The lowdown on our Europa League opponents
Liverpool have been placed alongside Rubin Kazan, Bordeaux and FC Sion in this season's Europa League group stage. Here’s all you need to know about our opponents...
Rubin Kazan
The Russian Premier League side overcame Sturm Graz of Austria 4-3 on aggregate in the third qualifying round, and then secured a place in the group stage after a 2-1 aggregate victory over Macedonian outfit FK Rabotnicki.
They are currently second from bottom in the Russian Premier League and this will be the first ever meeting between the two sides in Europe.
Rubin secured a famous win over Barcelona in October 2009 when they beat the Spanish giants 2-1 at the Nou Camp in the Champions League.
Former Everton winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov plays for Rubin while his father, Rinat, is the manager.
Former Liverpool Academy defender Chris Mavinga is on the books of Rubin Kazan but he is currently out on loan at French outfit Troyes.
Bordeaux
Like Rubin Kazan, the French outfit have played two games to reach the group stage. In the third qualifying round they overcame AEK Lamaca of Cyprus 4-0 on aggregate, and in the play-offs beat FC Kairat Almaty on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate scoreline.
Former Bayern Munich and France international star Willy Sagnol is in charge of their side and they finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season.
Liverpool last met Bordeaux in Europe in the Champions League group stage back in 2006. The Reds won 1-0 in France, before goals from Luis Garcia (2) and Steven Gerrard completed a 3-0 success at Anfield.
Istanbul hero Vladimir Smicer had a spell with Bordeaux when he left Liverpool in 2005.
FC Sion
This is the first time the Swiss outfit have ever reached the group stages of the Europa League.
They finished seventh in the Swiss Super League last year and qualified for the group stages after winning the Swiss Cup with a 3-0 win over FC Basel in the final.
Liverpool recorded an 8-4 aggregate win over FC Sion in the European Cup Winners' Cup second round in 1996-97, winning 2-1 in Switzerland and 6-3 at Anfield.