UEFA Europa League Preview: Liverpool vs Dortmund

Jurgen Klopp will welcome his former side Borussia Dortmund to Anfield on Thursday as Liverpool look to book their place in the semi-final of this season’s Europa League.

The tie is finely poised after a 1-1 draw in Germany last week when a second-half strike from Mats Hummels cancelled out Divock Origi’s opener.

In the Premier League, Liverpool sit eighth – five points off Manchester United in fifth – albeit with games in hand on the teams around them. That leaves Klopp and his players desperate for success on the European stage, their only chance of silverware.

Dortmund and Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile, are still able to achieve a domestic and European treble. They are unbeaten in their past 18 competitive matches, a run stretching back to December 19.

Team news

The absence of Christian Benteke and Danny Ings (knee) through injury means Jurgen Klopp has Daniel Sturridge and Origi as forward options for the visit of his former club.

Sturridge was selected ahead of Divock Origi for Sunday’s win against Stoke but the Belgium international was preferred for the first leg in Germany.

Liverpool attacking midfielder, Phillippe Coutinho

Joe Gomez and captain Jordan Henderson are suffering from knee injuries, though, and will miss the Europa League quarter-final clash.

Dortmund trained with a fully-fit squad bar Neven Subotic this week and he is their only casualty going into the match.

Opta stats

Liverpool have progressed to the next round in 11 of their past 12 European ties after drawing the first leg away from home, and they will be hoping to continue that trend on Thursday night.

Dortmund’s Gabonese international, Aubamayeng will hope for a better second leg performance

Origi’s goal in the reverse leg made him the ninth Liverpool player to score in the Europa League this season. Only Napoli and Lazio (10 each) have more.

Dortmund have had more shots than any other team in the Europa League this season; a remarkable 196!

Jurgen Klopp is yet to lose a European tie since taking over as manager of Liverpool. So far, he’s won four and drawn five, but this will surely be the toughest yet, as they look to secure their place in the semi-final of the competition.

Only Aritz Aduriz (nine) has scored more Europa League goals this season than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

UEFA Europa League Preview: Liverpool vs Dortmund

UEFA Europa League: Liverpool Eliminate Man United

Liverpool booked their place for Friday’s Europa league quarter finals draw at the headquarters of UEFA in Nyon with a 3-1 aggregate score after drawing 1-1 against Manchester United.

 

The Reds needed to avoid a heavy defeat after winning the first leg by 2-0 and indeed led by manager, Jurgen Klopp his boys delivered displaying a tactically disciplined performance.

Martial scores from the spot kick to give Manchester United the lead

When Anthony Martial scored from the spot kick after he had cleaned himself up looked like the old United was alive with 5-minutes left on the clock to half time but Liverpool who started the game slowly had grown into it and Coutinho justified that with a lovely dribble pass defender, Guillermo Varela who looked on helplessly as the on rushing David De Gea was chipped into the far corner by the Brazilian.

Coutinho loops the ball over the on rushing David De Gea to equalise for Liverpool

Louis Van Gaal as always stayed glued to his seat and threw in all his gauntlet but to no avail as Liverpool progressed to the 1/8th stage.

UEFA Europa League: Liverpool Eliminate Man United

UEL Build Up: Liverpool vs Manchester United

Liverpool will meet sworn rivals Manchester United in European competition for the first time at Anfield on Thursday in the first leg of their last-16 Europa League clash.

 

With both sides outside of the top four of the Premier League, winning the continent’s secondary competition this season represents the best chance of qualifying for next year’s Champions League.

Neither side can afford to lose over the two-legged tie as winning the trophy might be an avenue for UEFA champions league football next season.

 
TEAM NEWS
LIVERPOOL

Striker Daniel Sturridge is likely to return to Liverpool’s starting line-up for the Europa League visit of Manchester United.

The England international has been rested for the last two matches but is set to lead the line in the first European encounter between the two sides with Divock Origi likely to drop out.

Right-back Nathaniel Clyne will return at the expense of Jon Flanagan, who is ineligible having not been registered for the Europa League by manager Jurgen Klopp prior to his return to fitness, while there is a doubt over midfielder James Milner after he was sent home from training with illness.
Provisional squad: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Allen, Henderson, Can, Firmino, Coutinho, Sturridge, Ward, Toure, Skrtel, Smith, Teixeira, Milner, Lallana, Benteke, Origi.

 
MANCHESTER UNITED

Jesse Lingard will miss the first leg of Manchester United’s Europa League last-16 clash with Liverpool through suspension.

The winger was booked in both legs of the previous round against FC Midtjylland. Adnan Januzaj is cup-tied and Timothy Fosu-Mensah ineligible for the trip to Anfield, where Antonio Valencia is set to be involved in the squad after a foot injury.

Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young, Will Keane and Luke Shaw remain absent, while Bastian Schweinsteiger and Phil Jones are stepping up their returns to fitness.
Provisional squad: De Gea, Romero, Joel Pereira, Darmian, Riley, Rojo, Varela, Valencia, Love, Jones, Blind, Smalling, Poole, McNair, Schneiderlin, Herrera, Rothwell, Fellaini, Carrick, Weir, A Pereira, Mata, Depay, Martial, Rashford.

 

sportscrusader.com will bring readers live update on the game from 6pm.

UEL Build Up: Liverpool vs Manchester United

Manchester United"s Europa League Home Leg vs Liverpool Moved

Manchester United have been successful in getting kick-off in their decisive Europa League tie against Liverpool moved back.

United were scheduled to face Liverpool at Old Trafford on March 17 at 6pm. But United wanted the kick-off put back to 8.05pm and have UEFA have today agreed to the request.

 

Trafford Council’s safety advisory group urged UEFA to move the kick-off on safety grounds, with the game falling on Sat Patrick’s Day, when Manchester will already be busy with revellers.

Against that backdrop, it was felt the early kick-off presented a significant safety issue, and UEFA confirmed today they have agreed to switch kick-off at Old Trafford to 8.05pm.

 

The first leg between English football’s fiercest rivals kicks off at Anfield on March 10 at 8.05pm, the first time United and Liverpool have faced each other in European competition.

Manchester United"s Europa League Home Leg vs Liverpool Moved

Manchester United To Face Liverpool In UEFA Europa League Round of 16 (See Full Fixtures)

FULL FIXTURES OF ROUND OF 16

Shakhtar Donetsk v Anderlecht

 

Basel v Sevilla

 

Villarreal v Bayer Leverkusen

 

Athletic Bilbao v Valencia

 

Liverpool v Manchester United

 

Sparta Prague v Lazio

 

Borussia Dortmund v Tottenham

 

Fenerbahce v Braga

Manchester United To Face Liverpool In UEFA Europa League Round of 16 (See Full Fixtures)