back from the penalty spot and İrfan Can Kahveci added the second for Fenerbahce.

Olympiakos is one of the two Greek teams in the last eight hoping to reach a home final in Athens.

The other, PAOK, lost 1-0 at Club Brugge.

Ollie Watkins and captain John McGinn scored early in each half to secure a 2-1 win for Aston Villa over Lille for manager Unai Emery, who claimed the Europa League on four occasions — three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal.

Viktoria Plzeň held last year’s runner-up Fiorentina to a 0-0 draw in what was the first European quarterfinal for the Czech club, which hasn't conceded a goal for seven straight games in the third-tier competition.

As Fiorentina looked in control in the second half, the match was interrupted for several minutes because of flares that its fans threw onto the pitch.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Brugge's Hugo Vetlesen, left, fights for the ball with PAOK's Magomed Ozdoyev during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and PAOK at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Brugge's Hugo Vetlesen, left, fights for the ball with PAOK's Magomed Ozdoyev during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and PAOK at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

PAOK's goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski, second left, makes a save during a penalty shot by Brugge's Igor Thiago, right, during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and PAOK at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

PAOK's goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski, second left, makes a save during a penalty shot by Brugge's Igor Thiago, right, during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Club Brugge and PAOK at the Jan Breydel Stadium in Bruges, Belgium, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Lille at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, right, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Lille at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, left, challenges for the ball with Lille's Benjamin Andre during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Lille at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, left, challenges for the ball with Lille's Benjamin Andre during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Lille at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Lille at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery reacts during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Aston Villa and Lille at Villa Park in Birmingham, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Benfica's Angel Di Maria celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Benfica's Angel Di Maria celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Benfica's Angel Di Maria, center, scores his side's second goal past Marseille's goalkeeper Pau Lopez, right, during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Benfica's Angel Di Maria, center, scores his side's second goal past Marseille's goalkeeper Pau Lopez, right, during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Marseille's Leonardo Balerdi, top left, goes for a header with Benfica's Nicolas Otamendi during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Marseille's Leonardo Balerdi, top left, goes for a header with Benfica's Nicolas Otamendi during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Benfica supporters light flares at the stand during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

Benfica supporters light flares at the stand during the Europa League quarterfinals, first leg, soccer match between SL Benfica and Olympique de Marseille at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

AC Milan supporters light flares during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan supporters light flares during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan's Rafael Leao does an overhead kick during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

AC Milan's Rafael Leao does an overhead kick during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Roma's goalkeeper Mile Svilar, left, saves on AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Roma's goalkeeper Mile Svilar, left, saves on AC Milan's Tijjani Reijnders during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Roma's Gianluca Mancini, left, celebrates with his teammates after he scored his side's first goal during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Roma's Gianluca Mancini, left, celebrates with his teammates after he scored his side's first goal during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Roma's Gianluca Mancini celebrates after he scored his side's first goal during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Roma's Gianluca Mancini celebrates after he scored his side's first goal during the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez, left, and Virgil van Dijk and Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca jump for the ball during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez, left, and Virgil van Dijk and Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca jump for the ball during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Olympiakos players celebrates in front of their fans after the end of the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. Olympiakos won the game 3-2. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Olympiakos players celebrates in front of their fans after the end of the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. Olympiakos won the game 3-2. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Fenerbahce's Dusan Tadic scores from penalty against Olympiakos during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Fenerbahce's Dusan Tadic scores from penalty against Olympiakos during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez brings out the torch during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez brings out the torch during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez brings out the torch during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez brings out the torch during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Fiorentina's Rolando Mandragora, left, duels for the ball with Plzen's Tomas Chory during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Fiorentina's Rolando Mandragora, left, duels for the ball with Plzen's Tomas Chory during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Plzen's Matej Vydra, left, duels for the ball with Fiorentina's Rolando Mandragora during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Plzen's Matej Vydra, left, duels for the ball with Fiorentina's Rolando Mandragora during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Viktoria Plzen and Fiorentina at the Doosan Arena in Plzen, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Olympiacos' Kostas Fortounis, left, and Fenerbahce's Bright Osayi-Samuel jump for the ball during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Olympiacos' Kostas Fortounis, left, and Fenerbahce's Bright Osayi-Samuel jump for the ball during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Olympiaco's Kostas Fortounis, right, celebrates with his teammate Olympiacos' Rodinei after scoring against Fenerbahce during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Olympiaco's Kostas Fortounis, right, celebrates with his teammate Olympiacos' Rodinei after scoring against Fenerbahce during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Olympiacos' Stevan Jovetic, center, scores the second goal against Fenerbahce during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Olympiacos' Stevan Jovetic, center, scores the second goal against Fenerbahce during the Europa Conference League quarter final first leg soccer match between Olympiacos and Fenerbahce at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium, Piraeus port near Athens, Greece, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface, right, scores his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface, right, scores his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Jonas Hofmann, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Jonas Hofmann, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface, second from right, scores his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface, second from right, scores his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Victor Boniface, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Europa League quarterfinals first leg soccer match between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and West Ham United at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Atalanta's Teun Koopmeiners, left, and Liverpool's Joe Gomez fight for the ball during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Teun Koopmeiners, left, and Liverpool's Joe Gomez fight for the ball during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca, right, celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca, right, celebrates scoring his side's 2nd goal during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca, second from left, celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Gianluca Scamacca, second from left, celebrates scoring his side's opening goal during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Mario Pasalic celebrates scoring his side's 3rd goal during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Mario Pasalic celebrates scoring his side's 3rd goal during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp, back, gestures during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp, back, gestures during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match between Liverpool and Atalanta, at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Isak Hien, front, and Matteo Ruggeri celebrate after beating 3-0 Liverpool during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Atalanta's Isak Hien, front, and Matteo Ruggeri celebrate after beating 3-0 Liverpool during the Europa League quarter final first leg soccer match at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

