Date set for UEFA Youth League clash

Led by head coach Neil Wood, the Reds topped Group F with five victories and just one defeat.

"It's been great to be back in the competition," Wood said. "We've had a couple of years out and you miss it, the whole experience of travelling away. They're quick trips where you're in one day, you play and you're straight back out of the country. It's really good to be back and it's been nice to get a good start to it as well."

Upcoming opponents Dortmund had to go through the play-offs after finishing second in Group C, where they faced tough opponents in Sporting, Ajax and Besiktas.

The German side won three of their six games in that difficult set-up and then triumphed 5-3 over Serie A team Empoli away from home.

Should United win against Dortmund, in a match supporters are encouraged to attend, the Reds will host either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals on 15/16 March.

Head of Academy Nick Cox said earlier this season:

"In normal times, the opportunity to go to play top European opposition has always been important for us. That's why we try to make sure it happens across the age-groups. It's no good just being the best player in the northwest of England because you become complacent. You've got to get out of the bubble and see the best players in the south of England, Europe or even South America.

“So the opportunity to go to play in the UEFA Youth League is great for us, getting out of the bubble and pitching ourselves up against top opposition, going up against a team that plays a slightly different style of football to what we're used to and different culturally. It's a great learning opportunity for us.

“It's come with a challenge as it's the first trip abroad with young players since the pandemic hit us and there is a number of staff working incredibly hard to jump through hoops there, and rightly so, to get the privilege of taking the boys abroad, in terms of testing protocols and the behaviours demonstrated whilst travelling, and once we get there. Hopefully, we're getting into a world where these opportunities are getting built back into the programme.

"It's also given us the opportunity for the boys to play in front of fans. Having supporters in the stadiums is absolutely fundamental to the development of our players. It makes all the difference for the boys to feel a bit of pressure, to be lifted by the crowd. It helps pave the way for what it might feel like if they eventually go out to play at Old Trafford."

THE DRAW IN FULL

Liverpool v KRC Genk
Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid
AZ Alkmaar v Juventus
Dynamo Kyiv v Sporting Club
Manchester United v Borussia Dortmund
MSK Zilina v FC Salzburg
Paris Saint-Germain v Sevilla
FC Midtjylland v SL Benfica

IMPORTANT DATES

Round-of-16 dates: 1-2 March 2022
Quarter-finals dates: 15-16 March 2022
Semi-finals dates: 22 April 2022
Final: 25 April 2022