EFL Trophy draw in full as Liverpool U21s discover opponents for new season
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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesLiverpool FCThe draw for the EFL Trophy group stages has been made, with Liverpool's U21 side placed in Group H of the competition alongside Huddersfield, Doncaster, and Rochdale17:03, 25 Jun 2026Updated 17:04, 25 Jun 2026The EFL Trophy returns this coming season(Image: Getty Images)Liverpool's U21 team has been handed a challenging draw in this season's EFL Trophy.The young Reds will take on League One pair Huddersfield and Doncaster — alongside League Two outfit Rochdale — in the group stage of the tournament. The EFL Trophy, which was known as the Vertu Trophy last season for sponsorship reasons, sees academy teams from the Premier League take on senior sides from League One and League Two.The group stage is followed by a knockout phase, culminating in a spring final.
Last season's final saw Jack Wilshere's Luton beat Stockport 3-1 at Wembley. Premier League teams usually don't progress far in the competition, but it's still a great opportunity for the likes of Liverpool to give young players a taste of senior-level soccer.As per custom, the Premier League academy teams will contest all three EFL Trophy group matches away from home.Former Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan oversaw the EFL Trophy draw on Thursday alongside former Nottingham Forest and Ipswich defender Luke Chambers.Newcastle's youngsters landed in Group C alongside League One outfit Bradford and League Two sides York and Rotherham.Liverpool will compete in the EFL Trophy once again(Image: Getty Images)Liverpool is among 16 Premier League academy teams in the tournament, with the draw split regionally between north and south until the quarterfinal stage.
The top two sides from each group progress to the knockout phases.The Reds are joined by the under-21 sides of Aston Villa, Everton, Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, and Sunderland in the northern section.Manchester United is notably absent after declining an invitation to take part in the competition earlier this week.Meanwhile, Arsenal, Brentford, Brighton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Ipswich, and Tottenham represent the southern section of the draw. Fixtures are set to get underway from early September, with full confirmation of dates expected in due course.EFL Trophy group stage draw in fullNorthern SectionGroup A: Sheffield Wednesday, Salford, Accrington Stanley, Sunderland U21sGroup B: Blackpool, Wigan, Crewe, Aston Villa U21sGroup C: Bradford, York, Rotherham, Newcastle U21sGroup D: Mansfield, Chesterfield, Port Vale, Manchester City U21sGroup E: Stockport, Tranmere, Shrewsbury, Everton U21sGroup F: Burton, Notts County, Grimsby, Nottingham Forest U21sGroup G: Barnsley, Fleetwood, Oldham, Everton U21sGroup H: Huddersfield, Doncaster, Rochdale, Liverpool U21sSouthern SectionGroup A: Oxford, Cheltenham, Exeter, Tottenham U21sGroup B: Leicester, Walsall, Stevenage, Fulham U21sGroup C: Reading, Bristol Rovers, Wycombe, Chelsea U21sGroup D: Luton, Peterborough, Colchester, Ipswich U21sGroup E: Plymouth, Swindon, Newport, Crystal Palace U21sGroup F: AFC Wimbledon, Leyton Orient, Barnet, Arsenal U21sGroup G: Cambridge, Gillingham, Northampton, Brighton U21sGroup H: Bromley, Crawley, MK Dons, Brentford U21sChoose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.AcademyLiverpool FC