When Liverpool made a meek return to the Champions League last season, the Reds deterioration from a previous title-challenging season was discernible.
A 1-1 draw with Basel saw them crash out at the group stage and it was clear then that Brendan Rodgers’ players had forgotten what is expected of them on the big European nights, under the floodlights, in front of their own crowd.
They had politely ushered themselves out of the door, dropping into the awkward Thursday-night, Sunday-afternoon cycle of Europa League football. Manchester United fans, as would be expected from an eternal rival, mocked from their perch.
Ironic then, that the two Premier League giants, who combined have lifted 16 continental trophies, meet in Europe’s most unloved competition for their first ever continental encounter, both desperate to use this back-door entry back into the elite.
Of course, that’s not to rule out the Premier League route through the top four as the two sides have done well to climb back into contention, capitalising on Manchester City and Arsenal’s floundering form.
Still, though, those two will almost certainly recover and Thursday nights now represent the best course – even with Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham, Sevilla and Shakhtar Donetsk still in the mix.
What we have is a tie with more than just the usual battle for pride. Yes, the narrative is slightly warped given these latest editions of United and Liverpool sit sixth and seventh respectively, but regardless this is a big game, despite it being a Europa League last-16 tie.
For Liverpool, it’s a third shot at retribution. They are riding on the back of two successful revenge missions, having battered League Cup final foes Manchester City and ripped the perennial script up against bogey-side Crystal Palace. The latter a historic triumph as the Reds came back from a goal and a man down for the first time.
On Thursday night, they will endeavour to avoid an unwanted entry into their record books, though.
Liverpool have lost the last four meetings with United and have never suffered five successive defeats against their North-West rivals. Their current run equals their worst ever – they also lost four on the spin from 1912-1914, 1996-1997 and 2006-2008.
To buck that trend, Jurgen Klopp will need to remind his players of the expectations his predecessor failed to project. Equally, this tie is paramount to the man in the opposite dugout. Should United secure a Champions League place, be it via the league or the Europa League, then this season, which is surely to be Louis van Gaal’s last at Old Trafford, can be viewed as a considerable success.
The Dutchman would rate the achievement better than last season’s comfortable fourth-placed finish given the apocalyptic predictions in December. To qualify by virtue of Europa League success, though the fact they’re even in it indicates someone has messed up somewhere, would at least mean they have won something.
And to do it at the expense of Liverpool en route will bring a smile to supporters faces more than he did with his comedy dive last week.
Whatever the circumstance, this is a big European night, under the floodlights and in front of two passionate sets of supporters. Lets hope the two sides live up to that significance, too.
