Liverpool now know who stands between them and a place in the knockout stages of next season’s EFL Trophy.
The Reds have been regular participants in the competition since first accepting an invitation in 2019, with the experience proving valuable for a number of academy graduates who have gone on to feature at first-team level.
The tournament’s format remains unchanged. Teams receive three points for a victory, while drawn matches are decided by a penalty shootout, with the winner earning an additional point. The top two sides from each group will advance to the knockout stage.
Liverpool will once again be one of 16 invited Premier League 2 academy sides competing in the tournament, joining clubs from League One and League Two in a competition designed to expose young players to the demands of senior football.
Liverpool’s youngsters will be eager to improve on recent campaigns after finding victories difficult to secure over the past few seasons.
Nevertheless, the EFL Trophy continues to provide an important development platform, allowing the club’s brightest prospects to experience the physicality and intensity of senior football before making the step up to playing at Anfield and beyond.
This year’s group presents a stern test.
For the 2026/27 EFL Trophy, Liverpool have been drawn in Group H alongside Huddersfield Town, Doncaster Rovers and Rochdale.
Huddersfield Town and Doncaster Rovers both bring significant EFL pedigree, while Rochdale will also be hoping to progress from what looks like a competitive section.
With another exciting crop of academy talent progressing through the ranks at Liverpool, there will be a belief that the Reds can enjoy a deeper run into the tournament this time around.
Fixture dates and kick-off times are expected to be confirmed soon following the release of the draw which you can see in full here.
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