da aposte e ganhe: Liverpool will face LASK and Union SG in the group stage of the 2023-24 Europa League, while West Ham are set to take on Olympiacos and Freiburg.
da wazamba: Article continues below
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Reds reached the final in 2016Gers fell narrowly short in 2022Hammers won UECL last seasonGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Elsewhere, Brighton’s first experience of continental competition has seen them drawn against Ajax and Marseille, with Scottish giants Rangers – who failed to progress through the Champions League qualifiers – due to come up against Real Betis and Sparta Prague.
AdvertisementEUROPA LEAGUE GROUP STAGE DRAW IN FULL
Group A
West Ham, Olympiacos, Freiburg, TSC Backa Topola
Group B
Ajax, Marseille, Brighton, AEK Athens
Group C
Rangers, Real Betis, Sparta Prague, Aris Limassol
Group D
Atalanta, Sporting, Sturm, Rakow
Group E
Liverpool, LASK, Union SG, Toulouse
Group F
Villarreal, Rennes, Maccabi Haifa, Panathinaikos
Group G
Roma, Slavia Prague, Sheriff, Servette
Group H
Leverkusen, Qarabag, Molde, Hacken
GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Liverpool last played in the Europa League back in 2015-16, when they made it all the way to the final before coming unstuck against tournament specialists Sevilla. West Ham reached the semi-finals back in 2022, before going one better in the Europa Conference League last season as they claimed a prestigious trophy. Rangers have also graced a final in recent times, with the Glasgow heavyweights suffering a penalty shootout defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt in 2021-22.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The first round of group stage fixtures will take place on September 21, with a further five matchdays playing out from that point – taking things through to December 14. Every team involved in the competition is hoping to steer a course to Dublin on May 22, 2024 – when major silverware will come up for grabs at the Aviva Stadium.