Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has hinted he will stick by Marouane Fellaini for Thursday's Europa League clash with Liverpool at Old Trafford.

United are looking to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first leg of the tie in order to progress through to the quarter-finals.

Van Gaal said he sees the Belgian international, who has started in the Red Devils' last five fixtures versus the Merseyside club, as a player who matches up well against the Reds even though the United faithful do not agree with his decision to continually play the former Everton man.

"I cannot say if he plays tomorrow because then I give of course a part of my lineup and I don't want to do that," van Gaal said.

"But Fellaini has his way of playing and he can give us a lot of qualities and he has contributed a lot of games at a very good way and for me it's very important if he can contribute in the game plan that we have created with each other."