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What is at stake in UK local voting ahead of a looming general election

2024-05-02 17:05 Last Updated At:17:10

LONDON (AP) — Millions of voters in England and Wales will cast their ballots on Thursday in an array of local elections that will be the last big test before a U.K. general election that all indicators show will see the Conservative Party ousted from power after 14 years.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will hope he can point to successes, notably in a couple of key mayoral races, to douse talk that the Conservative Party will change leader again before the United Kingdom's main election, which could take place as soon as next month.

On the other hand, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer will hope Thursday's local elections confirm what opinion polls have shown for two years — that Labour is on course for power for the first time since 2010.

“The national context going into these local elections is very good for Labour and very bad for the Conservatives,” said Rob Ford, professor of politics at the University of Manchester.

As is often the case in British local elections, the run-up is about expectation management, so any outperformance can be painted as a success.

That's certainly the case with the Conservatives, who are widely predicted to lose around half of the 1,000 seats they are contesting. They have pointed out, for example, that the equivalent elections were held in 2021 when the government of then Prime Minister Boris Johnson was riding high following the rollout of the coronavirus vaccines.

Thursday's elections are important in themselves — voters decide who will run many aspects of their daily lives, such as garbage collection, the state of the roads and local crime prevention measures in the coming years.

But with a general election looming, they will be viewed through a national prism.

Here are five things to know:

Voters in England and Wales will go to the polls for local, mayoral, and police and crime commissioner elections.

The voting is the final test of public opinion before the general election, which has to take place by January 2025 but which Sunak, who has the power to decide on the date, has indicated will be in the second half of 2024.

As well as a number of mayoral votes, including in London where Sadiq Khan is expected to win a third term, there are more than 100 elections to local councils and nearly 40 for local police and crime commissioners.

There's also a special parliamentary election in Blackpool South, a long-time Labour seat that went Conservative in the last election in 2019, when Johnson won a big victory. The results will be announced in coming days. London's mayoral result isn't due until Saturday.

No elections are taking place in Scotland or Northern Ireland, the other constituent nations of the U.K.

Potentially his job. Sunak replaced Liz Truss, who quit after 45 days following a budget of unfunded tax cuts that roiled financial markets and sent borrowing costs for homeowners surging.

Sunak, who warned about the economic implications of Truss' plan, was supposed to be a steady hand after taking the top job in October 2022. If opinion polls are right, he's not improved the Conservatives' ratings, which had even prior to Truss, been battered by the circus surrounding Johnson, who was ousted over a series of ethics scandals.

With the Conservatives seemingly headed for one of their biggest-ever electoral defeats, there's mounting speculation Sunak may face a leadership battle if Thursday's elections are really bad.

