COAST » t was a season to forget for quarterback Colin Kaepernick

On Thursday, Jurgen Klopp and Louis van Gaal go head to head for the seventh time in their managerial careers when Manchester United look to overturn Liverpools two-goal advantage in their Europa League last-16 tie. Ahead of the meeting at Old Trafford, we examine the history of their rivalry… Louis van Gaal certainly had the better of his first Premier League encounter with Jurgen Klopp, when a late strike from Wayne Rooney gave Manchester United a 1-0 win at Anfield in January. The Dutchman called it a big step in the right direction, while Klopp was left to rue a string of missed scoring chances.It was not the first time Van Gaal has come out on top. During his time in the Bundesliga, there was the thrill of taking his Bayern Munich side to Klopps Borussia Dortmund and winning 5-1; a demolition that turned his teams season around and would eventually take Bayern to within one game of a treble. Klopp got his own back the following season, however, when Dortmund blitzed Bayern in their own backyard. It was described by Munich-based journalist Christian Eichler as a masterpiece, and one that confirmed Dortmunds rise. They went on to win the double. Van Gaal was gone within weeks. Liverpool v Man Utd Follow the game across the Sky Sports platforms with our live blog Heres the tale of their six previous matches against each other…Dortmund 1 Bayern 5 - Sep 12 2009We have to work hard in midfield and not allow them too much space, said Klopp beforehand, but while Mats Hummels opened the scoring, goals from Mario Gomez, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribery and a Thomas Muller brace ensured an emphatic win for the visitors. Jurgen Klopps record against Louis Van Gaal P W D L GF GA 5 2 0 3 7 10 The goal by Ribery was particularly significant as the Frenchman pointedly sprinted to celebrate with Van Gaal, ending speculation about a rift between the two men. I am always pleased when a player wants to celebrate his goal with me, said Van Gaal. Franck has shown that he loves his coach.Bayern 3 Dortmund 1 - Feb 13 2010Dortmund competed for much of the match in Munich but the game ended in defeat for the visitors - a tenth in a row for Klopp against Bayern. Mohamed Zidan gave Dortmund the lead but goals from Mark van Bommel, Arjen Robben and Gomez took the game away from them. Arjen Robben escapes a Dortmund tackle as Jurgen Klopp watches on in 2010 Klopp put some of the blame on referee Knut Kircher - these mistakes do not make it more fun - but also pointed to his teams missed chances. We had several huge opportunities, he said afterwards. Still, it was a strong performance by my boys.Dortmund 2 Bayern 0 - Oct 3 2010Klopp finally got a win over Bayern and his teams sixth in a row as they punished Van Gaals men at the Westfalenstadion. Goals from Lucas Barrios and Nuri Sahin heaped the pressure on the Dutchman after a difficult start to the season. Van Gaal and Klopp ahead of the match at Signal Iduna Park in October 2010 Its high time everybody woke up, said Uli Hoeness after seeing Bayern succumb to a third defeat in seven games. Van Gaal, meanwhile, urged calm. The season is still very long, he said. It is difficult, but we must have faith. Even so, Bayerns Oktoberfest celebrations were cancelled.Bayern 1 Dortmund 3 - Feb 26 2011Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke had called the title talk totally unrealistic after the first match against Bayern but by February it was a very different situation. A 3-1 win in Munich, their first Bundesliga victory there in two decades, ended Bayerns hopes and put BVB on the brink. Dortmund got their first Bundesliga win at Bayern in 20 years in February 2011 Barrios scored early and while Luiz Gustavo levelled things up, goals by Sahin and Hummels earned Dortmund the points - taking them 16 clear of Bayern. This was the youngest Dortmund side in Bundesliga history with an average age of 22 and even Van Gaal admitted they deserved to win.Liverpool 0 Manchester United 1 - Jan 17 2016Klopps first experience of Liverpool and Manchester Uniteds famous rivalry ended in bitter disappointment at Anfield. The hosts bombarded the opposition goal, having 19 shots to Uniteds seven, but they were let down by poor finishing and frustrated by David de Geas heroics. Wayne Rooney scores Manchester Uniteds winner at Anfield in January Van Gaal admitted United were second best in the first half, but they withstood Liverpools pressure before Rooney thumped home a loose ball in the 78th minute after Marouane Fellainis header had struck the crossbar. It was the strikers first goal in 11 years at Anfield. We lost a game that we should not have lost, said a rueful Klopp.Liverpool 2 Manchester United 0 - March 10 2016There was to be no repeat of Uniteds smash-and-grab victory when the sides met on the European stage for the first time in their revered histories. Having seen his side fail to convert a host of chances in January, Klopp was not disappointed as Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino beat an inspired