Brighton to face giants Ajax and Marseille in Europa League group stage

Europa League debutants Brighton have been handed a mouth-watering group alongside Ajax, Marseille and AEK Athens.

The Seagulls face a tricky task to qualify from Group B but can look forward to some blockbuster clashes with the Dutch and French duo, who have won the Champions League a combined five times.

Liverpool, returning to the competition after eight years, have more straightforward opponents in LASK, Union Saint-Gilloise and Toulouse.

Jurgen Klopp's men are considered the favourites to go all the way in Europe's secondary competition and will be hopeful of topping Group E with relative ease.

Europa Conference League winners West Ham will have to negotiate their way through a group containing Greek side Olympiacos, Bundesliga outfit Freiburg and Serbian debutants TSC Backa Topola.

David Moyes' Hammers will look to write more European history after reaching the semi-final stage two seasons ago before their triumph in Prague last term.

Scottish side Rangers also have a potentially tricky path to the knockout stage after being drawn with Real Betis and Sparta Prague alongside minnows Aris Limassol.

The Gers dropped down to the Europa League after losing to PSV Eindhoven over two legs in their Champions League play-off.

Europa League draw

Group A

West Ham, Olympiacos, Freiburg, TSC Backa Topola

Group B

Ajax, Marseille, Brighton, AEK Athens

Group C

Rangers, Real Betis, Sparta Prague, Aris Limassol

Group D

Atalanta, Sporting, Sturm Graz, Rakow Czestochowa

Group E

Liverpool, LASK, Union Saint-Gilloise, Toulouse

Group F

Villarreal, Rennes, Maccabi Haifa, Panathinaikos

Group G

Roma, Slavia Prague, FC Sheriff, Servette

Group H

Bayer Leverkusen, Qarabag, Molde, BK Hacken

Key dates

Matchday 1: September 21

Matchday 2: October 5

Matchday 3: October 26

Matchday 4: November 9

Matchday 5: November 30

Matchday 6: December 14