Borussia Dortmund V Liverpool - Europa League QF 1st Leg

[Yozza]

V



20:05
Thursday 7th Apr
Westfalenstadion

Next up for Liverpool is the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final tie against Borussia Dortmund at the magnificent Signal Iduna Park on Thursday night.

[Yozza]

‘I fear Jürgen Klopp will try to get Borussia Dortmund fans on his side’

• Dortmund chief executive fearful of Klopp’s influence over supporters
• Liverpool away in Europa League quarter-final first leg on Thursday

Jürgen Klopp’s legendary status at Borussia Dortmund may play directly into Liverpool’s hands when the two sides meet in the Europa League quarter-finals, according to the German club’s chief executive, Hans-Joachim Watzke.

Liverpool travel to Germany on Thursday for the first leg of their first meeting as Klopp returns to the club he left last May, having won back-to-back Bundesliga titles and reached the Champions League final during his seven years in charge.

And Watzke is fearful a celebratory atmosphere will make life harder for Dortmund. He told Bild: “Most of all I fear that Klopp is trying to lull us into a false sense of security and that he will try to get our fans on his side to ensure that the match feels like a friendly.”

Klopp remains a reverential figure at the Westfalenstadion and when the draw for the Europa League last eight was made he described the fixture as “a story only football can write”. He went on to say, “I am really happy to introduce my new team to Dortmund. I am really happy to show the boys this wonderful stadium and a great city. We’re all happy.”

Thomas Tuchel’s Dortmund, having comfortably knocked out Tottenham Hotspur in previous round, are the favourites to win the Europa League by a distance but, speaking to Welt am Sonntag, Watzke acknowledged the difficulty in facing Liverpool.

He added: “I would like to see that our fans pay their respects to Jürgen after the game but not before and not during it. We must stand together to be able to beat a club like Liverpool.”

[Yozza]

Dortmund v Liverpool: A special clash between two great teams, says Hans-Joachim Watzke

Liverpool's Europa League tie with Borussia Dortmund will represent a clash between two “great” teams who “represent pure footballing history,” according to the Bundesliga side's CEO.

Jurgen Klopp's Reds travel to Germany this week for the first leg of their quarter-final, with the return at Anfield a week later.

Klopp has already stated his belief that Dortmund, his former club, represent the strongest side left in this year's competition. Thomas Tuchel's men outclassed Tottenham in the last 16, and are on the coat-tails of the all-conquering Bayern Munich in their domestic league.

And Hans-Joachim Watzke, speaking to Dortmund's official website , says that the winners of this tie will be hot favourites to lift the trophy in Switzerland in May.

Watzke says he is looking forward to “two special games, because both teams are great, because they both represent pure footballing history.”

He added: “Whoever will win over the two legs has a huge chance to make it to Basel."

Thursday's game at Signal Iduna Park is already a sell-out, with media coverage already in full swing.

Indeed, one German TV channel announced this week it would be running a “KloppCam” focusing solely on the Liverpool manager for the entire game.

"Liverpool will give everything in these two games, because it is the only realistic chance for them to still make it to the Champions League,” Watzke said. “Liverpool will not do us the favour of resting any of their players.

"We have to have a certain sharpness to our game, this is a real challenge and not hugs all round. You don't win games like that."

[meffin]

Can't flipping wait for this. Going to be an insane atmosphere!

[Yozza]

Mental - absolutely brilliant..... Hope the home fans put a show on a week Thursday

[redmike65]

Dortmund are on a good run but they give the opposition plenty of chances, a draw would be a decent result but so long as Liverpool don't leave without scoring I think this is a tie that can be competitive to the final whistle next week.

[Rich]

We are going to get chances on Thursday, we just really need to take them and at the other end we need everyone to play really big games - goalkeeper, fullbacks, centrehalves, all have give their best.

Here's my team:

Mignolet
Clyne - Lovren - Sakho - Moreno
Can - Henderson
Lallana - Firmino - Coutinho
Sturridge

[Yozza]

I've said it before but I'm just looking forward to a great atmosphere & great football without the epic cuntery of the last two legs we've just played against those ****s

& as it's against the best team in the competition it's almost a free hit.... It'll be great

[redmike65]

I'd drop Sturridge and start Allen in a 4-2-1(Allen)-3

[kev776]

Got my ticket, together with my 2 sons, in the seats directly next to the Sud tribune (watch out for 3 red scarves on the telly

[meffin]

Nice. You based over there?

[kev776]

Nice. You based over there?

Yes I am, live just 45 mins from the stadium.

[Liverpool]

Offered a ticket and a lift but can't get it off work

[nineteen]

Offered a ticket and a lift but can't get it off work

There's an awful stomach virus going around these days. Tends to hit the hardest on a Thursday. I had it a couple of times in March. Terrible stuff.
Just saying.

[Nicey]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyStTkB7qEE"]Jurgen Klopp - I'm Comming Home - Borussia Dortmund v Liverpool - PROMO 07/04/2016 HD - YouTube[/ame]

This is going to be ****ing Epic !!!!