Hello and welcome to Eurosport's live commentary from Thursday's Europa League Round of 16 first leg between Liverpool and Manchester United. This is Nick Royle (@nickaroyle) taking you through all the action from Anfield.

It ends Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United, in the first-ever European tie between the North West giants. Daniel Sturridge opened the scoring from the penalty spot, and Roberto Firmino doubled the advantage in the second half. They meet again in the second leg at Old Trafford next Thursday.

Now the whistles start as the Liverpool fans urge referee Carballo to blow the final whistle.

Just two minutes of added-on time at Anfield, as the Kop choir turns up the volume.

Clyne does brilliantly to track back and win the ball off Blind - Liverpool have worked so hard tonight.

Lallana has been excellent, as have Coutinho and Henderson. It says much that United's best player has been de Gea.

Origi's pace forces Carrick to concede a corner. Lovren's header from Henderson's cross is poor and United have the ball.

Liverpool win a free-kick as Fellaini fouls Henderson to the roars of the Kop. Henderson's drilled free-kick finds Clyne, but Schweinsteiger clears.

Schweinsteiger swings the ball in but Fellaini misses, with Mignolet and Lovren failing to track the Belgian's run.

The Belgian replaces the impressive Firmino, who has been excellent tonight.

Movement on the Liverpool bench, and it looks like Origi is coming on.

Apologies - I put the wrong tweet in earlier. This is the Firmino goal...

Herrera and Schweinsteiger replace Mata and Schneiderlin in midfield for United.

Allen is penalised for a foul as Lallana sends in the corner.

Coutinho skips past Varela, and then Allen wins the corner as Carrick is forced to put the ball out under pressure.

Henderson makes a strong challenge to take the ball off Martial. The Liverpool skipper has been excellent tonight.

This is some atmosphere now at Anfield - but it can all change if United can nick an away goal.

Smoke bombs go off as the Liverpool fans celebrate, and Anfield is a sea of red.

GOAL: Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United. Firmino taps in from Lallana's pass after Carrick fails to clear Henderson's cross from the right.

Liverpool can't make anything of the corner, and Lovren's follow-up cross is easily caught by de Gea.

Coutinho slips as he hits the free-kick and the chance is wasted. From the second phase, Rojo concedes a corner under pressure from Firmino.