Liverpool received a favorable Europa League group stage draw, being placed in Group E alongside LASK of Austria, Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium, and French Cup holders Toulouse. This marks Liverpool’s return to the competition after a five-year absence.
Brighton and Hove Albion, on the other hand, are making their debut in European competition after finishing sixth in the Premier League last season. They have been drawn into Group B, where they will face European giants Ajax and Marseille, setting the stage for an exciting inaugural European campaign for the club.
The Seagulls are set to face formidable opponents in Group B, including four-time European champions Ajax, 1993 Champions League winners Marseille, and Greek champions AEK Athens.
Meanwhile, last season’s Europa Conference League victors, West Ham United, will also venture to Greece to take on Olympiakos in Group A. Joining them in this group are German Bundesliga side Freiburg and Serbian league runners-up TSC Backa Topola, who are embarking on a rare European campaign after their second-place finish in the Serbian league last season.
After their loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League play-offs, Rangers, the runners-up in the 2022 Europa League, find themselves in Group C. They will compete against Real Betis, the Czech champions Sparta Prague, and Aris Limassol, the Cypriot title holders.
Jose Mourinho’s Roma, who endured a penalty shootout loss to Sevilla in last season’s final, have been placed in Group G. Their opponents include Slavia Prague, Sheriff Tiraspol from Moldova, and Servette from Geneva.
The group-stage matches are scheduled to commence on September 21, and the Europa League final for this season is slated to take place in Dublin on May 22, 2024.
The draw for this season’s UEFA Europa League group stage, made in Monaco on Friday:
Group A: West Ham United (ENG), Olympiakos (GRE), Freiburg (GER), TSC Backa Topola (SRB)
Group B: Ajax (NED), Marseille (FRA), Brighton and Hove Albion (ENG), AEK Athens (GRE)
Group C: Rangers (SCO), Real Betis (ESP), Sparta Prague (CZE), Aris Limassol (CYP)
Group D: Atalanta (ITA), Sporting (POR), Sturm Graz (AUT), Rakow Czestochowa (POL)
Group E: Liverpool (ENG), LASK (AUT), Union Saint-Gilloise (BEL), Toulouse (ENG)
Group F: Villarreal (ESP), Rennes (FRA), Maccabi Haifa (ISR), Panathinaikos (GRE)
Group G: Roma (ITA), Slavia Prague (CZE), Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA), Servette (SUI)
Group H: Bayer Leverkusen (GER), Qarabag (AZE), Molde (NOR), Haecken (SWE)
