Liverpool

Liverpool isn’t participating in the Europa League; why?

Published

10 months ago

February 16, 2024

While Jürgen Klopp's team dominated the UEFA competition in the group stage, some supporters may be wondering why they don't have

While Jürgen Klopp’s team dominated the UEFA competition in the group stage, some supporters may be wondering why they don’t have a match this week.

Today, Thursday, February 15, marks the resumption of the Europa League for the 2023–24 season’s knockout stages. Even though it’s UEFA’s second-tier club competition, a lot of well-known teams participate, including eight teams that are eliminated from the Champions League after losing in their group.

There are a few noteworthy absences from this week’s sixteen teams competing in two-leg ties to advance to the Europa League Round of 16.

Liverpool, for instance, won all of their group stage matches but don’t play in the Europa League this week. Why? Due to the fact that the games scheduled for February 15 and 22 are playoffs between the teams that placed second and third in their respective Europa League and Champions League groups.

😄 pic.twitter.com/IoZu1uBOE5
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 13, 2024

Liverpool, one of the top eight clubs in the Europa League group stage, will not play until the Round of 16 in March after receiving a bye.

Which teams in the Europa League are guaranteed a bye?

Eight teams from this year’s league will not be participating in this week’s Europa League matchup. These teams are Villarreal, West Ham United, Atalanta, Liverpool, Rangers, Bayer Leverkusen, Slavia Praha, and Brighton & Hove Albion. These eight teams, who include some of the best teams in the competition, won their respective Europa League groups prior to the winter break.

While Jürgen Klopp's team dominated the UEFA competition in the group stage, some supporters may be wondering why they don't have

Apart from Liverpool, who are still vying for four trophies, Bayer Leverkusen leads the Bundesliga and defeated Bayern Munich, the reigning champions of Germany, last weekend. Head coach Xabi Alonso of Leverkusen, who hasn’t dropped a game this season, has been mentioned for some of the top managerial positions in the league.

holders of leagues in the Europa Conference West Ham will be aiming to advance farther in the competition this year as well. Despite losing to Arsenal in the Premier League last weekend, David Moyes’ team has proven to be formidable in Europe.

This week’s Europa League players are who?
In the absence of those eight teams, the playoff round will feature eight teams that placed second in the Europa League and eight teams that were eliminated from the Champions League. That recently relegated group of previous UCL players includes AC Milan, Sporting Lisbon, and Feyenoord.

The whole schedule of Europa League playoff games is available here.

Europa League fixtures

Galatasary – Sparta Praha
Shakhtar Donetsk – Marseille
Feyenoord – Roma
Young Boys – Sporting Lisbon
AC Milan – Rennes
Braga Qarabag FK
Benfica – Toulouse
Lens – SC Freiburg

There will be two legs in which the ties will be decided: the first on Thursday, February 15, and the second on Thursday, February 22. In the event that the total scores are tied, extra time and penalties will be applied. There will be no usage of the away goals rule.

When is the next Europa League match for Liverpool?
Next up for the Reds is a Round of 16 matchup. These two-leg matches will have their first leg on Thursday, March 7, and their second leg on Thursday, March 14.

As of right moment, Liverpool’s opponents are unknown. The Europa League draw, which determines the ties for the Round of 16, will take place on Friday, February 23, following the conclusion of the playoff round.

Liverpool will not be able to play any of the other teams that received a bye to the Round of 16, since the eight group stage winners will be seeded for the draw. That guarantees they won’t have to play difficult matches against teams like Leverkusen or Atalanta.

Additionally, teams in the Round of 16 cannot be paired with another team from the same national association. For instance, if Atalanta advances, they would not be able to play AC Milan, their Serie A rivals.