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      Europa League draw simulated as Liverpool face former European champions and potential meeting with future boss in final

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      LIVERPOOL may need to win a Champions League final repeat to reach the Europa League final, according to SunSport’s simulated draw.Then the Reds could face their future boss in the final.Jurgen Klopp could face a nightmare run to the Europa League finalCredit: GettyAhead of Friday’s draw, we threw the eight ties into our simulator machine.And it churned out a host of exciting, mouthwatering fixtures for the remainder of the tournament.The standout tie for the quarter-finals saw Liverpool/Sparta Prague pitted against Rangers’ conquerors Benfica – the two-time European Cup winners. Liverpool thumped Sparta Prague 5-1 in the first leg and raced into a 4-0 lead at Anfield inside 14 crazy minutes. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLRangers, however, suffered heartbreak as they could not capitalise on a 2-2 draw in Portugal, losing 1-0 at Ibrox.Elsewhere in our simulated draw, the winner of that blockbuster quarter-final could end up facing another British club in Premier League rival West Ham.The Hammers, who lost their first leg against Freiburg in Germany before winning 5-0 in East London, were pitted against AC Milan after the Italian giants stormed past Slavia Prague.Should AC Milan get the better of West Ham to face Liverpool, that would see a repeat of the 2005 and 2007 Champions League finals. Most read in Europa LeagueCHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVALOn the other side of the draw, Brighton face a seemingly impossible task to overcome their 4-0 deficit against Roma tonight. Should Roberto De Zerbi mastermind a miracle, though, the Seagulls would face Marseille in the last eight after the French side beat Villarreal.Peter Crouch ranks Premier League’s top five strikers but major omission sends fans into meltdown Completing that half of the draw is Sporting or Atalanta against Qarabag or Bayer Leverkusen.With plenty of European big hitters still involved, Xabi Alonso will know he has his work cut out taking Bayer to the final in Dublin.The dream of a Bundesliga-Europa League double is still on, drawing the first leg in Azerbaijan with Qarabag 2-2. And should the German side make it to the Aviva Stadium on May 22, it could see Alonso go up against Klopp in the latter’s final match in charge of Liverpool.Klopp is leaving the Reds at the end of the season – with ex-Liverpool midfielder Alonso among the favourites to replace him in the summer. Xabi Alonso could face Liverpool in Klopp’s final game in chargeCredit: GettySunSport simulated Europa League draw

      Quarter-finalsMarseille/Villarreal vs Roma/BrightonSporting/Atalanta vs Qarabag/Bayer LeverkusenBenfica/Rangers vs Sparta Prague/LiverpoolFreiburg/West Ham vs AC Milan/Slavia Prague
      Semi-finalsBenfica/Rangers/Sparta Prague/Liverpool vs Freiburg/West Ham/AC Milan/Slavia PragueSporting/Atalanta/Qarabag/Bayer Leverkusen vs Marseille/Villarreal/Roma/Brighton More

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      When is Europa League quarter and semi-finals draw? Date, UK start time, TV channel and live stream

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      HEADS will now turn to the Europa League quarter and semi-final draw – as many sides hope to avoid drawing against favourites Liverpool.The Reds comfortably swept away Sparta Praha 5-1 away from home with their place in the last 8 all but secured.Liverpool are set to be in the draw for the Europa League quarter-finalsCredit: EPADarwin Nunez now has 16 goals in all competitions this season after scoring a brace in Prague.However, the other English clubs remaining in the competition are not as fortunate in their positions heading into the second leg of the Round of 16.West Ham will look to turn the tie around as they host Freiburg on March 14, after struggling to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg against the German side.Brighton look to be all but out of the competition as Roma head to the Amex Stadium for the return leg on March 14, holding a 4-0 lead on aggregate over the Seagulls.READ MORE IN EUROPA LEAGUEWhen is Europa League quarter-final and semi-finals draw?
      The quarter-final draw will take place on Friday, March 15 from 12pm GMT.
      Shortly after will follow the semi-final draw.
      The draw will take place at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland.
      How to watch the draw FREE?
      Fans can watch the Europa League quarter-final draw for FREE on UEFA.com
      It will also be available on TNT Sports for all UK viewers.
      Also, SunSport’s live blog will have all the latest coverage as each fixture is confirmed throughout the draw.
      Europa League last-16 fixtures and results
      Slavia Praha vs AC Milan (2-4)
      Atalanta vs Sporting Lisbon (1-1)
      Brighton vs AS Roma (0-4)
      Liverpool vs Sparta Praha (5-1)
      Leverkusen vs Qarabag (2-2)
      West Ham vs SC Freiburg (0-1)
      Rangers vs Benfica (2-2)
      Villereal vs Marseille (0-4)
      Who can play who in the Europa League quarter and semi-finals?Unlike the previous rounds, there are no seeds in the quarter/semi-finals or country protection.Most read in Europa LeagueTherefore any combination of teams is possible, which could lead to clubs such as AC Milan and Roma or West Ham and Liverpool facing each other in the last 8.When will the Europa League quarter and semi-final matches be played?The quarter-final final first legs are scheduled to be played on the 11th April with the return fixtures happening a week later on April 18th.As for the semi-finals, the first legs will take place on May 2 and the reverse fixtures will be played on May 9. More

