UEFA have allowed Manchester United to train at their training ground instead of training in Liverpool ahead of the Europa League Round of 16 tie on Thursday night. The governing body gave the Red Devils a special dispensation to train at United’s Aon Training Complex in Carrington.
Under UEFA rules, a visiting team is supposed to stay within 27 miles of the home side’s stadium on the day before the game. Manchester and Liverpool are geographically 34 miles apart, meaning United would have had to stay at a hotel in Merseyside. They generally stay at a hotel in Salford before any away game in the United Kingdom.
The Old Trafford club appealed to UEFA and they allowed the squad to spend Wednesday night in Manchester. The squad travelled to Liverpool on Thursday after Louis van Gaal conducted a training session on Wednesday.
However, it is understood that the Liverpool squad would be expected to arrive in Manchester a day before the second leg on 17 March.
Liverpool-United is the mother of all games: Jurgen Klopp
Surprisingly, Manchester United and Liverpool have never faced off in Europe and this will be the first European tie between the two English rivals. And Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is aware that it is an important fixture.
Speaking ahead of the games, the German manager said: “Games like this are the mother of all football games and that's what you want.”
“We all love football. In each and every region of the world you have games like this. Maybe not with as big names.
“Liverpool v United [is] one of best I can imagine. For me to be a part of it I still can't get enough. It's the best thing imaginable.”
Manchester United have won all four games against Liverpool after Van Gaal took over in the 2014/15 season. They have done the double twice in the Premier League in both seasons and Klopp himself has lost once to Van Gaal.
“I was only part of one of the last four games. We didn't play our absolute best but we didn't deserve to lose,” he said.
“It's pretty close. We are both in a good moment.
“I don't believe in enemies in football. I believe in real, real, real opponents. I don't have any problems with Van Gaal but I really don't want him to win.”
