Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's huge Europa League clash between Liverpool and Manchester United. It may 'only' be Europe's secondary competition, but this is a fixture to grace any stage and it should be a memorable occasion as both sides look to take a first-leg lead at Anfield. This is the 195th competitive meeting between these two great rivals, but the first in Europe, and a place in the quarter-finals awaits the winners of the tie. To celebrate the occasion, we have a bumper build-up of more than two hours before the 8.05pm kickoff, so let's start with a look at the hosts tonight...

Liverpool come into tonight's game caught in limbo to some extent when it comes to which competition they should prioritise for the remainder of this season. The Europa League is one that Jurgen Klopp has repeatedly said that he values very highly, constantly rejecting suggestions that it is something of a burden to be in Europe's secondary tournament and even describing the last 16 as a mini Champions League due to the quality of the teams left in the competition. However, they have strung a few decent results together in the Premier League too recently, which has thrust them back into Champions League contention.

Ultimately, though, the main aim is to return to the Champions League next season, be that through the Premier League or the Europa League. It terms of the former, Liverpool do have the luxury of a game in hand over most of the teams around them in the table, including Manchester United, who they trail by just three points as things stand. Crucially, though, they don't have a game in hand over Manchester City - the team who currently occupy that coveted final Champions League spot at the moment. They are six points adrift of the Citizens, so would need a few favours from Manuel Pellegrini's men before the end of the season if they are to catch them.

Liverpool's main problem this season has been consistency. Before the recent league win over Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp had won, drawn and lost exactly the same amount of games during his time in charge, and the fluctuating level of the performances was a cause of frustration. One week they can look unbeatable, as has been the case in their two league games with Man City, while at other times they barely even turn up for the game, and you never know which Liverpool you will get until the game kicks off. In general, though, their better performances have come in the bigger games, so Liverpool will be hoping for another scintillating showing tonight.

LIVERPOOL VS. MAN UTD MEMORIES: Throughout this build-up I will be flashing back to previous games between these two sides and showing just what has made this the biggest rivalry in English football down the years. First up is the 1977 FA Cup final, which Manchester United won 2-1 to end Liverpool's hopes of claiming the treble a full 22 years before United managed it themselves. Liverpool did win the league and the European Cup that year, but the FA Cup eluded them thanks to United.

Back to the point of consistency, and Liverpool have finally begun to show a bit of it in the Premier League - at least as far as their results are concerned. They have won three league games in a row for the first time in a year heading into tonight's match, while in all competitions they have not lost any of their last eight outings inside 90 minutes, winning four of their last six. They have been beaten by West Ham United in the dying seconds of extra time and Manchester City on penalties in the League Cup final during their eight games since a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Leicester, though, so Klopp hasn't quite managed to cut out the defeats entirely just yet.

The most recent of those three consecutive league wins came on Sunday, and they left it late against Crystal Palace. The Eagles went into that match with a fine recent record against Liverpool and they looked to be on course for another win when Joe Ledley put them ahead early in the second half and James Milner was then sent off. However, a gift from Alex McCarthy allowed Roberto Firmino to level things up, and the real drama arrived deep into stoppage time when Christian Benteke went down under a challenge from Damien Delaney that has divided opinion in the football world. There was a touch on the boot of Benteke, but Delaney had pulled out of the challenge and the contact was fairly minimal. The referee pointed to the spot, though, and Benteke strolled up to send the keeper the wrong way, securing a 2-1 victory.

The Reds are not in action again until the second leg of this tie due to Chelsea's involvement in the FA Cup this weekend, meaning that Liverpool have games against both Guus Hiddink's side and Everton to rearrange in the closing months of the season. For now, though, they will no doubt be enjoying the relatively empty schedule that is in front of them, even with games to play in both the Premier League and Europe. Liverpool's fixture schedule was incredibly hectic in January and February especially, but has eased up somewhat since they were eliminated from the FA Cup and that week-long break may prove to be important in the second leg, with Manchester United in FA Cup action against West Ham this weekend.

LIVERPOOL VS. MAN UTD MEMORIES: With the exception of the past couple of years, since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure, these two clubs have generally been the dominant forces in English football over the last 40 years or so. United took over in the 1990s and into the 21st century, but before that it was Liverpool who ruled the roost. Their greatest spell in that time came under the legendary Bob Paisley, and in his final season as manager, the Reds faced Manchester United in the League Cup final. Fittingly, Paisley bowed out with silverware to celebrate, and the players sent him up to collect the trophy following a 2-1 victory over the old enemy.

