Why aren't Liverpool and West Ham playing in Europa League? UEFA rules explained

The Europa League is back on Thursday with 16 teams in action in the first knockout round, but West Ham United, Liverpool, Brighton and Rangers are not among them.

All four British teams qualified from their respective groups and that means they have advanced straight to the last-16, along with Atalanta, Villarreal, Salvia Prague and Bayer Leverkusen. The eight teams which finished second in their groups, however, have to win their knockout round play-offs in order to reach the last 16.

Those teams are the ones which will be in action on Thursday, having been drawn against the eight sides which finished third in their Champions League groups. Those ties will be contested over two legs, with the first taking place on Thursday and the second on February 22.

The eight clubs which win those knockout ties will then be draw against the group winners in the last 16, with the draw set to take place on February 23. Those matches are set to happen on March 7 and March 14.

Last season, Barcelona and Manchester United met in a knockout play-off and Erik ten Hag's side ultimately emerged victorious, winning 4-3 on aggregate. However, not a single British team will be involved this year with those that crashed out of the Champions League all finishing bottom of their respective group.

Celtic, Newcastle and Manchester United are out of the running in Europe after getting just one victory each. On the other hand, West Ham, Liverpool and Brighton are among the favourites to win Europa League this season, alongside Bundesliga's Leverkusen and Serie A powerhouses, AC Milan.

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