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Europa League draw simulated: Liverpool get Alonso showdown as West Ham face Italian giant
The Europa League draw is set to take place as Liverpool and West Ham discover their opponents
Liverpool could be tasked with a two-legged quarter-final tie with their next head coach Xabi Alonso in the Europa League quarter-finals. The draw for the final eight takes place on Friday and Express Sport’s simulated draw paired the Reds against Jurgen Klopp’s potential successor.
An aggregate win of 11-2 over Sparta Praha saw Liverpool coast into the quarter-finals, with themselves and West Ham Britain’s two representatives. They could have been joined by Rangers, but a 1-0 defeat at home to Benfica proved costly after a first-leg draw in Portugal.
And our simulated draw has given Liverpool perhaps their trickiest test of the season, with Leverkusen still unbeaten in all competitions across the campaign. They were on the verge of their first defeat as Azerbaijani outfit Qarabag led 2-0 in Germany, but two stoppage-time goals from Patrik Schick after Jeremie Frimpong’s effort completed an incredible comeback.
Alonso and Leverkusen are attempting an unthinkable treble this season as they sit atop of the Bundesliga, but likely will have to go through the Spanish boss’ former and perhaps future employers should they achieve European glory in Dublin on May 22.
West Ham’s European pedigree continues to grow after a 5-0 drubbing of Freiburg put them in contention for back-to-back trophies on the continent. Very little has fazed David Moyes’ outfit so far but a trip to the San Siro per our simulator would pose a difficult challenge for Jarrod Bowen and co.
The semi-final draws are made on the same day and if Liverpool and AC Milan both progress past Leverkusen and West Ham respectively, they would set up a repeat of the 2005 and 2007 Champions League finals.
On the other side of the draw, another two Serie A teams have made the quarter-finals and are predicted to meet each other. Roma’s 4-0 win at home to Brighton was enough to see them through despite a 1-0 defeat on the south English coast, while Atalanta were able to complete a comeback over Sporting at home to ensure their place in the next round.
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Benfica and Marseille are Portugal and France’s sole representatives in the competition and they have been tipped to play each other for a place in the semi-finals against either Atalanta or Roma, as a trip to Italy potentially awaits them.
Europa League simulated draw in full:
Quarter-finals
Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen
West Ham vs AC Milan
Marseille vs Benfica
Atalanta vs Roma
Semi-finals
Liverpool/Bayer Leverkusen vs West Ham/AC Milan
Marseille/Benfica vs Atalanta/Roma
The Europa League draw in reality is scheduled to take place at midday on Friday, March 15.