Liverpool have had a rather mixed Europa League campaign this season. They remain unbeaten in their eight outings, but five of those have ended in draws, which would not be a particularly satisfying result for them this evening. They finished top of Group B as one of only five teams to qualify for the knockout rounds without losing a game, but they also amassed the fewest points of any of the group winners and are the lowest scorers left in the competition, with just seven goals to their name.

On the flip side, though, they also have the best defensive record of any team left in the competition having conceded just four goals from their eight outings in this season's tournament. That includes clean sheets in each of their last three games, with only one goal being scored at either end in those games. The Reds have not conceded more than one goal in a Europa League game since February 2013, so any hopes United have of building a good first-leg advantage tonight may be a bit optimistic.

At home, Liverpool are unbeaten in their last eight Europa League games, winning five and drawing three since a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Udinese in October 2012. In all competitions their home unbeaten run now stretches to four games, while their only loss since Manchester United's last visit in January was to Stoke in the League Cup semi-finals when they still went through on penalties anyway. In general they have been difficult to beat at Anfield this season, with just four defeats from their 22 games, but they have also drawn far too many in front of their own fans (nine, with nine wins too) and their best performances have generally come away from home.

This is the first time that Liverpool have made it through to the last 16 of a European competition since the 2010-11 season, when they beat Sparta Prague but were eventually knocked out by Braga. It goes to show how far they have fallen from the side that was getting to the latter stages of the Champions League regularly throughout the last decade, and the Reds will be hoping that those glory days will soon return under Klopp. He has reached a cup final in each of his last five seasons as a manager, including this year's League Cup final, but has lost the last four.

LIVERPOOL VS. MAN UTD MEMORIES: Two years on from their League Cup final meeting in Bob Paisley's final season in charge, the two sides met again in the semi-final of the FA Cup. After they could not be separated in the first match, a replay was required at the home of United's local rivals Manchester City. It was United who triumphed at Maine Road too, winning 2-1 to prevent an all-Merseyside final between Liverpool and Everton.

Just like Liverpool, United are juggling two avenues of potential Champions League qualification this season as they look to avoid missing out on Europe's premier club competition for just the second time in the last 21 years. The Europa League is, of course, one of them, but with plenty of big teams left in the competition it will take an improvement from United - and indeed Liverpool - to go all the way. The Premier League is looking difficult too, though, so United are fast approaching a period when they simply must start picking up wins to keep their hopes alive.

Missing out on the Champions League would arguably be a bigger blow for United than it would for Liverpool, who have been forced to live without the competition more often than their bitter rivals in recent years. The money spent by Louis van Gaal naturally creates higher demand for success - if that is possible at a club like Manchester United - and truth be told he hasn't delivered that success so far. Indeed, after spending almost £250m, Van Gaal's United are worse off at this stage of this season then they were at the same stage when David Moyes was in charge of the club.

Their hopes of catching the top four were given a boost recent by back-to-back Premier League victories as part of a four-match winning streak in all competitions, and the three-point gap to local rivals Man City is by no means unassailable. However, City do have a game in hand over United, and if the current form of the Red Devils, it is easy to see others overtaking them in the race for the top four should the likes of City and Arsenal slip up any more. Liverpool are one such team, while West Ham United have already moved above United in the table and right now look the most likely of the chasing pack to catch the top four.

LIVERPOOL VS. MAN UTD MEMORIES: Yet another FA Cup final between these two sides, this time in 1996, although the game itself was a major let-down. It was a bore-fest until Eric Cantona, who earlier that season had returned from his suspension for the kung-fu kick on a fan, volleyed in the only goal of the contest to clinch the cup for United. Just as, if not more famous, than that goal, though, were the pre-match white suits worn by Liverpool for their stroll out on the pitch.

