Liverpool primed for Man Utd showdown as West Ham thrive under David Moyes in Europe - EL & ECL hits and misses

"We've never faced something like this," Sparta boss Brian Priske said after his side were beaten 11-2 on aggregate by Liverpool on Thursday in the Europa League last 16. "Liverpool is a Champions League team and they should be playing in the Champions League."

Priske's side were undoubtedly out of their depth at Anfield but Liverpool capitalised in a fashion only they can. There were shades of the 7-1 demolition of Man Utd at Anfield last season. Erik ten Hag's side looked out of their depth that day too.

Liverpool weren't favourites before that game because of an uncharacteristically poor campaign - which is why they're in the Europa League - yet they found themselves at the right time to show the form that has them in a title race this season.

Sparta Prague felt the full wrath of that on Thursday. Much of the 6-1 second-leg result was self-inflicted. Poor passes out from the back and slack marking handed Liverpool glorious chances.

Other clubs, as Priske alludes to, wouldn't take advantage quite as clinically. And it is this that must worry Man Utd ahead of Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool at Old Trafford. These are all sloppy errors they continue to make.

Liverpool dismantled their fiercest rivals last season when nothing was riding on the outcome other than pride. On Sunday, Jurgen Klopp's side head to Manchester with a quadruple in their sights.

The stalemate in December at Anfield showed Ten Hag has wised up, but Liverpool weren't at their sharpest that day in front of goal. Parking the bus quite so deep won't be tolerated at Old Trafford either.

Should Liverpool find the spaces others have this season at the Theatre of Dreams on Sunday the latest instalment of this rivalry could become a nightmare for