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      Why Dream Team managers should already be planning for European quarter-finals

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      MANY Dream Team managers prefer to live Gameweek by Gameweek but the best gaffers are able to plan ahead.Two weekly transfers allows for plenty of flexibility but it’s still wise to consider the broader picture when devising a strategy.In fact, it’s probably worth having one eye on the European quarter-finals as early as this week.PLAY SCORE PREDICTOR AHEAD OF THIS WEEKEND’S ACTION – SOMEBODY MUST WIN £500 AMAZON GIFT CARD!Arsenal secured their place in the Champions League last eight on Tuesday nightCredit: Dream TeamManchester City and Arsenal have already booked their places in the Champions League last eight while Liverpool are all but assured of a spot in the next stage of the Europa League having won their round of 16 first leg 5-1 against Sparta Prague.Brighton will need a miracle to join the Reds in the quarter-finals having lost 4-0 to Roma in their first leg.West Ham’s continental campaign hangs in the balance following their 1-0 defeat to Freiburg in Germany.And the same is true for Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League after their 0-0 stalemate with Ajax in Amsterdam.All the remaining relevant ties will be settled on Thursday night one way or the other, with the draw for the quarter-finals of all three European competitions set to take place on Friday.This means Dream Team bosses will have a good read on the upcoming schedule before the Gameweek 28 deadline (11:15am on Saturday).Most read in FootballGaffers will be hoping Villa get past Ajax on Thursday nightCredit: GettyThe first legs of the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League quarter-final first legs will take place in Gameweek 30, with the second legs following in Gameweek 31.Immediately, Pep Guardiola’s side catch the eye as they face Crystal Palace (GW30) and Luton (GW31) before each of their European legs – a favourable draw would create two appealing double headers.Dream Team gaffers should be cheering on the Hammers on Thursday night as the likes of Jarrod Bowen (£4.9m) and Mohammed Kudus (£4.8m) would be well placed to provide healthy returns across the next month if they are able to get past Freiburg.David Moyes’ side travel to Wolves in Gameweek 30 before hosting Fulham in Gameweek 31 – a relatively friendly Europa League quarter-final draw on top would look awfully tempting on paper.Arsenal assets are dropping in popularity ahead of their blank in Gameweek 28 but many gaffers will revert to Mikel Arteta’s favourites from Gameweek 30 when they face Brighton and a to-be-decided Champions League opponent.William Saliba (£3.3m), Ben White (£3.7m) and Gabriel (£4m) are all among the top seven defenders in the game after the Gunners’ clean sheet against Porto.Bukayo Saka (£5.8m) is second only to Phil Foden (£5.9m) in the overall rankings while Martin Odegaard (£4.3m) has been in great form of late.Man City’s upcoming schedule is already looking sweetCredit: GettyIt should go without saying that it’s an excellent time to back Liverpool players.The Reds remain active in the FA Cup and their Gameweek 29 double header is one to target when both Brigton and Sheffield United will visit Anfield.Jurgen Klopp’s troops will then face Manchester United in Gameweek 30 and Crystal Palace in Gameweek 31 around their Europa League quarter-final legs (barring a unthinkable turnaround from Sparta Prague).Smart gaffers will already be thinking of how their XI will shape up in Gameweek 30 in time to capitalise on the European quarter-finals.READ MORE SUN STORIESThose without suitable foresight risk getting caught short at a crucial juncture.All eyes on Thursday night’s results and the Friday draws – fingers crossed West Ham and Aston Villa pull through.talkSPORT BET Welcome offer
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      Uefa draw up contingency plans for second stadium to help host Europa League final with tens of thousands set to attend