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Can, Henderson, Lallana, Coutinho, Firmino; Sturridge
Subs: Ward, Toure, Benteke, Allen, Origi, Smith, Ojo

MAN UTD STARTING XI: De Gea; Varela, Smalling, Blind, Rojo; Schneiderlin, Fellaini, Memphis, Mata, Martial; Rashford
Subs: Romero, Darmian, Riley, Carrick, Schweinsteiger, Weir, Herrera

What can we make of that teams news, then? Well, the first things to note from a Liverpool perspective is that Daniel Sturridge returns to the starting lineup up front, with Origi dropping to the bench and Benteke also left out despite his late winner at the weekend. Sturridge was suffering from cramp after the League Cup final so was not involved at all against Man City in the league a few days later, before being left on the bench again against Crystal Palace. He was expected to come back in tonight, though, and sure enough Klopp has recalled the striker.

Also back in for the hosts is Philippe Coutinho, who has also sat out the last two games after that League Cup final. Liverpool played very well without him in the league against Man City, but lacked a bit of creativity against Crystal Palace. James Milner, who was sent off against the Eagles and sent home from training this week due to illness, is the man to make way for the Brazilian, with Firmino, Lallana, Henderson and Can all keeping their places in the side from the weekend.

There is one change at the back for Liverpool as Nathaniel Clyne returns to the starting XI, taking the place of Jon Flanagan, who is not a part of Liverpool's Europa League squad. The rest of the back four remains unchanged from the weekend, though, with Skrtel still not ready to return and Lucas, who has impressed as a makeshift centre-back sidelined for the next few weeks. Lovren and Sakho are in the middle, then, with Moreno on the left.

Tonight's starting XI shows only two changes from the side that played in the second leg of the victory over Augsburg in the last 32, although the goalscorer from that match - Milner - is absent. It is not too far away from what Klopp would consider his first-choice team, though, so while they have had some heavy injury problems this season, those are starting to ease off just in time for Liverpool's run-in.

Liverpool won't get any sympathy from United on the injury front, with tonight's visitors having suffered so many this season and still with a lengthy absentee list. That includes Wayne Rooney, who scored the winning goal on United's last visit to Anfield, but is expected to be out for a few more weeks at least. In his absence, though, Marcus Rashford has burst onto the scene for United and has now established himself as the centre-forward in the team, with Martial being switched back out into a wider role to accommodate the youngster. That is the case again tonight as the 18-year-old attempts to continue his dream start to his United career.

Martial had his own breakthrough moment in this very fixture at Old Trafford in September, scoring the goal that put the game to bed just days after becoming the world's most expensive teenager, and he will be looking for a similar impact from the wide role again tonight. Also in that trio behind the striker is Memphis, who had a magnificent game against Midtjylland in the second leg of the last game. However, the man Liverpool may be most wary of is Juan Mata, with the Spaniard having been directly involved in eight goals in his last eight games against Liverpool in all competitions, scoring three and creating a further five.

In midfield, Carrick, Herrera and Lingard all drop out, with the latter suspended for this game and the former two on the bench. Schneiderlin and Fellaini, in addition to Memphis, come in for that trio in three of four changes to the side from the weekend defeat to West Brom. There is also a notable inclusion on the bench for Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has been sidelined through injury recently but could make his first appearance for more than two months should he feature tonight.

Interestingly, Matteo Darmian is another to be dropped to the bench this evening, with Louis van Gaal preferring Varela at right-back for tonight's game in the only change to the back four. It is a defensive unit which is slowly becoming more recognisable for United with Smalling and Rojo back - a far cry from the five they named against Midtjylland in their last Europa League game that saw Sergio Romero in goal behind a defence of Varela, Carrick, Blind and Riley.

LIVERPOOL VS. MAN UTD MEMORIES: It's been a while since we've had a memory, so how about this one from 1994. It went down as one of the early classics from the Premier League era, and rightly so. A Liverpool banner reading 'come back when you've won 18', referencing league titles, would eventually come back to haunt Liverpool years later when United did return with 18 (and more) to their names, but it was Liverpool who were celebrating on the day at Anfield despite the match ending as a draw. United had raced into a 3-0 lead, but Liverpool fought back and drew 3-3, with Neil Ruddock getting the late equaliser.

United, of course, dropped into the Europa League by virtue of not qualifying from their Champions League group this season, which was a major disappointment for the club considering they were handed a relatively kind draw. They certainly went into the group as favourites against Wolfsburg, PSV and CSKA Moscow, but they only managed eight points from their six games to finish third in Group B.

