Football
ESPN staff 8y

Liverpool vs. Man United 'mother of all football games' - Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp has hailed Liverpool's Europa League round-of-16 tie with Manchester United as "the mother of all football games."

Liverpool welcome United to Anfield for the first leg on Thursday, before travelling to Old Trafford for the return leg next week.

The great English rivals have been involved in some classic encounters over the years but have never met before in Europe, and Klopp says he is cannot wait for the tie to get started.

"Games like this are the mother of all football games and that's what you want when you are young," he told his prematch news conference.

"This is why I love football. In every region of the world you have big games like this. Liverpool vs. United is one of best I can imagine.

"[Fans] can show that we can create a better atmosphere in the first leg than United in the second leg."

Liverpool have already lost twice to United in the Premier League this season, with Louis van Gaal having won all four of his games against the Reds.

Klopp, however, feels his side's recent poor record against United will count for nothing over the two legs.

"We are in a completely different situation [from the last United match]," he said. "We have more players available. We have to use this.

"United won the last four but it means nothing. It would mean more if they had much more quality than us.

"I don't have a problem with Louis van Gaal but the last thing I want in this game is that he wins."

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