Liverpool earn Europa League group stage berth thanks to Arsenal's FA Cup victory

The Reds had qualified for a place in the third qualifying round of the European competition after finishing sixth in the Premier League, but have now been bumped up

Liverpool will go straight into the Europa League group stages as a result of Arsenal's 4-0 FA Cup victory over Aston Villa.

Had Tim Sherwood's side triumphed at Wembley they would have earned a place in the third qualifying round of the Europa League, but instead that slot will go to Southampton, who finished seventh in the Premier League last season.


It also means Liverpool will be bumped up a place into the group stages, rather than the third qualifying round for which they had looked destined thanks to their sixth-placed league finish.

The Reds could face the likes of Schalke, Borussia Dortmund, Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao, Marseille and Fenerbahce when the draw is made on August 28.

Other possible opponents are: Sparta Prague, Standard Liege, Ludogorets, Legia Warsaw, Dinamo Zagreb, Lokomotiv Moscow, Vitoria, Saint-Etienne, Augsburg, Groningen.

Southampton's potential foes are: Go Ahead Eagles, Dinamo Minsk, Jablonec, Slovan Bratislava, AIK Solna, Neftci PFK, MSK Zilina, Aktobe, AEK Larnaca, Crvena zvezda, Hapoel Kiryat Shmona, FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk, Dinamo Tbilisi, ASA Targu Mures.