There was a scare for them in the last 32 of this competition too as they fell to an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at the hands of minnows FC Midtjylland in the first leg - a club who were only formed in 1999, when United were winning the treble. They did go on to win that tie 6-3 on aggregate courtesy of as 5-1 win at Old Trafford a week later, although even that wasn't as straightforward as the scoreline suggests. They actually fell behind in that game, but quickly equalised through an own goal and went on to score four times in the second half to pick up the win. There is little doubt that they deserved to progress, but the scoreline did flatter them a bit and Midtjylland gave them a decent test.

They have only competed in the Europa League once before, and were actually on a run of four straight defeats in the competition before their win over Midtjylland in the second leg of the last 32. They also reached the last 16 when they dropped into the competition from the Champions League in 2011-12, but that was as far as they got, with Athletic Bilbao knocking them out on that occasion. Including the UEFA Cup as well, Manchester United have never made it further than the quarter-finals of this competition.

LIVERPOOL VS. MAN UTD MEMORIES: This fixture may not be the first that springs to mind when you think of Manchester United coming from a goal down to win in the dying stages of a match in the 1998-99 season, but they did just that to keep their treble dreams alive. It was even the same player - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - who scored the winning goal in the Champions League final that beat Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup, just as the Reds appeared to be heading through to the fifth round. Here is that winner from the baby-faced assassin.

Manchester United come into this match off the back of a defeat to West Bromwich Albion at the weekend, which went a long way to dampening any of the optimism United fans dared build following a run of four consecutive victories in all competition. The Red Devils were up against it from the 26th minute when Juan Mata picked up a second yellow card in quick succession to receive the first red of his career, but United teams of the past would not have given up after that. This team did seem to lose a little hope, however, and in a game of few chances it was Rondon's goal just past the hour - having been given far too much room inside the United area - that proved to be the difference.

That means that United have now failed to win 11 of their last 16 Premier League games, which is not good enough for a side who began the campaign with ambitions of perhaps challenging for the title. Much like Liverpool, they have struggled for consistency throughout the season, with five wins, five draws and six defeats from those 16 league games. The four consecutive wins had helped in that regard, with that run including back-to-back league wins for the first time since November, but the result against West Brom just brought that all crashing back down to earth.

Their away form will be a concern too. They have only won one of their last five away games in all competitions, and that came against League One outfit Shrewsbury in the FA Cup. They have lost three of their last four outings on the road and only won four of their last 15, which includes five draws and six defeats too - again, not good enough for a side of United's calibre. Throughout the season they have failed to win 14 of their 22 away games, and they haven't beaten top-flight opposition on their travels since their last visit to Anfield in January.

LIVERPOOL VS. MAN UTD MEMORIES: One of the most memorable matches between these two sides in recent years came when both were tussling for the title in 2009, and while it is a day Nemanja Vidic and United fans will want to forget, Liverpool fans won't be quick to let them. Fernando Torres ran Vidic ragged to help Liverpool to a 4-1 victory at Old Trafford - their heaviest home defeat for 17 years. United did get the last laugh by going on to pip Liverpool to the title, though.

United may not have great experience in terms of this competition, but they have a manager who has been there and done it before. Louis van Gaal won the UEFA Cup with Ajax way back in 1992, and also steered the Dutch giants to the Champions League title in 1995 too. As a club, though, they have won none of their last five away knockout matches in Europe, drawing one and losing four. Tonight is the first of a big spell of matches for United, with an FA Cup match against West Ham coming up at the weekend and the Manchester derby a week later too, so ending that poor away knockout record in Europe this evening would be a timely boost for the Red Devils.

These two sides are the most successful in English football history, with 38 league titles between them, and they are also the most successful in European competition. While United get the edge when it comes to domestic silverware, Liverpool boast the upper hand in Europe with five European Cups to United's three. As already mentioned, United have also never won this competition, while Liverpool won it three times as the UEFA Cup - more than any other English side.

There would be a special place in the history books should United go on to win the competition this year. It is the only major UEFA club trophy to have eluded the club so far, and if they are able to claim it then they would be just the fifth time in history to have won the three major European titles - the European Cup/Champions League, the UEFA Cup/Europa League and the Cup Winners' Cup. Ajax, Bayern Munich, Juventus and Chelsea are the only clubs who can boast the accolade at the moment, and it is a club that Liverpool will never be able to join due to the fact that they did not win the now-defunct Cup Winners' Cup.

