Everton manager Roberto Martinez eyes "phenomenal" Liverpool tie

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that he would embrace a Merseyside derby in this year's Europa League.

Liverpool will enter the competition early next year following their 1-1 draw with Basel at Anfield last night, which meant that Brendan Rodgers's men missed out on a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

As a result, the two rivals could now face each other in the Europa League, a prospect which Martinez has described as a "phenomenal footballing occasion".

"Meeting Liverpool in the Europa League would be a phenomenal footballing occasion. Whatever happens we will welcome it," he told reporters.

The Toffees, who have already qualified from their group, take on Russian club FC Krasnodar at Goodison Park tomorrow night.