Liverpool received a favorable draw for this season's Europa League group stage, while Premier League newcomers Brighton and Hove Albion face daunting challenges against European heavyweights Ajax and Marseille in their maiden continental campaign.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool squad was drawn into Group E, where they will compete against Austria's LASK, Belgium's Union Saint-Gilloise, and French Cup holders Toulouse. This marks Liverpool's return to the Europa League for the first time since the 2015/16 season when they reached the final but lost to Sevilla. Their qualification for this competition comes after finishing fifth in the previous Premier League season.
Notably, Liverpool has crossed paths with Toulouse in European competitions previously, defeating the French side in the Champions League qualifying rounds back in 2007.
Brighton, on the other hand, secured a sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season, securing their debut appearance in European competition. Their draw in Group B is far from easy, as they are set to face four-time European champions Ajax, who have also won the UEFA Cup in 1992, as well as the 1993 Champions League winners, Marseille. Adding to the competition, Greek champions AEK Athens are also part of the group.
In Group A, last season's Europa Conference League champions, West Ham United, will travel to Greece to take on Olympiakos. The group also features German Bundesliga side Freiburg and Serbia's TSC Backa Topola. These matchups have set the stage for an exciting Europa League group stage, with clubs from different backgrounds and experiences preparing to compete on the European stage once again.
TSC are making a rare foray into Europe
after coming second in the Serbian league last season. Following their
defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League play-offs, 2022 Europa
League runners-up Rangers were drawn in Group C with Real Betis, Czech champions Sparta Prague and Aris Limassol, the Cypriot title-holders.
Jose Mourinho's Roma, who lost last season's final on penalties to Sevilla, will play Slavia Prague, Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova and Servette of
Geneva in Group G. The first round of group-stage matches will be
played on 21st September, with this season's Europa League final being
held in Dublin on May 22, 2024.
In the Conference League, Aston Villa were drawn alongside AZ Alkmaar of the Netherlands, Legia Warsaw of Poland and Zrinjski Mostar of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group E.
AZ will likely be the biggest threat to Unai Emery's team having reached the semi-finals of last season's Conference League before losing to West Ham. Zrinjski began the campaign in the Champions League having won the Bosnian title last season.
Aberdeen, the sole Scottish club to reach the Conference League group stage, were handed a tough draw alongside Eintracht Frankfurt,
PAOK of Greece and last year's Finnish champions HJK Helsinki in Group
G. This season's Conference League final will be played at the Agia
Sofia Stadium in Athens on 29th May.
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