EFL Trophy draw in full as Man Utd and Liverpool U21s primed for reunions

22 June 2023 , 11:35
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Salford City will face Manchester United U21s in the Papa John
Salford City will face Manchester United U21s in the Papa John's Trophy (Image: PA)

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


Alex Richards

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