Manchester United vs Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp hopes to avoid Borussia Dortmund in Europa League last-eight draw

Klopp admitted there will be 'no easy game' for Liverpool after they dispatched Manchester United 3-1 on aggregate

Jurgen Klopp reacts during Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Manchester United (Getty Images)

Jürgen Klopp has insisted he does not want to draw his former club Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals of the Europa League after sealing Liverpool's progression at the expense of Manchester United.

Philippe Coutinho’s equaliser with the last kick of the first half quashed United’s hopes of a recovery from a two-goal first leg deficit after Anthony Martial had scored the opener from the penalty spot.

Klopp described Coutinho’s finish, a delicate chip over David De Gea as a “genius moment,” admitting it “decided the game.”

The prospect of facing Dortmund, who eliminated Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, does not really excite him.

“Why should I want the strongest team in the next round?” he asked. “I am pretty sure, though, there will be no easy game.”

Louis Van Gaal tried his best to place a positive spin on United’s exit, which means their only hope of qualification for next season’s Champions League lingers by improbably sealing a place in the Premier League’s top four. They face a Manchester derby at the weekend.

“We have to beat Manchester City because that is our other chance to qualify for the Champions League,” he said. “The expectations are very high. The pressure for these players is always very high. We know that and we can cope with that. But we were unlucky today.

“I’m not angry. I’m not frustrated. I’m very proud of my players. They gave everything. I’m very pleased the fans recognised the effort too. It was remarkable.

“We played like Liverpool did at Anfield. The difference was the goal they scored in the last second of the first half. Everyone knows then you have to score three goals. That made it difficult.”