Europa league Draw- Liverpool in pot 2

Top 2 go through to the knock out phase, Yes?

We should be going all out this season to win this trophy!!!

Who remembers Alaves 2001?! That was F***ing amazing and I would love that feeling to happen again.

Match dates:

Man Utd (A)
Matchday one: 17 September
Norwich (H)

Aston Villa (H)
Matchday two: 1 October
Everton (A)

Spurs (A)
Matchday three: 22 October
Southampton (H)

Chelsea (A)
Matchday four: 5 November
Palace (H)

Man City (A)
Matchday five: 26 November
Swansea (H)

Newcastle (A)
Matchday six: 10 December
West Brom (H)

There's a lot of tricky fixtures surrounding those Europa League ties, Brendan is going to have to learn fast on how to manage and rotate the squad because he hasn't done so well in the past with it.

What's good is that we have city, United, Chelsea and spurs before the European games; therefore the players should be fresh enough for them. Also, bar Everton, the matches after Europe are all at home which should benefit the players as well.

Games in Russia are only possible on Day 2, 3, 4, or 5.

Some of us remember the 6-3 home win against Sion in 96 where progression was only secured in the last 10 minutes. We're off to Kazan, so what. Other sides have to go to Astana in the other competition. If you want to play in Europe, you've got to be prepared to travel. Stop complaining and get on with it.

We're second seeds now because we thought this competition was beneath us for too long. The English league has already lost half it's entrants this year. If we don't do well in it now, one of the European Cup slots for the league may go next year. With Kazan in the group, there is a 66% chance of a home game first and last. Go out there, win the group, get the coefficient points, ask questions later.

Anyone know when we find out our fixture list for the group? Need to know if we have a home game on the 17th of September as soon as possible.

The lowdown on our Europa League opponents
Steve Hunter

Liverpool have been placed alongside Rubin Kazan, Bordeaux and FC Sion in this season's Europa League group stage. Here’s all you need to know about our opponents...

Rubin Kazan

The Russian Premier League side overcame Sturm Graz of Austria 4-3 on aggregate in the third qualifying round, and then secured a place in the group stage after a 2-1 aggregate victory over Macedonian outfit FK Rabotnicki.

They are currently second from bottom in the Russian Premier League and this will be the first ever meeting between the two sides in Europe.

Rubin secured a famous win over Barcelona in October 2009 when they beat the Spanish giants 2-1 at the Nou Camp in the Champions League.

Former Everton winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov plays for Rubin while his father, Rinat, is the manager.

Former Liverpool Academy defender Chris Mavinga is on the books of Rubin Kazan but he is currently out on loan at French outfit Troyes.

Bordeaux

Like Rubin Kazan, the French outfit have played two games to reach the group stage. In the third qualifying round they overcame AEK Lamaca of Cyprus 4-0 on aggregate, and in the play-offs beat FC Kairat Almaty on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate scoreline.

Former Bayern Munich and France international star Willy Sagnol is in charge of their side and they finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season.

Liverpool last met Bordeaux in Europe in the Champions League group stage back in 2006. The Reds won 1-0 in France, before goals from Luis Garcia (2) and Steven Gerrard completed a 3-0 success at Anfield.

Istanbul hero Vladimir Smicer had a spell with Bordeaux when he left Liverpool in 2005.

FC Sion

This is the first time the Swiss outfit have ever reached the group stages of the Europa League.

They finished seventh in the Swiss Super League last year and qualified for the group stages after winning the Swiss Cup with a 3-0 win over FC Basel in the final.

Liverpool recorded an 8-4 aggregate win over FC Sion in the European Cup Winners' Cup second round in 1996-97, winning 2-1 in Switzerland and 6-3 at Anfield.
http://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/first-team/192785-the-lowdown-on-our-europa-league-opponents

Anyone know when we find out our fixture list for the group? Need to know if we have a home game on the 17th of September as soon as possible.

Should be in the next hour or so apparently

Anyone know when we find out our fixture list for the group? Need to know if we have a home game on the 17th of September as soon as possible.

