Europa League draw simulator: Liverpool handed tough tie while West Ham face former European champions

A simulation of the Europa League quarter-final draw has handed Liverpool a tough tie and pitted West Ham against former European champions.

After another dramatic round of Europa League action, the draw for the quarter-final, semi-final and final will take place at 12:00 GMT on Friday at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Liverpool and West Ham are the two British sides to make it into the final eight, after Brighton lost 4-1 on aggregate to Roma and Rangers were eliminated by Benfica in the round of 16.

Liverpool thumped Sparta Prague 6-1 on Thursday to secure a 11-2 aggregate victory, while West Ham thrashed Freiburg 5-0 to overturn a 1-0 defeat in the first leg.

West Ham won the Europa Conference League last year, while Liverpool won the Champions League in 2019 and were beaten finalists in 2018 and 2022.

While there are no 'easy' opponents left in the competition, both Premier League sides will be hoping for favourable draws as they look to build on their European success of recent years.

If our simulation of the draw is anything to go by, then that isn't going to be the case.

Liverpool will face a mouthwatering quarter-final showdown with Bayer Leverkusen, managed by former Reds star Xabi Alonso.

The Spaniard has guided the German side to the brink of Bundesliga glory, with perennial champions Bayern Munich trailing them by 10 points.

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Alonso is among the favourites to replace Jurgen Klopp when the German coach leaves Liverpool at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, West Ham will face former European champions Marseille, winners of the Champions League in 1993 and Europa League runners-up in 2018.

Although the French side have had an underwhelming campaign in Ligue 1, David Moyes' side will need to be on top of their game to get a result at the cauldron-like Stade Velodrome.

Should Liverpool progress then Klopp's side will face either Roma or Benfica in the semi-finals.

West Ham will be guaranteed a trip to Italy in the last four if they beat Marseille, as they will face one of AC Milan or Atalanta.

The final will be held at the Dublin Arena (Aviva Stadium) on Wednesday 22 May at 20:00 BST.

The full simulated draw

Quarter-finals

1) Liverpool vs Bayer Leverkusen

2) Roma vs Benfica

3) Milan vs Atalanta

4) West Ham vs Marseille

Semi-finals

1) Roma or Benfica vs Liverpool or Bayer Leverkusen

2) West Ham or Marseille vs AC Milan or Atalanta