Back in 2001 when the Liverpool players emerged from the tunnel at the Westfalenstadion for the UEFA Cup final, they probably didn’t think that two of the mascots leading them out would go on to star for Dortmund.

Pictures of Marco Reus and Kevin Grosskreutz, aged 11 and 12 at the time, were unearthed by Sport Bild and subsequently shared by Grosskreutz, who now plays for Stuttgart. Reus looks very proud.

Haben uns kaum verändert oder @woodyinho ??? ?⚽️? #haareschön @LFC @Alaves pic.twitter.com/h5FuHWkcrz

— Kevin Großkreutz (@fischkreutz_KG) April 8, 2016

Fast forward 15 years and Reus stands between Liverpool and the Europa League semi-final.

Back on that day he led the Reds to a 5-4 extra-time victory over Alaves, sort of, and now some Liverpool fans are convinced it’s written in the stars – Reus will before long be playing for them.

Marco Reus wearing a Liverpool shirt, it’s destiny I tell you pic.twitter.com/1NLWHvMn1J

— GCIIMessi (@GCIIMessi) April 8, 2016

Dortmund travel to Anfield on Thursday April 14 for the second leg of their quarter-final tie. It’s currently finely poised at 1-1.