Liverpool vs Manchester United: Jurgen Klopp says recent head-to-head history will 'mean nothing' in Europa League tie

'It would mean more if they had much more quality than us,' claimed the Liverpool manager

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (Getty Images)

Jurgen Klopp has denied that Liverpool’s poor record against Manchester United in recent years will have any bearing on the two sides’ Europa League round-of-16 tie.

The Merseysiders have lost all of their encounters against their fierce rivals since Louis van Gaal took over at Old Trafford, with their last win coming in early 2014.

Wayne Rooney’s late winner in January’s league meeting at Anfield consigned Liverpool to their fourth straight defeat in the fixture but Klopp believes that the quality of the two sides, not their recent head-to-head history, will decide the game.

"United won the last four but it means nothing,” he said. “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," eh later added.

The 48-year-old German coach, who will be taking charge of a Liverpool side against United for the second time, has spoken in a combative tone in the build-up to this tie.

After the draw was made in Nyon just less than a fortnight ago, Klopp claimed that Van Gaal's side were his desired opponents and the tie provided an opportunity to ‘take revenge’.

At his pre-match press conference on Wednesay, he stressed the importance of the crowd and challenged Liverpool’s home support to create one of Anfield’s much-vaunted ‘European nights’.

“You know I believe in the influence of the crowd. We really enjoy the relationship with the crowd, there is no doubt about that.

“We can show we can create a better atmosphere in the first leg than Man United in the second leg.

“It is very, very important and it can be very decisive, for sure. It’s a big part of football. If it wasn’t, we could play without supporters in the park.”

The two rivals will meet in European competition for the first time at Anfield on Thursday, with the return leg at Old Trafford scheduled for 17 March.