PREDICTION: We're just under 10 minutes away from kickoff at Anfield for this special occasion, which means that it is time for a prediction! This is undoubtedly a special occasion, but the concern is that the match could not quite live up to it. First legs are often more cagey affairs and, with neither side exactly a vintage crop from either club's history, I am expected quite a tight game tonight. I'll go for a 1-0 home victory.

Manchester United have the edge over the previous 194 meetings between these two sides, and that has been particularly true in recent season. Indeed, Louis van Gaal has a 100% record against Liverpool as United boss and is tonight looking to become the first United manager in history to win five in a row against their biggest rivals. He may have received plenty of stick during his time in charge, but if he manages that then there will always be a small place for him in the hearts of United fans!

The most recent meeting between these two sides came here at Anfield in January, and it was a true smash-and-grab job from Manchester United to steal all three points. Liverpool had the better of the vast majority of the game, but Wayne Rooney popped up with a 78th-minute winner - United's only shot on target - to give the Red Devils all three points. Liverpool have not beaten United since a 3-0 win at Old Trafford almost two years ago when Gerrard scored two penalties and missed another, while their last victory over United at Anfield came back in September 2013.

We're just minutes away from kickoff in this match now, and there is a special atmosphere inside Anfield tonight. It is Liverpool vs. Manchester United, five European Cups against three, and Jurgen Klopp against Louis van Gaal. Let's hope the pre-match handshakes go something like this...

KICKOFF: Here we go then! Anfield is rocking as United get us underway looking to take a positive result back into the second leg at Old Trafford next week.

CHANCE! A chance for the visitors inside 15 seconds! Memphis gets in behind Clyne down the left and puts a cross into the middle that is too high for Moreno to cut out. Rashford is there, but seems to be a little surprised that the ball arrives to him and can't make anything of it.

YELLOW CARD! This referee has a reputation for being card-happy, and he has taken less than two minutes to go to his pocket. It goes to Henderson for a yellow card that probably wouldn't have even been a foul in the Premier League.

Good possession and pressure early on from Liverpool as they knock the ball about in and around the United area. No chances come from it, but this is an encouraging start for the home side.

Interestingly, Rashford has started out on the right flank in this match, with Martial leading the line. That means that it is Varela and Rashford down that side of the pitch for United - an inexperienced pairing for such a big occasion to say the least!

The referee was quick to his pocket with that Henderson challenge, but he has resisted the temptation to give a couple more since. Both Can and Moreno could have gone into the book early on, and the Reds need to calm down with their challenges a bit.

The opening 10 minutes of this game have been played at a decent tempo, with both sides looking to press high up the field when the other has possession.

There has been nothing to separate these two sides in the opening stages of this match. Rashford's early half-chance is the only sight of goal so far, and we are yet to have a shot from either side.

There have been a couple of occasions in which Varela has followed Coutinho a long way inside already tonight, almost as if he has been told to do a man-marking job on the Brazilian. That could leave them exposed down the wing, though, with Rashford the only defender on the flank in Varela's absence.

Can looks to drive forward from midfield to make something happen, but it is all very congested in the middle there. There is no room for either side to do anything at the moment.

Liverpool do finally find a bit of space, with Coutinho flicking the ball into the path of Moreno. He drives forward down the left and sends a low ball into the box that finds Sturridge at the back post. He slides it back towards Henderson storming in, but Lallana collects it instead and the attack fizzles out.

First blood goes to Liverpool! The referee points to the spot after Memphis had had a little tug at Clyne right on the edge of the penalty area, and perhaps clipping the heels as well. The initial contact was outside the area, though, and it is a harsh one for the visitors. Memphis is shown a card, but the real punishment comes as Sturridge plants his penalty past De Gea, who got a hand to it but couldn't keep it out.

That has cranked the volume up another notch inside Anfield, and Liverpool's players seem to have been given a boost too. They smell some blood here and are looking for a second in quick succession.

CHANCE! Oh my word, it should be two! Sturridge dances into the area and drags a shot towards goal that turns out to be a better cross. Coutinho is coming in at the back post and simply has to stroke it home for a simple finish. However, he goes with the outside of his boot and scuffs the finish, which allows De Gea to claw it away off the line. Very good save from De Gea, but what a miss from Coutinho!

United need to settle things down here. They are on the ropes and are fortunate to still be within one after that Coutinho miss. Liverpool are looking dangerous here and if United don't improve quickly then this match - perhaps even the tie - could be beyond them sooner rather than later.