De Gea as the Reds took full control of the tie. Roberto Firmino nets against Manchester United A raucous crowd created an atmosphere to rival some of the great European nights at Anfield, and Van Gaal called upon the Old Trafford faithful to replicate the noise in the build-up to his seventh meeting with Klopp. We can also create an atmosphere [at Old Trafford] like Liverpool, The Dutchman said. So everything is possible.What does this tell us about Klopp?For Klopp, games against Van Gaal offer the contrast between chaos and control; the importance of pressing versus possession. Hell be encouraged by the knowledge that it can work but has also experienced what can happen when his team doesnt get it right.The German has had particular joy early on against his Dutch counterpart. His sides have scored within the first 10 minutes in three of their first four matches against each other and the sort of aggressive pressing witnessed in the 4-1 win over Manchester City in October could be the template. The first 30 or 35 minutes was as good as anything I can remember, not from Klopp or any Liverpool team, but in the Premier League, said Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher after that game. It was like the Red Arrows watching Liverpool, they were just running through people all the time.But while high-intensity pressing could give the Reds an early advantage, Januarys meeting at Anfield showed a gameplan is worthless if you cant finish your chances.What does this tell us about Van Gaal?In a sense, the series of Bundesliga games against Klopps Dortmund are a microcosm of Van Gaals problems at United. There were signs of control in the first season but what was once perceived as clinical soon came to be seen as sterile.In the season prior to Van Gaals arrival, Bayerns game against Dortmund made Bundesliga history. There were 48 shots, the most since records began, with 35 of them coming from Bayern. In the first meeting between the sides in 2010, Bayern had only 11 shots to Dortmunds 17 but won 3-1.The next time that the teams met, Bayern once again controlled possession, enjoying 62 per cent of the ball, but by this stage they couldnt find the net. The reduction in the number of chances was not seen as a factor by Van Gaal, and yet his words will feel familiar to United fans. We dominate and create four, five chances and we dont score, said Van Gaal. Dortmund dont have any chances but the first shot on goal goes in. Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge put it slightly differently. We have concerns, he said. We have to start to score.Curiously, though, the opposite was true at Anfield in January, when United scored with their only shot on target and Liverpool missed a host of chances. They atoned for that at the first time of asking, but that victory will be in vein if they fail to progress into the Europa League quarter-finals at the expense of their north-west rivals.ConclusionStyles make fights and if history is a clue then Klopp versus Van Gaal promises to entertain. Klopps gegenpressing or Van Gaals control?Will Manchester United leave Anfield with a first-leg lead? Or will Liverpool make their home advantage count? Let us know your prediction using the message boards or by tweeting @SkyFootball Also See: Charlies European predictions Liverpool record a boost for Utd? Group tables Bet ￡5 Get ￡20 Free Greg Maddux Cubs Jersey . After a lengthy wait, persistent rain finally forced the postponement of the Nationals game against the Miami Marlins on Saturday night. The teams, and a few thousand fans, waited nearly four hours from the 7:05 scheduled start time before an announcement was made shortly before 11 p. Brandon Kintzler Jersey . Ronaldo produced a spectacular individual performance on Tuesday, scoring all three goals and guiding Portugal into the next years World Cup in Brazil with a 3-2 victory in Sweden. The Real Madrid forward has scored 66 goals in 2013, but the last three may be the boost he needs to upstage Messi after FIFA unexpectedly extended the voting period for the Ballon dOr to Nov. http://www.thecubsteamshop.com/Cubs-Greg-Maddux-Kids-Jersey/ . 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The Panthers accounted for NFC West winners the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game a week after ending the Seattle Seahawks season in the divisional round.While Arizona and Seattle both enjoyed successful campaigns, the San Francisco 49ers suffered their worst season for eight years while the defensively-impressive St Louis Rams - who will play their home games in Los Angeles next season - found their progress halted by a woeful passing game. Arizona Cardinals (13-3) Cardinals suffered defeat to Carolina in the NFC Championship game but it was a season to remember Thirteen regular season wins, an NFC West title for the first time since 2009 and a trip to the NFC Championship game can only be considered a successful year, even if the 49-15 thrashing at the hands of the Carolina Panthers ended their post-season run on a sour note.The Cardinals offence was nothing short of deadly in the regular season, racking up 489 points as quarterback Carson Palmer threw for 35 touchdowns while veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald transitioned successfully into a high-usage threat in the slot.Star man: At 36, Carson Palmer enjoyed the best season of his career, throwing for 4,671 total yards and a quarterback rating (104.6) usually the preserve of Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady.The Cardinals look primed to challenge again in 2016 but much will depend on whether Palmer can replicate this excellent 2015 form.Grade: A-. A superb season that ended one step short of the Super Bowl; can the Cards go one better in 2016? Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald turned back the clock for the Arizona Cardinals this season. Watch his highlights here. Video courtesy of the NFL. Seattle Seahawks (10-6)After reaching the Super Bowl in two successive seasons, elimination from the 2015 post-season at the divisional round might be considered disappointing by the Seahawks high standards.But given Seattles sluggish 2-4 start to the season, reports of locker room rancour, the absence of Marshawn Lynch for long periods and the failure to accommodate starting tight end Jimmy Graham into their offence, battling through to the post-season represents some degree of success.The emergence of wide receiver Doug Baldwin (1,069 yards and 14 touchdowns) and running back Thomas Rawls (830 yards rushing) gave coach Pete Carroll plenty of optimism for the future despite the retirement of Lynch.Star man: Seattles early season struggles and late season dominance were mirrored by those of quarterback Russell Wilson. Twenty-five of Wilsons 34 touchdown passes came after Week 9 as the Seahawks field general raced past 4.000 yards passing for the season and an overall QB rating of 110.1.Grade: B. After a season that began with uncertainty yielded post-season play for a fourth successive year, the emergence of new stars suggests the Seahawks will contend again 2016. Ode to Beast Mode Marshawn Lynch retired at the end of the season St Louis Rams (7-9)After a strong 4-3 start and consistently strong performances against their divisional rivals - they went 4-2 against Seattle, Arizona and San Francisco but 3-7 against the rest of the league, the Rams crumbled to record a losing season for the ninth successive year thanks in the main to their stagnant offence.Quarterback Nick Foles, a high-profile off-season swap for the EEagles-bound Sam Bradford, turned in a number of dismal performances as he marshalled the leagues worst passing offence - they averaged just 175.dddddddddddd yards a game through the air - and was benched for back-up Case Keenum. Aaron Donald stood out for St. Louis Rams at defensive tackle this season. Here are some of his best bits. Video courtesy of the NFL. The Rams defence, led by the excellent Aaron Donald (11 sacks), Mark Barron (135 tackles) and James Laurinaitas (114 tackles), ensured the Rams had plenty of opportunities to win games. Sadly for coach Jeff Fisher, the offence rarely took advantage.Star man: Running back Todd Gurley led the Rams offence as he rushed for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns - the third-most in the NFL, topped 125 yards in each of his first four games and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year.Grade: C. Another ultimately mediocre season, but if Fisher could solve his quarterback conundrum, theres no telling what the Rams could achieve as they relocate to Los Angeles. Todd Gurley shows why he is viewed as one of the NFLs most electrifying players with a 71-yard touchdown run against the San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco 49ers (5-11)Following the departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh and a rash of retirements, 2015 projected to be a long season for the 49ers and so it proved. Their 5-11 return was the teams worst since 2007. It was a season to forget for quarterback Colin Kaepernick as San Francisco 49ers recorded their worst record since 2009 Their offence was the worst in the league, averaging a paltry 14.9 points per game and surpassing the 20 point-mark just four times. Harbaughs replacement Jim Tomsula paid the price as he was fired on Black Monday.The primary reasons for those offensive struggles? A foot injury to running back Carlos Hyde and the loss of form of quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who looked a shadow of his former self until he was benched for back-up Blaine Gabbert after a Week 8 loss to the St Louis Rams.Star player: NaVorro Bowman provided a rare positive story in the 49ers season of toil. The linebacker, who missed the entire 2014 season through injury, returned with a vengeance making 154 tackles as the Niners held play-off bound offences to just 16.6 points at Levis Stadium.Grade: D-. An awful 2015 could be repeated in 2016 unless Tomsulas replacement Chip Kelly can rejuvenate Kaepernick or find a suitable replacement. Can Chip Kelly mastermind a turnaround at Levis Stadium after replacing Jim Tomsula ' ' '