Key to his survival could be the mayoral elections in the West Midlands and Tees Valley in the northeast of England. Should Conservative mayors Andy Street and Ben Houchen hold on, he may win some respite from restive lawmakers in his party. Should both lose, he may face trouble.

In historical terms, Labour has a mountain to climb if it's going to form the next government.

It's performance in 2019 was its worst since 1935. Starmer has tried to bring the party back to the center of British politics after the five-year leadership of veteran left-winger Jeremy Corbyn.

Starmer's cautious approach has clearly worked if opinion polls are anything to go by. But it's fair to say that enthusiasm levels are far lower than those that heralded the arrival of Tony Blair ahead of the 1997 general election.

That may be partly due to the more challenging economic backdrop, but Starmer, formerly a human rights lawyer, lacks the razzmatazz of his predecessor. Even so, Starmer will hope Labour notches up big wins in areas it lost under Corbyn, in the north of England and in the Midlands.

One point of concern is how many traditionally Labour supporters in Muslim communities fail to vote in protest at the party's stance over the conflict in Gaza.

One of the contributing factors to Blair's landslide victory in 1997 came from so-called tactical voting, whereby some voters put aside their preferred political party and back whoever they think is most likely to defeat the Conservative candidate.

Tactical voting has reemerged in recent years and could become key in the general election. It usually involves voters sympathetic to Labour in parts of the country, such as southwest England, backing the much-smaller Liberal Democrats and Liberal Democrat supporters loaning votes to Labour in the Midlands and the north of England.

Conservative lawmakers across the U.K., even in supposedly safe seats, will be hugely concerned if voters think more tactically.

The Conservatives don't just face a challenge from the left. Reform UK is trying to outflank it from the right.

Though it is standing in a few seats, Conservatives will worry that support for the party will see Labour and others come through the middle.

Reform UK, which claims to be tougher on issues such as immigration and on Brexit, has said it won't stand aside to give incumbent Conservative lawmakers an easier chance at the general election, as its former incarnation, The Brexit Party, did in 2019. The Blackpool South special election will be particularly interesting on that front.

London Mayoral Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan and his wife Saadiya Ahmed pose for the media as they arrive to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

London Mayoral Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan and his wife Saadiya Ahmed pose for the media as they arrive to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

London Mayoral Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan and his wife Saadiya Ahmed with their dog Luna, pose for the media as they arrive to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

London Mayoral Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan and his wife Saadiya Ahmed with their dog Luna, pose for the media as they arrive to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

London Mayoral Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan pats his dog Luna as they pose for the media he arrives to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

London Mayoral Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan pats his dog Luna as they pose for the media he arrives to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

London Mayoral Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan and his wife Saadiya Ahmed with their dog Luna pose for the media as they arrive to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

London Mayoral Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan and his wife Saadiya Ahmed with their dog Luna pose for the media as they arrive to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Polling station officials put out a sign as it opens for people to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Polling station officials put out a sign as it opens for people to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

London Mayoral Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan and his wife Saadiya Ahmed pose for the media as they arrive to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

London Mayoral Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan and his wife Saadiya Ahmed pose for the media as they arrive to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

A voter waits with his dog outside a polling station as it opens for people to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

A voter waits with his dog outside a polling station as it opens for people to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. London Mayor Sadiq Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

London Mayoral Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan and his wife Saadiya Ahmed pose for the media as they arrive to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

London Mayoral Labour Party candidate Sadiq Khan and his wife Saadiya Ahmed pose for the media as they arrive to vote in London, Thursday, May 2, 2024. Khan, is seeking re-election, and standing against 12 other candidates for the post of Mayor of London. There are other Mayoral elections in English cities and as well as local council elections. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Voters leave a polling station at St Alban's Church, south London, after casting their votes in the local and London Mayoral election Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

Voters leave a polling station at St Alban's Church, south London, after casting their votes in the local and London Mayoral election Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)

FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019 file photo, a polling station signpost lies on the pavement, in Twickenham, England. Millions of voters in England and Wales will cast their ballots in an array of local elections. The voting on Thursday will be the last big test before a U.K. general election that all indicators show will see the Conservative Party ousted from power after 14 years. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019 file photo, a polling station signpost lies on the pavement, in Twickenham, England. Millions of voters in England and Wales will cast their ballots in an array of local elections. The voting on Thursday will be the last big test before a U.K. general election that all indicators show will see the Conservative Party ousted from power after 14 years. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File)

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