Liverpool will face Sporting Lisbon in the group stage of the 2023-24 Europa League, while West Ham United have been drawn with Greek side Olympiacos.
Brighton, in their debut European foray, have been placed in a difficult group alongside continental heavyweights Ajax and Marseille.
West Ham, who were semi-finalists of the Europa League in 2022 and won last season’s Europa Conference League, will also face Freiburg and Serbian side TSC Backa Topola in Group A.
Liverpool are returning to the Europa League for the first time since the 2015-16 season and were drawn with tough opposition in Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese giants possess some highly-talented players with summer signing Ivan Fresneda, as well as attackers Pedro Goncalves and Marcus Edwards. There will also be a return to Anfield for former Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates.
This year’s final will take place on May 22 at the Dublin Arena.
Europa League groups in full
Group A: West Ham, Olympiacos, Freiburg, TSC Bracka Topola
Group B: Ajax, Marseille, Brighton, AEK Athens
Group C: Rangers, Real Betis, Sparta Prague, Aris Limassol
Group D: Atalanta, Sporting Lisbon, Sturm Graz, Rakow Czestochowa
Group E: Liverpool, LASK, Union St-Gilloise, Toulouse
Group F: Villarreal, Rennes, Maccabi Haifa, Panathinaikos
Group G: Roma, Slavia Prague, Sheriff Tiraspol, Servette
Group H: Bayer Leverkusen, Qarabag, Molde, Hacken
When are the Europa League group games?
- Matchday 1: September 12
- Matchday 2: October 5
- Matchday 3: October 26
- Matchday 4: November 9
- Matchday 5: November 30
- Matchday 6: December 14
Other key 2023-24 Europa League dates
- Knockout round play-off draw: December 18, 2023
- Knockout round play-offs: February 15 and 22, 2024
- Round of 16 draw: February 23, 2024
- Round of 16: March 7 and 14, 2024
- Quarter-finals and semi-finals draw: March 15, 2024
- Quarter-finals: April 11 and 18, 2024
- Semi-finals: May 2 and 9, 2024
- Final: May 22, 2024
(Photo: Getty Images)
