Europa League round of 16 draw: Liverpool paired with Sparta Prague
- Rob Fleming
- 23 February 2024
Premier League leaders Liverpool will face Sparta Prague in the last 16 of the Europa League, while Brighton face another glamour tie against Roma.
The Reds will travel to the Czech capital for the first leg on March 7, before a return at Anfield a week later in a competition Liverpool have won three times in the past.
Brighton's maiden European campaign takes them to the Italian capital after they topped Group B containing Marseille, Ajax and AEK Athens.
Europa Conference League holders West Ham face German team Freiburg, while Rangers are up against two-time European champions Benfica from Portugal.
The Europa League final will take place in Dublin on May 22.
Liverpool reached the knockout phase of Europe's second-tier competition by topping Group E.
Sparta are the reigning Czech champions and qualified for the knockout round play-off by finishing second in Group C. The clubs met in this competition back in 2011.
Brighton face a Roma side which reached the last 16 with a penalty shoot-out victory over Feyenoord in a play-off on Thursday night. The Giallorossi are in transition following the decision last month to sack Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho.
West Ham will feel confident of overcoming Freiburg, having beaten them home and away in the group stage earlier this season, while Scottish Premiership Rangers met Benfica in the Europa League group stage in 2020-21.
