UEFA have granted Manchester United special dispensation ahead of their Europa League clash with Liverpool.
Rules set out by European football’s governing body for the competition require visiting clubs to be within 27 miles of the participating stadium, which would have forced Louis van Gaal’s side to take up an overnight stay in the city ahead of tomorrow night’s last 16 showdown.
But UEFA have allowed United to carry out their preparations for the highly-anticipated encounter with the Reds some 34 miles away from Anfield, with plans to train at their Carrington base followed by an overnight stay at a Manchester hotel.
The Red Devils will decamp to a hotel in Liverpool city centre on Thursday afternoon before making their way to take on Jurgen Klopp’s side, where some 3,000 travelling supporters are expected to make the trip for the first leg clash.
Tickets to visiting United fans have been sent by recorded delivery due to logistical issues behind allowing them to be picked up from a designated collection point, as per Europa League rules.
Van Gaal used his pre-match press conference to dismiss suggestions that the meeting of the fierce North West rivals in the Europa League was a sign of how far both clubs had fallen.
He said: “Other teams are in the Champions League. You are talking about Manchester United and Liverpool and we are happy to play in the Europa League.
“[Manchester] City, Chelsea and Arsenal are still in the Champions League but six clubs are representing the Premier League in Europe. You have to be proud of that. Not many countries have so many representing at that level.
“In football it is normal [that there is a shift in the balance of power]. It is not normal that one team is dominating for 20 years in a row. It was another time. You live in the past. You have to live in the present.
“The fact that we are playing Liverpool in the Europa League is a signal that the Premier League is strong.”