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      UEFA are already making plans for Liverpool fans at the Europa League final on May 22.And you can hardly blame them.The Gaelic football stronghold of Croke Park could be usedCredit: Sportsfile – SubscriptionThe Aviva Stadium is hosting the Europa League final on May 22Credit: GettyThe Reds head into Thursday’s last-16 Anfield clash against Sparta Prague with a 5-1 lead.And when you look at Liverpool’s current form, it would be a huge surprise if skipper Virgil van Dijk didn’t end up leading them out in   Dublin.The Aviva Stadium officially holds 51,700 fans.And when you consider half of Ireland seems to support Liverpool and the proximity of Dublin to the UK, a huge number of fans without tickets will converge on the city.READ MORE TOP STORIESUefa are looking at setting up giant screens at Croke Park, the home of Irish Gaelic sports, where the capacity is a whopping 82,300.The stadium could also be used if West Ham make the final as there would be a mass ­exodus from East London to Dublin.Accommodation in Dublin is already costing a fortune for the night of the final.Three-star hotels currently start from £400 a night, with hostels at least £160.Most read in Europa LeagueHOW TO GET FREE BETS ON HORSE RACINGA Darwin Nunez double plus goals from Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have set up what should be a second-leg cruise for Jurgen Klopp’s men.It comes amid claims outgoing boss Klopp has recommended Wolves wing-back Rayan Ait-Nouri to the club.11 forgotten stars who define Liverpool vs Man Utd rivalryManchester United are also being linked with the Algerian 22-year-old.Chelsea and Manchester City have been previously mentioned in connection with Ait-Nouri. More

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      Champions League knockout stages set to change forever thanks to Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal

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      FOOTBALL bosses have focused on the rivalry between Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal over the planning for next season’s new-look Champions League.The single-league format features 36 clubs, with the top eight then gaining direct entry to the last-16 stage.Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s rivalry has inspired the new-look Uefa knockout formatCredit: GettyThe new-look Champions League begins next seasonCredit: AFPSides that place from ninth to 24th will have play-offs — with the eight winners also going through to the first knockout stage.In planning meetings over the last few years, Uefa chiefs spoke at length about the tennis finals between Nadal and Federer.They discussed how they were kept apart by seeding until the end, of course, Novak Djokovic was also there.So, the teams who finish first and second in the new-style league after eight games will be seeded and not be able to play each other until the final.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnd that means for the last-16, there will be a structured route to the final — similar to tennis tournaments — to plot potential clashes.As a result, there will be no quarter-final or semi-final draws as the route will already be planned.And it is also good that there will be no teams in next season’s Champions League dropping into the Europa League, as this silly bonus for failing clubs has been scrapped.Meanwhile, Uefa deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti has revealed a fully manual draw is no longer possible in the new format as it could take four hours to complete and 900 balls would be needed.Most read in Champions LeagueCHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL Therefore, a “hybrid” draw will be used that incorporates manually pulling teams out the hat and automated elements to speed up the process.Uefa insist any sections that are computerised will be independently monitored to ensure draws are not rigged.’Very good, I like that’ says Europa League draw host after Man Utd icon John O’Shea’s cheeky joke live on TVThe exact system that will be used has not yet been revealed. More

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      Champions League draw set for major overhaul after chiefs realise it would take FOUR HOURS and 900 balls to complete

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      THE Champions League draw is set for a new look after chiefs realised it could take four hours to complete using the current method.Uefa draws are currently done manually with pots used to separate teams.Uefa draws are set for a revamp ahead of the new look competitionsCredit: AFPBut the Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues will see their formats revamped ahead of next season.The 32-team group stage will go in favour of a 36-team mega league.Sides will play eight different opponents before going into the knockout rounds. Each club will be seeded in one of four pots and they must play two opponents from each pot.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLUefa deputy general secretary Giorgio Marchetti has revealed a fully manual draw is no longer possible in the new format as it could take three to four hours to complete and 900 balls would be needed.Therefore, a “hybrid” draw will be used that incorporates manually pulling teams out the hat and automated elements to speed up the process.Uefa insist any sections that are computerised will be independently monitored to ensure draws are not rigged.The exact system that will be used has not yet been revealed.Most read in FootballCHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL In the new look European competitions, the top eight teams in the 36-team league phase quality for the Last 16.They will also be seeded from one to eight in the knockout rounds in a tennis-style draw.Europa Conference League blunder as ex-Turkey keeper Demirel can’t open draw ball before being shown up by host And those that finished between 9th and 24th go into a play-off round to determine who progresses, with clubs placed 9th to 16th seeded so they can’t face each other.The bottom 12 sides are eliminated and there will be no dropping down competitions.From the Last 16 onwards, the current format of home and away legs will remain in place. More

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      Rangers fan dies in Lisbon after Benfica match as Gers chief says ‘it’s hit everyone at the club extremely hard’

