Liverpool vice captain James Milner. Peter Byrne Peter Byrne

LIVERPOOL BEGIN THEIR challenge for the Europa League with a trip to France to play Bordeaux tomorrow night.

The Reds, who won the tournament under its old name the Uefa Cup back in 2001, have rested a number of first team regulars with Christian Benteke, James Milner, Nathianel Clyne, Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren and Lucas Leiva all left at home.

That will give some fringe players the opportunity to impress and Irish teenager Daniel Cleary is among the youngsters included in the squad.

Recent seasons have seen Channel 5, ITV 4 and TV3/3e show European matches on Thursday nights.

However, Reds fans hoping to see their team in action this season will need to have BT Sport with the Setanta Sports package, as they are the only place with live coverage.

Fans of Scottish Premiership champions Celtic, who are away to Ajax tomorrow night, can tune in to Setanta Ireland, where Spurs face Azerbaijani club Qarabag later that evening.

TV3 will broadcast the final on 27 May.

Thursday

• Bordeaux v Liverpool, BT Sport Europe (6pm)
• Ajax v Celtic, Setanta Ireland & BT Sport 2, (6pm) 
• Tottenham v Qarabag, Setanta Ireland (8.05pm)

Here’s a fixture list and TV guide for the first three match days

All you need to know about the Irish teenager included in Liverpool’s Europa League squad

The documentary charting Nottingham Forest’s rise to European Cup glory looks class