This wasn’t your average European tie, this was personal.
It might not have been the Champions League, but Liverpool and Manchester United meeting in the Europa League still represented a European first for the two.
Liverpool carried a 2-0 advantage going into Thursday’s game having dominated the first leg at Anfield, but United fans still believed they could turn over their biggest rivals.
That is until they saw the team sheets, of course…
Fellaini starting again, my hopes of them pulling of a comeback just went from 0 to -100 real quick! #MUFC
— BusbyBulletin (@BusbyBulletin) March 17, 2016
Fellaini instead of Schneiderlin again. The mans lost it. #MUFC
— J A D E ♡ (@JadeStamate) March 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/Manchesterspeak/status/710544374711652352
But despite the worries of the fans, the home side found themselves back in tie when Anthony Martial converted a 32nd-minute penalty after the Frenchman was felled by Nathaniel Clyne…
Too easy, yes Martial, yes United
— C (@Chewe_Verlene) March 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/ObeyAirez/status/710565881332506625
The lead didn’t last, as Philippe Coutinho showed off some silky footwork before lobbing David de Gea from short range for the equaliser on the stroke of half-time…
Phil Coutinho took full advantage of Old Trafford's superior grass
— Sachin Nakrani (@SachinNakrani) March 17, 2016
Brilliant finish by Coutinho. That's that then.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) March 17, 2016
Just when Liverpool fans beg for Coutinho's head, he does *that*
— James Tyler (still) (@JamesTylerESPN) March 17, 2016
As United chased the game, Louis van Gaal’s substitutions left a lot to be desired…
Your team needs 3 goals
Sub LB for LB, RB for RB and CM for CM.
Louis Van Gaal ladies and gentlemen pic.twitter.com/6PWcbru29A
— E. (@eghanacquah) March 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/UtdRantcast/status/710580209691574272
Another inexplicable set of substitutions from Van Gaal, whose continued presence at the club is equally dumbfounding. Awful awful awful.
— Dominic Nozahic (@domnozahic) March 17, 2016
The home side failed to find the net again, and Van Gaal’s season went from bad to worse…
I honestly don't know which one was worse. Going from Fergie to Moyes or going from Moyes to Van Gaal
— DAMIAN™ (@dilop10) March 17, 2016
Hope we sack Van Gaal on the pitch in front of the crowd after the game and Mourinho comes out of the tunnel to replace him.
— Andy (@andykeating) March 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/MarySeeYouEnTee/status/710581322356547585