Europa League quarter-final draw in full as Liverpool and West Ham learn fate
Liverpool will face Atalanta in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, with fellow Premier League side West Ham United drawing Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen.
The two Premier League sides cruised into the last eight with heavy victories on Thursday night. West Ham overcame a narrow first-leg deficit by putting five unanswered goals past Freiburg at the London Stadium, while Liverpool's 6-1 win at home to Sparta Prague sent them through 11-2 on aggregate.
There's also an all-Italian tie in the last eight, with last season's losing finalists AS Roma taking on AC Milan. The remaining quarter-final sees Benfica up against Marseille.
Friday also saw the draw made for the semi-finals, as was the case for the Champions League draw earlier in the day. Benfica or Marseille will play either Liverpool or Atalanta in their semi-final, with West Ham or Leverkusen meeting either Roma or Milan for a spot in the final in Dublin on May 22.
There is still a chance for an all-English final, with Liverpool and West Ham kept apart before then. There is also a chance Jurgen Klopp goes up against Xabi Alonso - one of the favourites to replace him at Anfield next term - for a shot at glory.
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Liverpool's opponents Atalanta made it into the quarter-finals with a narrow victory over Sporting CP. After drawing the first leg 1-1 in Lisbon, they won 2-1 at home with Gianluca Scamacca scoring the decisive goal.
Leverkusen remain unbeaten ahead of their meeting with West Ham, but left it late in their quarter-final against Qarabag. They trailed 2-0 in both legs, drawing the first leg in Azerbaijan and winning the second thanks to a late double from Patrik Schick.
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West Ham beat Freiburg 5-1 on aggregate in their round of 16 tie (CameraSport via Getty Images)West Ham striker Michail Antonio talked up his team's chances after they hammered Freiburg at home. Goals from Lucas Paqueta, Jarrod Bowen and Aaron Cresswell gave David Moyes' side a three-goal advantage before two goals from Mohammed Kudus - including a brilliant solo effort - added further gloss to the scoreline.
“We got to the [Conference League] final last year and won it, the year before we got to the semis and felt like we should have done better. So hopefully this year we can do it again," Antonio said.
“Many players go through their career without winning anything and by winning the Conference last year it gives you that hunger to do it again, especially me in my latter years.”
Aston Villa have learned their Europa Conference League opponents (Getty Images)A little while after the Europa League draw, the draw for the Europa Conference League took place. Aston Villa, the Premier League's sole representatives, will take on French side Lille after overcoming AJax in the round of 16.
Villa or Lille will go on to play either Olympiacos or Fenerbahce in the semis. In the other half of the draw, 2023 finalists Fiorentina will take on Viktoria Plzen in the quarters, with the winner of that tie facing Club Brugge or PAOK in their semi.
Europa League quarter-final draw in full: AC Milan v AS Roma, Liverpool v Atalanta, Bayer Leverkusen v West Ham United, Benfica v Marseille
Semi-finals: Benfica or Marseille v Liverpool or Atalanta, AC Milan or AS Roma v Bayer Leverkusen or West Ham United.
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Europa Conference League quarter-final draw: Club Brugge v PAOK, Olympiacos v Fenerbahce, Aston Villa v Lille, Viktoria Plzen v Fiorentina
Semi-finals: Aston Villa or Lille v Olympiacos or Fenerbahce, Viktoria Plzen or Fiorentina v Club Brugge or PAOK.
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