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.