Reds Preparing For Away Tie Like Other European Away Games

To say that Liverpool and Manchester United are familiar with each other is an understatement. The two most successful English sides--separated by approximately 30 miles--have squared off 194 times over the years, but never in European competition. That all changed last week, with Liverpool winning at Anfield and carrying a 2-0 aggregate advantage to Old Trafford.

Due to this proximity, Manchester United manager (for now, anyway) Louis van Gaal requested that his side be allowed to train at their Carrington facility. UEFA normally mandates that the away side stays within 27 miles of their opponent's stadium the night before the game. UEFA--an organization which has been fairly generous to Man United this week--allowed for the exception.

However, Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp declined to seek special treatment in this case. He has decided to treat the impending trip to Old Trafford like any other European away tie, including holding the pre-match press conference and evening training at the rival's home ground.

Liverpool have performed reasonably well in their Europa League away games under Klopp, with no defeats at two clean sheets so far. If the Reds can continue their streak of clean sheets in the competition--already at four--they'll easily advance to the quarterfinals when the final whistle blows Thursday night. But to do so, Klopp & Co. will have to shake off some of that wicked Old Trafford voodoo, which has seen the Reds lose 8 of their last 9 trips to Manchester United in all competitions.