Europa League Draw: Liverpool Given Christmas Gift, Man City Find It Tricky

UEFA held the Europa League draw on December 17 just after the 2010 Champions League draw. Liverpool, Manchester City and Rangers are the only three English representatives for the Europa League 2010.

Liverpool and Manchester City will go into the draw as seeded teams, as they top their respective groups and thus having the advantage of playing at home in the second leg of the last 32 ties.

The Scottish runners-up, Rangers, will be put into un-seeded pot as they are one of the drop-outs from Champions League group stages.

Liverpool FC:

Liverpool were drawn against Sparta Prague, the Czech Republic's most successful team. However, considering the other threats presented in terms of FC Porto, PSV, Sporting Lisbon, etc., Liverpool should feel happy about their fate to avoid those teams.

As if that were not enough good news, the Reds were also given easier draw in the last 16 of the competition. Should Liverpool pass the Czech's, awaits either Lech Poznan or Braga. The winner of Lech Poznan vs. Braga will face Liverpool in the last 16 of the Europe's second-tier club competition.

Roy Hodgson and his boys will fancy to go further and might bring back the memories of 2001 to Anfield. 

Manchester City FC:

City have found a bit tricky trip to the unknown in Greek side Aris Salonika. However, they should go through the Greek side easily but it's the following last 16 teams that will be a test for the most expensive squad in English football.  

The sky Blues will face either Besiktas or Dynamo Kyiv in the last 16 draw. Compared to Liverpool, City will find a long and tiring trip to either Turkey or Ukraine.

The Turkish outfit has been described as the trickiest of teams in that City might face. City only needs to go to Merseyside to find out what the Reds felt in their 2-1 loss to Besiktas in 2008 and failing to qualify for the Champions League. 

From Manchester City's perspective they would want to avoid the Black Eagles to go through the quarter-finals.

Rangers:

The last English representative of Europa League finds the hardest of tasks compared to their other two English clubs.

Rangers are drawn against the Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon in the round of 32 and also have the tricky away second leg.

As if it wasn't bitter enough after losing against Manchester Utd in the Champions League, the Scottish outfit will find it difficult in the round of 16 too. If they pass the Portuguese test, they will either face PSV Eindhoven or the French side Lille.

The round of 32 matches will be played on 17th and 24th February 2011, the full draw is:

Sparta Prague vs. Liverpool

Rangers vs. Sporting Lisbon

Napoli vs. Villareal 

Aris Salonika vs. Manchester City

Lech Poznan vs. Braga

Sevilla vs. Porto

Rubin Kazan vs. Twente

Besiktas vs. Dynano Kyiv

Anderlecht vs. Ajax

Young Boys vs. Zenit St Petersburg

Benfica vs. VfB Stuttgart

Boriso vs. Paris St-Germain

Metalist Kharkiv vs. Bayern Laverkusen

Basel vs. Spartak Moscow

POAK Salonika vs. CSKA Moscow

Lille vs. PSV Eindhoven

The round of last 16 to be played on 10th and 17th March 2011 and the draws are:

Sparta Prague OR Liverpool vs. Lech Poznan OR Braga

Aris OR Manchester City vs. Besiktas OR Dynamo Kyiv

Lille Or PSV vs. Rangers OR Sporting Lisbon

Benfica OR VfB Stuttgart vs. Borisov OR PSG

PAOK Salonika OR CSKA Moscow vs. Sevilla OR Porto

Rubin Kazan OR Twente vs. Young Boys OR Zenit St Petersburg

Metalist Kharkiv OR Bayern Laverkusen vs. Napoli OR Villareal

Anderlecht OR Ajax vs. Basel OR Spartak Moscow

Note: The teams highlighted in Bold are simply my predictions, please let me know if you agree or disagree by commenting below.