Liverpool were given a favorable draw for this season’s Europa League group stage on Friday, while Premier League rivals Brighton and Hove Albion will face European giants Ajax and Marseille in their first-ever venture into international play.
In Group E, Jurgen Klopp’s Reds will face LASK of Austria, Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium, and French Cup holders Toulouse.
After finishing sixth in the Premier League last season, Liverpool is playing in the Europa League for the first time since 2015/16, when they lost in the final to Sevilla.
Liverpool had previously played Toulouse in Europe, defeating the French club in the Champions League qualifying rounds in 2007.
Brighton finished sixth in the league last season, qualifying for Europe for the first time in their history, and have been rewarded with a prestigious Group B draw.
The Seagulls will face Ajax, the four-time previous European champions and UEFA Cup winners in 1992, as well as Marseille, the 1993 Champions League winners, and AEK Athens, the Greek champions.
West Ham United, who won the Europa Conference League last season, will also travel to Greece to play Olympiakos in Group A, which also includes Freiburg of the German Bundesliga and TSC Backa Topola of Serbia.
TSC are making a rare foray into Europe after coming second in the Serbian league last season.
Rangers were put in Group C with Real Betis, Czech champions Sparta Prague, and Cypriot title winners Aris Limassol after losing to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League play-offs.
Roma, who lost on penalties to Sevilla in last season’s final, will play Slavia Prague, Sheriff Tiraspol of Moldova, and Servette of Geneva in Group G.
The first round of group-stage matches will take place on September 21, with the Europa League final this season taking place in Dublin on May 22, 2024.
Europa League group stage draw
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)