Liverpool will likely be in pot two for Friday’s Europa League group stage draw, it has been reported by the Daily Mail.
The Reds would have been in pot one had qualifying results gone their way, but that is no longer likely after the conclusion of Tuesday’s Champions League play-off ties.
Basel have been demoted to the Europa League after losing to Maccabi Tel-Aviv, which means that Brendan Rodgers’ side are relying on some unlikely results in Thursday’s Europa League play-offs in order to be one of the draw’s top 12 teams.
Of teams that are confirmed for Friday’s draw, Liverpool are currently ranked 11th in UEFA’s coefficient ranking, but at least two more teams with a higher score are set to drop down from tomorrow’s qualifiers – condemning the Reds to pot two.
It means that Rodgers could seek revenge against the Swiss side for last year’s Champions League elimination, whilst Napoli, Villarreal or Schalke could also await in this year’s competition.
Currently ranked the 47th best team in Europe, Liverpool have never been so low in the UEFA coefficient ranking since 1996.
It will be the first time they have been involved in a Europa League group stage draw whilst not being a top seed.
