22 June 2023 , 11:35
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Manchester United will face the Class of '92 in this season's Papa John's Trophy after the Red Devils' Under-21 side were paired with Salford City.
The Premier League side's juniors face a tough test in the group stage of this year's competition, after also being paired with League One promotion hopefuls Bolton Wanderers and League Two promotion favourites Stockport County.
Bolton, of course, won the tournament last season with a a memorable 4-0 victory against Plymouth in the final at Wembley and Ian Evatt's men overcame United's Under-21s en route to the final.
The meeting between Salford - backed by Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and David Beckham - and United isn't the only reunion on the cards in the group stages.
In Group A of the northern section, returning Blackpool boss Neil Critchley will face Liverpool's Under 21s, having previously led the Reds second string in this competition, during his three year spell at Anfield. Barrow and Morecambe are also in that group.
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In the southern section, Tottenham Hotspur will meet familiar faces in the shape of Peterborough United, having been beaten 3-0 by the League One club last term. Spurs will also face Cambridge United again, having met the U's back in 2021-22, losing 1-0.
Arsenal will take on Exeter, Reading and Swindon, while Chelsea take on MK Dons, Northampton and Oxford United.
Northern Groups
Group A: Barrow, Blackpool, Morecambe, Liverpool U21
Group B: Crewe Alexandra, Port Vale, Wrexham, Newcastle United U21
Group C: Accrington Stanley, Carlisle United, Harrogate Town, Nottingham Forest U21
Group D: Fleetwood Town, Tranmere Rovers, Wigan Athletic, Leicester City U21
Group E: Bolton Wanderers, Salford City, Stockport County, Manchester United U21
Group F: Barnsley, Bradford City, Grimsby Town, Manchester City U21
Group G: Derby County, Lincoln City, Notts County, Wolverhampton Wanderers U21
Group H: Burton Albion, Doncaster Rovers, Mansfield Town, Everton U21
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Southern Groups
Group A: Forest Green, Shrewsbury, Walsall, Brighton U21
Group B: Charlton, Crawley, Sutton, Aston Villa U21
Group C: Wimbledon, Stevenage, Wycombe, Crystal Palace U21
Group D: Cambridge, Colchester, Peterborough, Tottenham Hotspur U21
Group E: Gillingham, Leyton Orient, Portsmouth, Fulham U21
Group F: MK Dons, Northampton, Oxford, Chelsea U21
Group G: Exeter, Reading, Swindon, Arsenal U21
Group H: Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham, Newport, West Ham U21