Liverpool and Tottenham cruised through their Europa League groups, but might face a tougher test at the next stage, while it won’t necessarily be plain sailing for Manchester United either.
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Erik Lamela scored a first-half hat-trick in a thumping 4-1 victory over Monaco at White Hart Lane to take Spurs into the next round.
As Group F’s runner-up, Arsenal will find themselves among the second seeds in Monday’s draw, which opens them up to being paired with one of Europe’s most feared teams.
Two goals away in Germany wasn’t enough for Manchester United to save their Champions League status.
Galatasaray, Sevilla and Shakhtar Donetsk are the other three clubs who could meet Klopp’s men after crashing out of Europe’s premier club competition earlier this week.
Teams from the same country can not draw each other. A tie with Borussia Dortmund could be a fascinating one where Jurgen Klopp be reunited with his former club.
A place in next season’s Champions League is up for grabs for the victors in the Europa League and while the competition has often been dismissed by English clubs, that is a winning prize well worth chasing. The group winners and four best third-placed teams from the UEFA Champions League will be drawn against the 12 group runners-up and the remaining – unseeded – third-placed UEFA Champions League sides. Borussia Dortmund, Fiorentina, Marseille and Gary Neville’s Valencia lie in wait for van Gaal’s side.
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Here’s who each team can face in the next round of the Europa League next February…
