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Jurgen Klopp: Why Liverpool drawing Manchester United in the Europa League is 'cool'
JURGEN KLOPP described Liverpool's Europa League shoot-out with Manchester United as "cool" and revealed he wanted to be paired with Louis Van Gaal's side.
Jurgen Klopp says he is happy to face Manchester United in the Europa League
The most successful clubs in English football will collide on a continental stage for the first time following Friday's draw for the last 16 of the competition.
Tottenham were pitted against Borussia Dortmund in another eye-catching tie, but it was the renewal of the rivalry between Liverpool and United which has captured the imagination.
Van Gaal has won all four of his league matches against Liverpool since arriving at Old Trafford, including last month's win at Anfield which Klopp is eager to avenge.
"That's great, really," said Klopp. "We deserve these games. It is not easy but you can ask my staff. They asked me yesterday, 'Who do we want?' and I said, 'Manchester United'. I think we have to clear something.
"We had a good game when I was here, but we lost 1-0. That was not we deserved that day but that is what we got.
"Life has given us a chance to make it better and that is what we have to do and what will try to do. In this round there was no easy games, so we had no chance for an easy game. So we have Manchester United - cool."
The matches will take place at Anfield on March 10 (8.05pm) and Old Trafford on March 17, which is scheduled to kick-off at 6pm although that is subject to change.
United are in FA Cup action against West Ham in between, while Liverpool will have the weekend off.
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet said: "If you play in Europe you want to get drawn against a European team, but to get Manchester United in a derby is a fixture to look forward to."