Liverpool get kind Europa League draw, Brighton to face Ajax and Marseille

Liverpool received a favorable group in Friday's draw for this season's Europa League group stage, while their Premier League counterparts, Brighton and Hove Albion, are set to face formidable European opponents in their debut continental campaign.
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool squad has been placed in Group E, where they will compete against LASK from Austria, Union Saint-Gilloise from Belgium, and the French Cup holders, Toulouse.
This marks Liverpool's return to the Europa League after their last appearance in the 2015/16 season, when they reached the final but were defeated by Sevilla. Liverpool has a history with Toulouse in European competitions, having previously faced and beaten them in the Champions League qualifying rounds in 2007.
On the other hand, Brighton, who secured a sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season, thereby earning their maiden European qualification, has a challenging path ahead in Group B.
The Seagulls will take on Ajax, a four-time former European champion and UEFA Cup winner in 1992, as well as the 1993 Champions League victors, Marseille, and the Greek champions, AEK Athens. This group promises exciting encounters against established European powerhouses.
Both Liverpool and Brighton will be eager to make their mark in the Europa League, with Liverpool aiming to recapture the trophy they narrowly missed in 2016, while Brighton embarks on their inaugural European adventure against strong opposition.

Last season's Europa Conference League winners West Ham United will also go to Greece to play Olympiakos in Group A, which will also contain German Bundesliga side Freiburg and TSC Backa Topola of Serbia.
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 September 21, 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 May 29.
(With AFP inputs)