Howard Webb has just given his expert opinion that the referee was right to award the penalty, but it is another spot kick for Liverpool that is sure to create plenty of debate!

He loves playing Manchester United!

5 - Daniel Sturridge has scored five times and assisted another goal in his last seven games v Manchester United in all comps. Update. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 10, 2016

Sakho completely messes up an attempted clearance and lunges in to try to atone for the error, but again misses the ball. Mata is there too and another player may have gone down in the area, but to Mata's credit he stays on his feet.

CHANCE! Another huge chance for Liverpool, but once again it is De Gea to the rescue. It is dreadful from Smalling as he slips when going for a header clear, which sees it fall to Sturridge on the left side of the area. He tries to put his foot through it, but De Gea is there to make a big stop.

That is another chance that Liverpool probably should have scored, although it wasn't as bad a miss as Coutinho's earlier. It could quite easily be 3-0 to the hosts already, though, and United have De Gea to thank for still being in this tie.

A big diagonal ball is played to Fellaini, and it is enough to win a free kick off Lovren in a dangerous position. It is just out of shooting range, but a good chance to put the ball in the box...

...Well, Memphis does go for goal in the end, but there is nothing for Mignolet to worry about as the ball swerves well wide.

Jurgen Klopp will be delighted with what he has seen from his side so far, but there is also the air of a missed opportunity around this first half at the moment. They should be leading by at least two, and they will know all too well from the last meeting at Anfield that a failure to take their chances against United can prove costly.

As things stand, though, it is just the one goal that separates the sides, and here is the man who got it from the penalty spot.

© Getty Images

SAVE! Another save from De Gea as Firmino fires the ball in from the right and Lallana turns the ball towards goal from point-blank range. De Gea's reactions come to the fore this time, however, as he denies the midfielder.

YELLOW CARD: Another card, this time for Lovren as the referee pulls play back after initially playing advantage.

YELLOW CARD! Rashford also goes into the book for a foul on Moreno.

The first half comes to an end at Anfield, then, and it is Liverpool who go into the break with the lead following a dominant first-half display. They will be delighted with their performance so far, but United may also be quite happy at this points as the deficit is only one. They could quite easily be out of this tie already.

The only goal of the game came from the penalty spot after Memphis had been penalised for pulling down Clyne right on the edge of the area. The referee took a while to make his decision before eventually pointing to the spot, and it is a decision that will divide opinion. The replays show that there is contact into the penalty area, but it is easy to see why many will think it was a soft decision.

It should be 3-0 to Liverpool, though, or at the very least 2-0. Coutinho missed a golden chance moments after the Reds took the lead in which he simply had to score. Sturridge's dragged shot found the Brazilian at the back post and it should have been a simple finish, but he scuffed his shot from close range and De Gea was able to claw it away off the line.

It is no exaggeration to say that De Gea has kept United in this tie, despite only being a quarter of the way through the two-legged affair. That Coutinho save was followed by another to thwart Sturridge after Smalling had slipped inside the area when trying to head the ball clear. Sturridge went for power with only the keeper to beat, and De Gea simply made himself big to deny the goalscorer.

There was another important stop from the Spaniard three minutes before the break too when he showed good reactions to deny Lallana. Firmino had put the ball into the middle and Lallana turned it goalwards from close range, but it was straight at the keeper. Even so, De Gea did well to react in time to make the save.

United's only hint of a chance came after just 15 seconds when the ball was crossed in to Rashford in the area. However, the youngster didn't seem to be expecting it and couldn't get a shot away, meaning that United are yet to have a go at goal in this match.

KICKOFF: Liverpool get us back underway for the second half here, and unsurprisingly after that first half United have made a change. On comes Michael Carrick in place of Rashford.

Interestingly, United have gone for a back three in this second half, with Carrick slotting into the defence alongside Smalling and Rojo. Blind has moved out to left wing-back, while Varela remains out on the right.

YELLOW CARD! The referee goes to his pocket for the fifth time tonight, and it is Coutinho who goes into the book for simulation.

SAVE! United finally call Mignolet into a save as Schneiderlin lets fly from 25 yards. It is easy for the Liverpool keeper, but at least it is a shot for the visitors.

It's been better in terms of possession from Manchester United so far in this second half, but they are still struggling to make any serious headway against the Liverpool defence and they don't exactly have great attacking options on the bench either.

