Some of Europe's biggest clubs learnt their immediate fates in continental competition yesterday when the third-round qualifying draws for the Champions League and Europa League were made.

Liverpool and Juventus have 45 league titles and seven European Cups between them, but enter the second-tier Europa League at the qualifying stage after both finished a dismal seventh in their national leagues last season.

Roy Hodgson's first competitive match as Liverpool coach will be a home game against either FC Rabotnicki of Macedonia or Armenian club FC Mika.

Juventus, meanwhile, await the winners of the second qualifying round tie between Ireland's Shamrock Rovers and Israeli team Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv.

Former European champions Ajax and Celtic will have to qualify for a place in next season's Champions League after both finished second in their domestic leagues last term.

Celtic, European champions in 1967, were paired with Sporting Braga, runners-up behind Benfica in last season's Portuguese championship, in the draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.

Victory would take Celtic through to join the likes of Tottenham, Sampdoria and Sevilla in the play-offs for a place in the group stages, which begin in September. That play-off round is due to take place on August 17-18 and 24-25.

Ajax, who have won the European Cup four times, will play Greek side PAOK Salonika, with the first leg taking place on either July 27 or 28 and the return leg following on August 3 or 4.

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