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Uefa Europa League 2015-16
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European minnows FC Basel qualified ahead of Liverpool in last year's Champions League group stage. Photo: AP

Liverpool set for difficult draw in Europa League as coefficient rating plummets

Five-time European champions will be placed in second band of teams for Friday's draw after coeffiecient rating is lowered

Liverpool will face an uphill battle during the group stages of this year's Europa League competition after it was revealed they will be banded among the second tier teams for the continent's secondary tournament.

The move is indicative of a general decline and of the club's disasterous campaign in last year's Champions League, their first in five years, when they were eliminated from what was widely considered a relatively easy group.

The Merseyside club finished third behind Real Madrid and Swiss outift FC Basel. They were then elminated at the last-32 stage of the Europa League by Besiktas of Turkey.

The draw in Monaco could see The Reds grouped with continental heavyweights Schalke, Napoli, Marseille, Villarreal or Fiorentina.

As recently as 2009, Liverpool were ranked the top side in Europe.

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