Bordeaux (A) - 17/9
FC Sion (H) - 1/10
Kazan (H) - 22/10
Kazan (A) - 5/11
Bordeaux (H) - 26/11
FC Sion (A) - 10/12

Bordeaux (A) - 17/9
FC Sion (H) - 1/10
Kazan (H) - 22/10
Kazan (A) - 5/11
Bordeaux (H) - 26/11
FC Sion (A) - 10/12

Cheers mate, just needed to know if I had to move in to my new place a day or two early, thanks

Agreed, not in term of difficulty but the trip. We should send only the reserves up there.

If we are doing ok in the group, that might be a shout.

Liverpool to Kazan is still a shorter trip than New York to Los Angeles.

Liverpool to Kazan is still a shorter trip than New York to Los Angeles.

don't think either of those are in the group stage this season 😉

don't think either of those are in the group stage this season 😉

True, just giving some context.

Time to get serious. Form in Europe has been appalling ever since Rafa left and has muddied the name of Liverpool as a European name to reckon with. Pathetic defeats like those against Braga in 2011, Zenit in 2013 and the CL and Besiktas in the EL last season will just not do anymore.

Time to get serious. Form in Europe has been appalling ever since Rafa left and has muddied the name of Liverpool as a European name to reckon with. Pathetic defeats like those against Braga in 2011, Zenit in 2013 and the CL and Besiktas in the EL last season will just not do anymore.

This!!!!

Agreed, not in term of difficulty but the trip. We should send only the reserves up there.

There is no difficulty in the trip. This is one of the greatest myths in football, started by Wenger.
If you travel economy on your own , any flight is usually a pain in the arse. Yet, if there is anyone out there who, like me has travelled long distance first class, they will tell you it is a joy.
Footballers travel business class and don't have to arrange anything themselves , other than handing in their passports. No stress, no worry.
It has no effect on their ability whatsoever to perform.

It's not so much the ability to perform as it is the atmosphere, weather, standard of pitch (usually terrible for Russian teams) etc. Plus it's dangerous for visiting fans as the home fans of some teams can be violent as F**k.

It's easy saying it's not LA to New York but those teams barely have mid week games and they're only in like 2 cups.

We should be going all out this season to win this trophy!!!

Who remembers Alaves 2001?! That was f**king amazing and I would love that feeling to happen again.

I agree , that was an amazing trip. The atmosphere was fantastic. That was before UEFA destroyed one of the great european competitions. The UEFA cup was fantastic. Now its just a mish mash of teams. But if we do well, a good learning curve for players and management alike.
If the club treat it with contempt, then so should the fans and stay away from the ground. They can't have it both ways.

It's not so much the ability to perform as it is the atmosphere, weather, standard of pitch (usually terrible for Russian teams) etc. Plus it's dangerous for visiting fans as the home fans of some teams can be violent as f**k.

It's easy saying it's not LA to New York but those teams barely have mid week games and they're only in like 2 cups.

Oh, i in know way mean it's easy for the fans. But why should they commit fully if the management don't?

There is no difficulty in the trip. This is one of the greatest myths in football, started by Wenger.
If you travel economy on your own , any flight is usually a pain in the arse. Yet, if there is anyone out there who, like me has travelled long distance first class, they will tell you it is a joy.
Footballers travel business class and don't have to arrange anything themselves , other than handing in their passports. No stress, no worry.
It has no effect on their ability whatsoever to perform.

Agreed there is no difficulty posed by the flight (except minor issues with time zones which proper planning can alleviate). However, going far typically means going to very different climates and often poorer stadiums with worse pitches, and a certain type of hostile atmosphere which can cow even the bravest referees.

Agreed there is no difficulty posed by the flight (except minor issues with time zones which proper planning can alleviate). However, going far typically means going to very different climates and often poorer stadiums with worse pitches, and a certain type of hostile atmosphere which can cow even the bravest referees.

Yeh, agree with that

I want us to win a trophy this season
Don't care what it is
We need silverware
Also, we are hardly in a position to be snobby in regard to the Europa league.
Develop and build upon a winning mentality and reestablish our name in Europe as a power house once again.

Priority should be League > Europa > FA Cup > League Cup.