One of the most decorated rivalries in the British game will be celebrated on the European stage on Thursday night as Liverpool welcome Manchester United to Anfield for the first leg of their last-16 clash in the Europa League.

The fierce rivals have met 195 times in all competitions throughout their history, but have never before clashed in Europe. Thursday will mark the first of two matches between the pair in the Europa League, with the second leg due to take place at Old Trafford next week.

Liverpool

It has been another largely disappointing season for Liverpool, but there is no question that performances have improved since Jurgen Klopp took charge last October. The Reds will enter this match off the back of successive victories in the league, including a 3-0 win over Manchester City in their last home match earlier this month.

Liverpool are actually now just one spot and three points behind sixth-placed Man United in the Premier League table, and Klopp's side also have a game in hand. Both of these teams will struggle to secure Champions League football via their domestic position, but winning the Europa League provides automatic qualification to next season's group stages.

In terms of progression to this stage, Liverpool topped Group B ahead of Sion despite winning just two of their six matches and finding the back of the net on six occasions. They were drawn with German side Augsburg in the round of 32 and recorded a 1-0 victory at Anfield to secure their spot in the last 16.

Not only are Liverpool unbeaten in eight European games this season, they have not lost at home in this competition since the 2012-13 season. What's more, the Reds have not actually lost a single match in normal time since going down 2-0 at Leicester City in the league at the start of February. They have lost in the FA Cup and League Cup since then, but those defeats were in extra time or penalties.

As touched upon, they will also enter this match off the back of a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon. They have lost their last four games against Man United in all competitions, but have never lost five in a row to their rivals throughout their history.

At the start of the season, neither of these sides would have ear-marked the Europa League as an important competition. With the pair both trailing the top four in the Premier League, however, it has suddenly become very important. There is also the small matter of the magnitude of the rivalry between the two biggest clubs in English football.

Recent form: DWWDDW
Recent form (all competitions): WDWLWW

Man United

Louis van Gaal's future as Man United boss - or lack of it - continues to dominate the back pages, but that must be put to one side this week as the Dutchman prepares to lead his team into arguably their biggest game of the season.

Four straight victories between February 22 and March 2 eased the pressure on Van Gaal, but a 1-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion in the league at the weekend raised more questions. That loss followed a run which included victories in the FA Cup, Europa League and two in the Premier League, but they will count for nothing at Anfield.

Man United's league struggles this season have been well-documented, but perhaps their biggest failure came in the Champions League. The 20-time English champions were drawn into arguably the weakest group alongside Wolfsburg, PSV Eindhoven and CSKA Moscow, but could only win two of their six matches and ultimately finish third in the section.

That dropped the Red Devils into the Europa League and they faced humiliation after losing 2-1 at FC Midtjylland in the first leg of their last-32 clash, but a 5-1 victory in the return at Old Trafford secured their spot in the next round. The injury bug has hit Man United hard this season, but the emergence of a number of youngsters has been a real positive.

Man United have faced English opposition in Europe on seven occasions and have recorded five wins and lost just once. They are actually unbeaten in the most recent six of those fixtures, including overcoming Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final.

It does not take a genius to realise the importance of Man United's next four matches. At the weekend, they will face West Ham United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, before welcoming Liverpool for the return of this last-16 affair next Thursday. March 20 then brings the small matter of the Manchester derby at the Etihad in the Premier League.

Recent form: WLLLLW
Recent form (all competitions): LWWWWL

Team News

Liverpool will be missing Lucas Leiva (thigh injury) once again, but Nathaniel Clyne, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho are all expected to return to the XI after starting the Palace match on the bench.

James Milner is also a doubt after being struck down with a virus, but Klopp is expected to give his vice-captain until late afternoon to pass a fitness test. Elsewhere, Roberto Firmino, who has scored seven times in 2016, will also keep his spot in attack.

As for Man United, Antonio Valencia and Bastian Schweinsteiger have both returned to first-team training, but it is unlikely that Van Gaal will include either in his starting team.

Jesse Lingard will also miss out through suspension, while Wayne Rooney, Luke Shaw, Phil Jones and Ashley Young are all still on the sidelines for the Red Devils.

Guillermo Varela and Memphis Depay should both return to the starting team, while 18-year-old attacker Marcus Rashford could switch to a wide position, allowing Anthony Martial to lead the attack for the visitors.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Henderson, Can, Milner; Coutinho, Sturridge, Firmino

Man United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Varela, Smalling, Blind, Rojo; Carrick, Schneiderlin; Memphis, Mata, Rashford; Martial

Head To Head

This match will be the first European meeting between the two teams.

However, they have clashed on 195 times in all competitions - 166 of which have been in the league. In terms of recent history, Man United have won each of the last four Premier League fixtures between the pair since losing at home in March 2014.

That run has included a 3-1 victory at Old Trafford earlier this season and a 1-0 win at Anfield in January courtesy of a late Rooney goal.

We say: Liverpool 1-1 Man United

There is no question that Liverpool will be out for revenge following a poor run of form against their rivals, but you suspect that Man United boss Van Gaal will send out a team to be compact and with a view to taking a draw back to Old Trafford.

Much could depend on the opening 20 minutes and how both teams start, but Man United have improved in recent weeks and we believe that the Red Devils will score an away goal in a 1-1 draw at Anfield.