Daniel Sturridge and Roberto Firmino were on target, as Liverpool beat Manchester United 2-0 at Anfield on Thursday to take the initiative in the Europa League Round of 16 tie.
In the first-ever European meeting between two sides who share eight European Cups between them, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool hold the advantage after outrunning and outfighting an off-form United in the first leg.
Liverpool opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 20 minutes, as Sturridge netted his fifth goal in seven games against United following Spanish referee Carlos Velasco Carballo’s controversial decision to penalise Memphis for an innocuous pull on Nathaniel Clyne in the area.
And they doubled their lead 17 minutes from time, when Firmino swept home from close range from Adam Lallana’s pass after Michael Carrick had only half cleared Jordan Henderson’s cross from the right.
The two sides meet again in the second leg next Thursday, but Liverpool could have been out of sight ahead of the return tie at Old Trafford had United goalkeeper David de Gea not produced a series of fine saves to deny Sturridge, Lallana and Philippe Coutinho.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund have one foot in the quarter- finals of the Europa League after trouncing Tottenham 3-0 in a one-sided game in Germany.
Spurs manager, Mauricio Pochettino, fielded a reserve-packed side, in the light of his team’s push for the Premier League title, but the move backfired leaving the Londoners with a mountain to climb in next week’s second leg at White Hart Lane.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring for Dortmund before Germany striker Marco Reus grabbed a second-half brace with two magnificent finishes.
“I’m disappointed with our performance,” Pochettino told BT Sport.
“We need to fight in the return leg next week. This was our first time losing 3-0 this season. We need to be calm and be sure it doesn’t happen again.”
