The bookies have Liverpool favourites for the first leg, although United have come away victorious from Anfield on their last two visits, including a 1-0 win earlier this season.
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The feel-good factor at Old Trafford has proved short-lived, though, with United’s Champions League hopes seriously dented by back-to-back losses.
Still, Van Gaal continues to insist that something tangible can be plucked from the mire this season, even if the Dutchman is beginning to sound like a man who can no longer see events unfolding in front of him.
“Now we have the players back from injuries, we have 18 players that you can easily treat as regulars”.
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic expects to face a “wounded lion” when they travel to Manchester United for Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final.
“I think it is working because you have to see how we have to work”, Van Gaal said of his tutorship.
Whatever the reason for the club’s troubles this season, the team is a stark contrast to the superb United teams fans were used to under legendary manager Alex Ferguson, and manager Louis van Gaal’s job is far from being secure.
‘In the first half, we didn’t respect the game plan of the manager enough, ‘ he said. Now, Sunday will be a massive game’.
This month’s offerings could be evidence of Liverpool being able to rise in big matches without the capability of stringing an undefeated run of five or six games.
“I don’t think there are many real leaders in there. We all have to do better at it”, Fellaini said.
“The confidence is there within the camp and we are just looking forward to every game”.
‘Liverpool don’t play again until the second leg but we do.
“Under which circumstances we have to work and when you don’t have too many players and you have to play in three competitions, then it is very hard”.
United are the joint third favourites at 9/1 to lift the Europa League in May, along with their Merseyside rivals Liverpool.
‘The FA Cup is very important in this country.
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Meanwhile, United’s neighbours, Manchester City, have already confirmed that Pep Guardiola will replace Manuel Pellegrini from the start of the 2016/17 season. After showing much more energy than United at Anfield, he said: ‘We have to keep going in the same way.