SAVE! Another Liverpool shot, another fine De Gea save. It is Coutinho who lets fly with a thunderbolt of an effort towards goal, but De Gea is across to tip the ball over the crossbar. That looked to be dipping just in.

If United get anything out of this game, or even escape with just a 1-0 defeat tonight, then it will be De Gea they go to first to thank. He has looked unbeatable from open play so far.

United have settled things down at the very least in this second half. Their attacking threat is still limited, but they are seeing more of the ball and a 1-0 defeat would not be the worst result for them tonight so they don't have to throw caution to the wind and go for a goal.

YELLOW CARD! Fellaini is the latest name in the book following a wild swipe against Clyne, although he didn't actually make any contact with the full-back!

A rare attacking threat from United as Memphis cuts inside from the left flank before sliding a pass in to Martial, who has beaten the offside trap. He can't take the ball into his path, though, and his mis-control allows Liverpool to clear.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Interesting change from Klopp here as Joe Allen comes on in place of Sturridge.

United will be feeling a lot better about themselves right now. They are seeing much more of the ball at the moment and are matching Liverpool, whereas in the first half the hosts were by far the better team. To be at that stage with just a one-goal deficit is something of a result for the visitors.

SAVE! Another stop from De Gea as Clyne winds one up from 25 yards, driving a powerful strike towards goal. It is central for De Gea, but is also moving all over the place so De Gea takes no risks in punching it away.

CLOSE! Another chance for Liverpool! Lallana comes down the left channel and reaches the byline before pulling the ball back for Henderson. The skipper opens his body and tries to steer it into the far top corner, but it flies just off target.

Rojo is penalised right on the edge of his own area for a high foot, despite getting the ball. Again, a harsh one, although Henderson will be wondering why that isn't a yellow card when his in the opening minutes was. It's an indirect free kick...

Coutinho shapes up as if to shoot, but then cross the ball instead. United clear the danger, but Liverpool are right back on the attack and win a corner...

That comes to nothing, but the momentum has swung back in Liverpool's favour in this match. All that is missing is a second goal.

It's not missing any more! Liverpool have their second, and it is another goal for Firmino! It is a terrible mistake from Carrick as he fails to clear the danger from Henderson's cross into the box, giving it straight to Lallana. He keeps his composure in the box to play the ball to Firmino, who strokes it home from close range.

The atmosphere is absolutely electric now. The fans know how big that second goal is, putting the tie very much in Liverpool's hands, and there is no doubt that they deserve it.

Liverpool want a third here. United's main priority right now is damage limitation - another goal conceded here could well be tie over before we even get to Old Trafford next week.

MAN UTD SUBS: A double change for the visitors here as Schneiderlin and Mata make way to be replaced by Bastian Schweinsteiger, making his return from injury, and Ander Herrera.

Liverpool fans want a red card for Fellaini after he tugged down Coutinho, but the referee is right to ignore the calls. I wouldn't bet against him getting a second yellow in these closing stages, though!

LIVERPOOL SUB: A change for the home side here, and it is Firmino who makes way to be replaced by Divock Origi.

CLOSE! United finally come close to a goal after 85 minutes of play. It comes via the aerial route and the ball is pumped in towards Fellaini, who climbs above Lovren but steers his header narrowly wide.

Fellaini is walking a disciplinary tightrope here. He is penalised for a foul very similar to the one Henderson was booked for in the opening minutes, but the referee keeps his card in his pocket.

It is certainly not tie over at 2-0, but United will need to be much, much better at Old Trafford if they are to recover this. They may even be a little relived at coming away from this match with only a two-goal deficit - it could be a lot worse for them.

There will be two added minutes at the end of this first leg.

It is Liverpool celebrating at the full-time whistle after that performance, as they put one foot in the quarter-finals of the Europa League with a 2-0 victory over Manchester United. In truth, the visitors were dreadful this evening, and they will come away from Anfield feeling relieved that it is only two goals. De Gea kept the score down, but a penalty from Daniel Sturridge and a second-half Roberto Firmino strike are enough to give Liverpool a big advantage at the halfway stage of the tie.

That is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's historic occasion as Liverpool and Manchester United met in Europe for the first time, and it is Liverpool who came out on top with a 2-0 lead to take into next week's second leg at Old Trafford. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction from both camps. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!