Papa John's Trophy draw: Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea discover opponents

Manchester United's under-23s will take on holders Sunderland in this season's Papa John's Trophy.

Bradford City and Lincoln City also make up the rest of United's group, while Liverpool's under-23s will take on Bolton Wanderers, Port Vale and Rochdale.

Arsenal's youngsters face Swindon, Newport and Plymouth, while Tottenham are up against Oxford, Cambridge and Stevenage.

Chelsea's kids face Exeter, Bristol Rovers and Cheltenham, and Manchester City take on Rotherham United, Doncaster and Scunthorpe.

Sunderland lift last season's trophy (Getty Images)

Sunderland are the current holders of the competition having beaten Tranmere on penalties at Wembley in March, a day after the delayed 2019-20 final when Salford City beat Portsmouth on penalties.

Here are the groups in full:

Northern Groups

Group A

Everton, Carlisle United, Hartlepool United, Morecambe

Group B

Leeds, Oldham Athletic, Tranmere Rovers, Salford City

Group C

Wolves, Wigan Athletic, Crewe Alexandra, Shrewsbury Town

Group D

Liverpool, Port Vale, Rochdale, Bolton Wanderers

Group E

Manchester City, Rotherham United, Doncaster, Scunthorpe

Group F

Manchester United, Bradford, Lincoln, Sunderland

Group G

Leicester, Accrington Stanley, Barrow, Fleetwood

Group H

Newcastle, Sheffield Wednesday, Harrogate, Mansfield

First-team players like Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli have picked up fitness in the competition (Getty Images)

Southern Groups

Group A

West Ham, Colchester, Gillingham, Ipswich

Group B

Crystal Palace, Wimbledon, Portsmouth, Sutton

Group C

Aston Villa, MK Dons, Burton, Wycombe

Group D

Brighton, Forest Green, Northampton, Walsall

Group E

Chelsea, Exeter, Bristol Rovers, Cheltenham

Group F

Arsenal, Swindon, Newport, Plymouth

Group G

Southampton, Crawley, Charlton, Leyton Orient

Group H

Tottenham, Oxford, Cambridge, Stevenage