Liverpool face Sparta Prague, Brighton draw Roma as Europa League and Europa Conference League last-16 draws made

Premier League leaders Liverpool will face Sparta Prague in the last 16 of the Europa League, while Brighton face another glamour tie against Roma.

Liverpool will travel to the Czech capital for the first leg on March 7, before a return at Anfield a week later in a competition Liverpool have won three times in the past.

Brighton‘s maiden European campaign takes them to the Italian capital after they topped Group B containing Marseille, Ajax and AEK Athens.

Europa Conference League holders West Ham face German team Freiburg, while Rangers are up against two-time European champions Benfica from Portugal.

Aston Villa will meet Dutch giants Ajax in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League.

The Europa League final will take place in Dublin on May 22, with the Conference League final taking place in Athens a week later.

Liverpool reached the knockout phase of Europe’s second-tier competition by topping Group E.

Sparta are the reigning Czech champions and qualified for the knockout round play-off by finishing second in Group C. The clubs met in this competition back in 2011.

Brighton face a Roma side which reached the last 16 with a penalty shoot-out victory over Feyenoord in a play-off on Thursday night. The Giallorossi are in transition following the decision last month to sack Jose Mourinho.

West Ham will feel confident of overcoming Freiburg, having beaten them home and away in the group stage earlier this season, while Scottish Premiership Rangers met Benfica in the Europa League group stage in 2020-21.

Europa League last-16 draw in full

• Sparta Prague vs Liverpool
• Marseille vs Villarreal
• AS Roma vs Brighton
• Benfica vs Rangers
• Freiburg vs West Ham
• Sporting CP vs Atalanta
• AC Milan vs Slavia Prague
• Qarabag vs Bayer Leverkusen

These games will be played on March 7 and March 14.

Aston Villa draw Ajax in ECL

Aston Villa were drawn to face Dutch giants Ajax in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League.

Villa progressed as Group E winners and now face the Amsterdam club, who have been champions of Europe four times.

Ajax signed England midfielder Jordan Henderson last month, although he did not feature as they beat Norwegian side Bodo Glimt in extra-time to progress from the knockout play-off round.

The first leg will be played in Amsterdam on March 7, with the return at Villa Park on March 14. The Conference League final takes place in Athens on May 29.

Europa Conference League last-16 draw in full

• Servette vs Viktoria Plzen
• Ajax vs Aston Villa
• Molde vs Club Brugge
• Union Saint-Gilloise vs Fenerbahce
• Dinamo Zagreb vs PAOK Salonika
• Sturm Graz vs Lille
• Maccabi Haifa vs Fiorentina
• Olympiakos vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv

Europa League and Conference League 2023/24 – key dates

March 7: Europa League and Conference League last-16 first legs

March 14: Europa League and Conference League last-16 second legs

March 15: Europa League and Conference League quarter-final and semi-final draws

April 11: Europa League and Conference League quarter-final first legs

April 18: Europa League and Conference League quarter-final second legs

May 2: Europa League and Conference League semi-final first legs

May 9: Europa League and Conference League semi-final second legs

May 22: Europa League final – Dublin, Ireland

May 29: Europa Conference League final – Athens, Greece

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