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      A RANGERS fan died in Lisbon following last night’s Europa League match with Benfica.The club confirmed supporter Thomas McAllister, 25, passed away in a “tragic incident” which “hit everyone hard”.Gers fan Thomas McAllister, centre, passed away following last night’s matchTributes flooded in for the fan today following the newsThe circumstances of his his death are not known. Before the match, Thomas – understood to be a dad of two young children – shared a picture on Facebook with two pals alongside the caption: “Ma brothers”. In a statement today, chief executive James Bisgrove said: “On behalf of the club, I want to pass on my sincere condolences to Thomas’ loved ones, family and his friends.“This news has hit everyone at the club extremely hard, as I am sure it will all of our supporters. Nobody should ever go to a football match and not return home.“The club stands ready to assist Thomas’ family in whichever way we can in the coming days and weeks.”Rangers says it is in “constant contact” with both Portuguese and British authorities.An FCDO spokesman said: “We are providing consular assistance to the family of a British man who has died in Lisbon, and are in contact with Portuguese authorities.” Tributes flooded in on social media for Thomas following the news.Most read in FootballOne person wrote: “Aww Tam, what a boy. You will be so missed.”Another said: “No one should go to a match and never return.”A third added: “Rest easy Tam, such a lovely boy.”A fourth put: “Rest in peace, you will be among some of the great Bears up there. Thoughts to all the family.”A fifth added: “Life just isn’t fair. Rest easy Tam, you are one of a kind.”Another person wrote: “A cheeky, funny amazing character.”Shocking moment Italian hooligans with weapons clash with Rangers fans in Lisbon ahead of Benfica Europa League clashRangers fought out a 2-2 draw with Benfica in Lisbon last night.Shocking footage widely shared on social media shows fights breaking out in the tiered seating of the Estadio de Luz.The pre-match build-up to the game had already been marred by ugly scenes in the streets of Lisbon as fighting broke out between Gers and fans from ITALY.Atalanta were in town to face Sporting Lisbon and the two visiting supports clashed on Wednesday night.A group of ultras from the Bergamo-based Serie A side swooped and attacked a group of Gers fans who were in the Eden Aparthotel in the city.READ MORE SUN STORIESThescottishsun.co.uk is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thescottishsun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheScottishSun. More

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      Liverpool icon you forgot was still playing closes in on incredible Cristiano Ronaldo record aged 41

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      PEPE REINA is closing in on Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for most appearances in European competitions.Aged 41, the former Liverpool star is still plying his trade at the highest level.Pepe Reina was in action for Villarreal last nightCredit: AFPThe Spaniard made his first European appearance nearly 25 years agoCredit: GettyCristiano Ronaldo made his final European appearance for Man Utd last seasonCredit: GettyReina, who began his professional career in 1999, has been on the books at Villarreal since 2022.While 21-year-old Filip Jorgensen has taken first choice duties in LaLiga, Reina remains the Yellow Submarine’s goalkeeper in Europe.The 36-cap Spain international has started all seven of his side’s Europa League matches so far this term.His outing last night against Marseille took him to 192 appearances in European competitions, just five behind Ronaldo’s record.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLReina’s European appearances have come in a variety of different competitions.He has played 76 games in the Champions League, and 12 in the qualifying rounds.A further 46 outings have come in the Europa League, with five more in qualifying for Uefa’s second-rung competition.Reina also played in the Europa League precursor, making 30 appearances in the old Uefa Cup.Most read in Europa LeagueHe played 15 times in the similarly dated Intertoto Cup, but more recently added seven Europa Conference League games across qualifying and the group stage.With Liverpool he won the Uefa Super Cup in 2005, beating CSKA Moscow in extra time.Solskjaer reveals Cristiano Ronaldo demanded to skip games… but then kicked off when he was benchedReina started his career at Barcelona, before moving to Villarreal in 2002.After three years he signed for Liverpool to succeed former Reds goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek as No1.He spent the last of his nine-years at Liverpool on loan at Napoli in Serie A, before making a permanent exit to Bayern Munich in 2014.Following a season as Manuel Neuer’s understudy he rejoined Napoli and went on to spend a further three years there.In 2018 he joined AC Milan for a two-year stint, and even returned to the Premier League with Aston Villa on loan from the Italian giants.Two years with Lazio followed, before he finally rejoined Villarreal in 2022.If Reina is to beat Ronaldo’s record for European appearances, he will likely have to continue into next season.That’s because his side’s Europa League hopes were left hanging by a thread as they were beaten 4-0 by Marseille as Stade Velodrome last night.Former Villa midfielder Jordan Veretout got the scoring underway on 23 minutes with a close-range header.Yerson Mosquera then turned beyond Reina in embarrassing fashion to make it 2-0 before the half hour.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converted from the penalty spot before half-time, then added another with a delicate left-footed chip over the veteran in the second period.READ MORE SUN STORIESReina’s fellow former Red Alberto Moreno compounded his side’s misery by being sent off just after the hour mark.Villarreal will look to launch an unlikely comeback when the two sides reconvene next week, with Reina likely to make European appearance No193.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang dinked a shot over ReinaCredit: AP More