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As it happenedended

Manchester United 1 Liverpool 1 - as it happened: Philippe Coutinho and Anthony Martial on target

Follow every kick of the round-of-16 second leg as the two rivals play for a quarter-final place

Mark Critchley
Old Trafford
Thursday 17 March 2016 15:31 EDT
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Philippe Coutinho celebrates his goal against Manchester United
Philippe Coutinho celebrates his goal against Manchester United (GETTY IMAGES)

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Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Manchester United vs Liverpool, live from Old Trafford.

Follow live updates from Old Trafford with the live blog below...

Europa League round of 16 first leg results

Borussia Dortmund 3 Tottenham Hotspur 0

Basel 0 Sevilla 0

Fenerbahce 1 Sporting Braga 0

Shakthar Donetsk 3 Anderlecht 1

Athletic Bilbao 1 Valencia 0

Liverpool 2 Manchester United 0

Sparta Prague 1 Lazio 1

Villarreal 2 Bayer Leverkusen 0

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Manchester United vs Liverpool, live from Old Trafford!

So, first things first, you might be wondering, why did we bother turning up? After all, Jurgen Klopp's side were so vibrant last Thursday, so brilliant, so dominant and so effervescent in their performance, that they all but guaranteed their place in the Europa League's quarter-finals.

Right? That may be the way the narrative's spun this past week but, with Liverpool only possessing a two-goal advantage, there's plenty more than pride to play for tonight. 

It's a meeting under the lights between two historic rivals who rarely play each other before they've had their tea. Unlike many recent encounters, the result matters. And in any case, it's Manchester United and Liverpool. We had to be here.

There's just over an hour until kick-off, team news coming soon, stay with us for updates...

Mark Critchley17 March 2016 18:52

Predictions, then? Do we think this is as done a deal as is being made or, buoyed by that draw with West Ham at the weekend, can Louis van Gaal's United once again turn it on against one of the bigger sides?

Mark Critchley17 March 2016 19:31

Liverpool's Europa League form this season:DDDWWDDWW9 goals5 clean sheets4 conceded"BOOM!" https://t.co/AGwm8xgzm862cc095b-60f1-4476-8e9a-1f8f310d0045.jpg

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Mark Critchley17 March 2016 19:37

18 min: Chances for Manchester United.

First, Jesse Lingard meets Marcos Rojo's cross from wide with his head but should direct it a lot better. Simon Mignolet, not one to pull off an easy save when a difficult one will do, turns it round his post acrobatically.

From the resulting corner, chaotic defending presents Juan Mata with a sight of goal, but he scuffs his volley wide.

Mark Critchley17 March 2016 20:28

22 min: Another United chance!

Excellent work from Marcus Rashford in the centre of the field allows him to work the ball out to Anthony Martial. The Frenchman shimmies, earns himself space to shoot then fires way, way over.

Mark Critchley17 March 2016 20:29
Simon Rice17 March 2016 20:57

We're back underway at Old Trafford!

Mark Critchley17 March 2016 21:10
Simon Rice17 March 2016 21:11

50 min: Yellow card for Marouane Fellaini and he's a lucky boy. Another elbow, this time on Dejan Lovren. He should have gone off.

Mark Critchley17 March 2016 21:14

60 min: Coutinho's at it again, dribbling past one, two, three defenders before squaring to Sturridge.The England man, far less composed in possession, shanked his effort wide.

Mark Critchley17 March 2016 21:27

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