Liverpool to face Manchester United in Europa League last-16, Tottenham draw Dortmund

[BoRINg]

Liverpool and Manchester United will go head-to-head in the Europa League after being drawn against each other in the last 16.

Jurgen Klopp's side will host their north-west rivals in the first leg on March 10, (8.05pm kick-off) before visiting Old Trafford for the second leg a week later, kicking off at 6pm.

Meanwhile, Tottenham's reward for their 4-1 aggregate win over Fiorentina is a mouthwatering tie against Klopp's former side Borussia Dortmund, with Spurs travelling to Germany before hosting the second leg at White Hart Lane.

 

Liverpool secured their place in the last 16 with a 1-0 win over Augsburg on Thursday night, while United were forced to come from behind to beat Midtjylland 5-1 and secure a 6-3 aggregate win, with young striker Marcus Rashford scoring a brace on his first-team debut.

The tie will be the first time the two clubs have met in Europe and the first all-English two-legged tie in Europe since United's Champions League quarter-final win over Chelsea in 2011.

And with both clubs struggling to get into the Premier League top four this season, winning the Europa League could yet prove to be the easiest way for either club to qualify for the Champions League.

United hold the upper hand in recent meetings and have completed back-to-back league doubles over their rivals, with Liverpool yet to record a victory against United manager Louis van Gaal.

However, Klopp welcomed the draw, saying: "It's great. We deserve these games. It's not easy. I told my staff yesterday that I wanted Man United. We lost to them 1-0 here recently and this gives us a chance to make it better."

Klopp, who is preparing his side for Sunday's Capital One Cup final against Manchester City, live on Sky Sports 1 on Sunday, admitted there were no comfortable options in the draw.

"There were no easy games in this round so there was no chance for an easy game. Man United - cool," he added.

        

"With the draw today, it seems like it is Liverpool against Manchester - like always - but now in really important games."

Spurs, currently second in the table and two points behind Leicester, have eyes on the title and the Dortmund matches sandwich a trip to Aston Villa with a home game against Bournemouth to follow the second leg.

Valencia, managed by Gary Neville, take on La Liga rivals Athletic Bilbao - who they meet in the league this weekend - after their 10-0 aggregate win over Rapid Vienna.

Elsewhere in the draw, holders Sevilla travel to Basel - the venue of this year's final - looking for a place in the last eight.

Europa League last 16 draw:
Shakhtar Donetsk v Anderlecht
Basel v Sevilla
Villarreal v Leverkusen
Athletic Bilbao v Valencia
Liverpool v Man Utd
Sparta Prague v Lazio
Dortmund v Tottenham
Fenerbahce v Braga

Ties to be played on March 10 & 17.