Liverpool face Benfica challenge as European competition schedule confirmed
Liverpool will entertain Benfica at the Academy this season after the group stages for the Premier League International Cup were confirmed.
The tournament will assume greater importance for the Reds youngsters with no UEFA Youth League for the first time in seven years following the failure of the first team to qualify for the Champions League.
As well as Benfica, Liverpool U21s side have been drawn alongside Athletic Bilbao of Spain, French side Monaco and Feyenoord of Holland.
The Premier League International Cup is made up of 12 Premier League 2 teams and 12 invited international clubs. The group stage sees three groups of eight teams, each consisting of four English teams and four teams from abroad. The four Premier League teams do not play each other in the group stage, with the top two from each group and two best third-placed teams progressing to the knockout rounds.
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All the games will be played in England, with Liverpool's Academy in Kirkby hosting all four games for Barry Lewtas's side.
They will start against Monaco on Wednesday, September 27 (kick-off 7pm) before taking on Benfica on Sunday, October 22 (2pm). They also entertain Feyenoord on Wednesday, December 6 (7pm) with the game against Athletic Bilbao yet to be arranged.
Liverpool reached the quarter-finals of the Premier League International Cup in 2018 and made it through to the last eight again last year before they were beaten 1-0 at home by Crystal Palace, who later lost to PSV Eindhoven in the final.
Read on liverpoolecho.co.uk
