Predicted Europa League pots emerge ahead of draw as Liverpool's nightmare draw revealed

Liverpool will enter the Europa League at the group stage - and a list of their potential opponents has been revealed.

The Reds finished fifth in the Premier League last season despite a late charge for the top four, meaning they will play Europa League football for the first time since Jurgen Klopp's first season in charge in 2016.

Encouragingly for Reds fans, though, Liverpool reached the final on that occasion, losing to Sevilla.

This time around, they will be placed in pot one, alongside Europa Conference League winners West Ham, Europa League runners-up Roma and Villarreal.

In addition, Atalanta and Bayer Leverkusen are also confirmed to be in pot one.

Now, Twitter account @UefaRankings has projected which clubs will be placed in each pot - and who Liverpool could face as a result.

Liverpool Europa League draw predicted

Among the teams currently playing the qualifying stage that are predicted to be in the main draw include Ajax (pot one), PSV and Olympiakos (pot two).

While Liverpool would avoid Ajax due to both teams being in the same pot, they could draw PSV and Olympiakos.

But their toughest draw from pot two, as per UEFA co-efficients, would be Sporting Lisbon.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan Premier League champions Qarabag, if they qualify, would represent Liverpool's most difficult draw in pot three. However, that could change if Braga are knocked out by Panathinaikos, with Marseille then becoming the club in pot three with the highest co-efficient.

As things stand, Austrian side Sturm Graz would represent the toughest draw for Liverpool in pot four. Again, however, Braga's elimination from qualifying would see Maccabi Haifa, who have a higher co-efficient than the Austrian side, drop into pot four.

Panathinaikos vs Braga is match of the day in the context of projected pots movement.

With elimination of Braga:

- Young Boys or Real Sociedad up to Pot 3 of the Champions League

- Marseille down to Pot 3 in the Europa League

- Maccabi Haifa down to Pot 4 in the Europa League pic.twitter.com/0m0gTpiWY6

— UEFA Rankings (@UefaRankings) August 29, 2023

One club that Liverpool will avoid in the Europa League group stage draw is Brighton.

Roberto De Zerbi's side are in pot three for the draw as things stand, but will not be drawn against Liverpool due to both teams being part of the same national confederation.

But they could face Scottish sides Aberdeen or Rangers in the draw if any of the three clubs are placed in the draw. Rangers are taking part in the final round of Champions League qualification, with Aberdeen in Europa League qualification.

Drawing Michael Beale's Gers would create a repeat of last season's Champions League group stage, with Liverpool winning both fixtures by a combined score of 9-1.