Football
ESPN staff 9y

Liverpool handed tricky Besiktas draw in last 32 of Europa League

Liverpool will begin their Europa League campaign this season with a last-32 clash against Besiktas following Monday's draw at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

The Reds dropped out of the Champions League last week after picking up just one win from six games, leaving them to finish third in Group B.

They will be desperate to return to Europe's elite club competition next season and due to currently languishing 10th in the Premier League, claiming the Europa League may be the more realistic passage with this year's winners gaining entry for the first time.

Besiktas have already faced English opponents twice this term, crashing out of the Champions League at the hands of Arsenal in the playoff round, before finishing ahead of Tottenham in Group C of the Europa League.

Spurs still advanced to the last 32 as runners-up in their group and have been drawn against Fiorentina in the next round.

The Viola, who currently sit eighth in Serie A, came out on top in Group K ahead of Guingamp, PAOK Salonika and Dinamo Minsk.

Meanwhile, the Premier League's third representatives, Everton, will take on Swiss outfit Young Boys.

Celtic complete the British lineup and have been handed a tricky tie, with Inter Milan waiting for them after the Scottish side finished second in Group D behind Red Bull Salzburg. The clash is a repeat of the 1967 European Cup final, which Celtic won 2-1.

Elsewhere, reigning champions Sevilla, who beat Benfica in the final last season, will face Borussia Monchengladbach.

Other ties of note include Roma, who dropped out of the Champions League, taking on Feyenoord and Wolfsburg facing Sporting Lisbon, who were also eliminated from Europe's premier club competition.

The Europa League final is due to take place on May 27 and will be played in Warsaw.

Round of 32: Ties to be played Feb. 19 and 26:

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