EFL Trophy draw in full as Man Utd and Liverpool U21s primed for reunions

The Premier League Under-21 sides who take part in the Papa John’s Trophy have discovered the EFL sides they will compete against this season

Salford City will face Manchester United U21s in the Papa John’s Trophy(PA)

Manchester United will face the Class of ’92 in this season’s Papa John’s Trophy after the Red Devils’ Under-21 side were paired with Salford City.

The Premier League side’s juniors face a tough test in the group stage of this year’s competition, after also being paired with League One promotion hopefuls Bolton Wanderers and League Two promotion favourites Stockport County.

Bolton, of course, won the tournament last season with a a memorable 4-0 victory against Plymouth in the final at Wembley and Ian Evatt’s men overcame United’s Under-21s en route to the final.

The meeting between Salford – backed by Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and David Beckham – and United isn’t the only reunion on the cards in the group stages.

In Group A of the northern section, returning Blackpool boss Neil Critchley will face Liverpool’s Under 21s, having previously led the Reds second string in this competition, during his three year spell at Anfield. Barrow and Morecambe are also in that group.

In the southern section, Tottenham Hotspur will meet familiar faces in the shape of Peterborough United, having been beaten 3-0 by the League One club last term. Spurs will also face Cambridge United again, having met the U’s back in 2021-22, losing 1-0.

Arsenal will take on Exeter, Reading and Swindon, while Chelsea take on MK Dons, Northampton and Oxford United.