Liverpool discover potential Europa League opponents
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Rabotnicki or Mika... who are they? Exactly! Liverpool discover potential Europa League opponents
Liverpool will play Macedonian side Rabotnicki or Mika of Armenia in the third
qualifying round of the Europa League.Their opponents will be confirmed next week after the conclusion of the second qualifying round. Rabotnicki lead 1-0 after the first leg of their tie.
The third qualifying round matches take place on July 29 and August 5.
Oh dear: Following a season to forget for club and country, Steven Gerrard's first task upon his pre-season return is to steer Liverpool safely through a Europa League qualifier
Liverpool will begin their campaign at home while Hibs will travel to Hungary or Slovenia for the first leg of their tie.
Liverpool's clash will be the first competitive test for new manager Roy Hodgson, who entered the competition at the same stage with Fulham last season and reached the final.
That remarkable run did much to secure the job as Rafael Benitez's successor at Anfield position for the 62-year-old this summer.
Liverpool reached the semi-finals of the Europa League last season, having beeneliminated from the Champions League, but were beaten by eventual winners
Atletico Madrid.This term they had to settle for a place in the Europa League qualifying rounds after finishing a disappointing seventh in the Barclays Premier League.
There is still some way to go before the group stages of the Europa League begin with the victors in the third qualifying round still having a play-off to negotiate.
It is at that stage the likes of Aston Villa, Manchester City and Dundee United enter the competition.
Long road ahead: New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson masterminded Fulham's surprise passage to last season's Europa League final
Scottish Premier League side Hibernian were drawn against either Hungarian outfit Videoton or Slovenia's Maribor. Videoton and Maribor drew 1-1 in the first leg of their tie.
The other Scottish side in the draw, Motherwell, will face Norwegian outfit Aalesund if they get past Icelandic league leaders Breidablik.
Craig Brown's men claimed the upper hand in their tie with a 1-0 win on Thursday night.
Irish outfit Shamrock Rovers were handed a potential dream tie against Italian giants Juventus if they can see off Bnei Yehuda of Tel Aviv.
Rovers will travel to Israel with spirits high after securing a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their second-round qualifier with a late equaliser on Thursday.
Welsh side Bangor City, who drew 1-1 with Honka Espoo this week, will face Maritimo or Sporting Fingal if they can overcome the Finns.
Cliftonville, leading 1-0 against Cibalia, will face CSKA Sofia if they get through and Portadown will tackle Siquliai or Wisla Krakov if they overturn a 2-1 deficit against Qarabag.