Manchester United to face Liverpool in Europa League last 16

With Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini on his way out of the club and Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp just settling in, Sunday’s League Cup final offers both coaches the chance to underline their worth.

Liverpool, meanwhile, won the League Cup for a record eighth time in 2012 and will contest a 12th final, more than any other club, as Klopp aims to seal his first success outside Germany.

It will highlight and lift the Europa League competition as a whole.

“We will have to think about a real good plan for this game, where we want to do what and explain to the players why and then let’s do it”.

“It’s great. We deserve these games, with the game yesterday”.

“It’s a fantastic atmosphere down at Wembley, we’re always really up for it and I am in particular”.

“We had a good game when I was here when we played against them, but we lost 1-0”.

“Obviously we’re well-placed in the Champions League, we’ve got this final coming up on Sunday and we’re pretty well positioned in the league, so there is everything to fight for and confidence is high”.

“In my opinion it is only the first try, not the last one, so you can not – and should not – go into a game thinking “This is the last chance of my life”, as that is a big pressure”.

Pellegrini dismissed speculation he could be without Vincent Kompany, Raheem Sterling and Bacary Sagna after they trained away from their team mates following Wednesday’s convincing 3-1 Champions League last 16, first leg win over Dynamo Kiev.

“They flew, they didn’t walk!” So I don’t think we should think about this. “We have since reviewed these prices and reset them accordingly”.

“We couldn’t control the game in the last 20 minutes and it was hard, that is how it should be, but we are in the next round. A final helps you to get up in the morning”.

He is looking forward to the occasion and described how he has already thought about winning the cup saying he had “a few nice pictures” in his mind, “being in Wembley with the fans” and having “a real reason to celebrate together“. “Even in Manchester they have televisions“.

Liverpool, who are preparing for the Capital One Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday, edged past German side Augsburg in the round of 32, with James Milner’s early penalty at Anfield on Thursday the only goal across both legs. “It’s a special thing”.

“To win a title in February gives you a lot of trust to continue fighting for other competitions”.

Image courtesy of This Is Anfield via YouTube, with thanks.