Liverpool U19s 2-0 Manchester United U19s, RESULT: Ben Woodburn and Rafael Camacho steer Reds into UEFA Youth League quarter-finals

The full-time whistle at Prenton Park and it is Liverpool who get the better of their rivals Manchester United to progress to the last eight of the UEFA Europa League.

Ben Woodburn headed them into an early lead and Rafael Camacho curled home a lovely second goal and it's a deserved win. 

Liverpool will now travel to Manchester City in the quarter-finals.

A third and final Liverpool change will wind down a few seconds. Ben Woodburn, scored of the opening goal here, is replaced by Glen McAuley. 

Woodburn gets a well-deserved round of applause for his efforts.

United, to their credit, continuing to push in search of a route back into the game. Liverpool have gone all defensive and Ethan Hamilton has just seen a cross-cum-shot pushed away by keeper Grabara. 

Nicky Butt with a final roll of the dice with two substitutions here...

James Garner is off for Nishan Burkart, while Lee O'Connor is replaced by D'Mani Bughail-Mellor

Another player into the book, this time it's Liverpool's Neco Williams, who went in hard on Ethan Hamilton as they went for the ball. 

A Liverpool sub, meanwhile, as Thomas Clayton replaces Liam Millar for the final stages.

That may settle it! What a fantastic goal by Rafael Camacho and the substitute has made the desired impact for Liverpool by killing the contest.

He picked up the ball wide right of the box, cut inside and curled home a beautiful looping effort from just outside the box that flew over United's keeper and nestled into the net.

The Liverpool players flock to celebrate with him in the corner and if that proves the match-winner it's a very nice way to achieve it.

Liverpool attack on the counter, with Curtis Jones again breaking clear down the left after Herbie Kane set him free. Neither a cross, nor a shot and it goes across goal and wide.

Chong becoming increasingly influential for United. He runs about 40 yards into the Liverpool box before releasing Ethan Laird in support. His low cross is whacked clear but United knocking on the door.

And moments later, Chong lets fly from 20 yards, a curling effort that goes just wide of the near post.

Liverpool making a change as Bobby Adekanye hobbles off and is replaced by Rafael Camacho for the last 20 minutes or so. Adekanye has really put in a shift today and, by the looks of it, has acquired a few bruises as well. 

Chance for United midway through this second-half. Angel Gomes floated a lovely free-kick into the Liverpool box and there was Ro-Shaun Williams forward, in between two defenders, to get off a header. Straight into the keeper's gloves.

Nice effort by Curtis Jones. A curled, low shot from just outside the box that was sneaking into the bottom corner before United keeper Fojticek got down to push it around the post. Important save. Jones used the cover of two United defenders well there to get his shot off.

A change now for Man United as Tyrell Warren, who is on a yellow card, is taken off and George Tanner comes on.

A bustling run into the United box by Bobby Adekanye, who gets past a couple of defenders but then overhits his pass and United keeper Fojticek races out to clear with his feet. 

Liverpool with a rare moment of dalliance at the back and Chong almost pounces to equalise for United. His shot is heading towards goal but it's cleared right in front of the line. 

James Garner is exceedingly fortunate to get away with a booking. Curtis Jones had turned and was about to break away down the touchline after evading Garner's slide tackle, but the United man then ankle tapped him and sent him sprawling. No yellow.

Tyrell Warren goes into the book for a rash challenge close to the touchline.

Positive start to the second half for United, who carve out an opening inside the first minute of the period. Ethan Laird charged forward and slotted a pass into Aidan Barlow, he aims fort he far corner and it needs a full-stretch dive from Liverpool keeper Grabara to push it away.

The second-half is underway at Prenton Park. Liverpool lead thanks to that Ben Woodburn goal on 11 minutes.

YESTERDAY
Manchester City 1-1 Inter Milan
Man City won 3-2 on penalties
Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 Barcelona

TODAY
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Monaco
Porto 1-0 Red Bull Salzburg
Liverpool 1-0 Manchester United (Latest)
Atletico Madrid 0-0 Basle (Latest)
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid (5pm)
Chelsea vs Feyenoord (7pm)

An absorbing first-half comes to a close at Prenton Park and it's Liverpool who deservedly lead against Man United. Ben Woodburn's early header is their only reward for their control so far, but they might have scored more given their pressure.

However, United almost levelled when Tahith Chong rattled the post five minutes before the break, while Joshua Bohui also missed a great chance.

All to play for after the break.

Now it's Liverpool's turn to strike the woodwork. Space opened up for Dixon-Bonner some 30 yards from goal and his shot took a deflection, looped up and clipped the top of the crossbar. 

Liverpool inches away from a second.

United have sprung into life all of a sudden. This time it's Joshua Bohui weaving his way into the Liverpool box down the left channel, twisting and turning, and then going for goal and blazing over.

There are anguished shouts from the United players in the middle but Bohui had every right to try and finish the chance he created. United in this contest all of a sudden. 

That is the first time United have created anything in this first-half but they are just millimetres from drawing level! 

It was Chong's effort from the edge of the box, really well struck first time running onto a right-side cross, that cannons back off the upright and the Liverpool keeper Grabara had no chance of keeping that out. 

Very unlucky for United, that chance coming from absolutely nowhere.

Another Liverpool chance following a really nice move. First, Neco Williams and Bobby Adekanye play a one-two on the right and Williams cross finds Herbie Kane, who touches it to Curtis Jones.

Jones fires a shot across the keeper and it's heading in until Tyrell Warren hacks it off the line.

Liverpool come forward again, working the ball down the left wing until Ben Woodburn is teed up by Liam Millar on the edge of the box. The captain was just leaning back a little too much and his effort goes over the top. 

United just trying to get a little bit of possession and draw the sting from the game. They've been comprehensively second best in the opening half-hour but remain just a goal behind. 

Gerrard a little more animated on the touchline as a consequence.

Dominic King at Prenton Park: A measure of how laboured Manchester United have been so far – Nicky Butt has just whacked the top of the dugout in frustration. He’s spent the opening 20 minutes imploring his players to move up the pitch but they have found it impossible as Liverpool have hemmed them in.

The Liverpool physio on to treat Bobby Adekanye, who was on the receiving end of a late tackle by Tyrell Warren. No booking this time but a definite edge to this game. 

United coach Nicky Butt comes into his technical area to issue some instructions. They certainly need a wake-up call following this start to the game.

We've seen a few late challenges as you expect in these fixtures but United's Aidan Barlow is the first name in the book for a studs up foul on George Johnston. 

Almost an almighty calamity by United defender Ro-Shaun Williams, whose back pass is underhit and almost allows Liverpool in for a second. United manage to scramble it clear after Herbie Kane's volley was blocked right in front of goal.

Another attack and another chance for the hosts. The ball fell nicely to Curtis Jones inside the box, but he didn't have too much of the goal to aim at. In the end, his effort was snatched and skewed wide of the target.

United still haven't got going here and Liverpool are now pressing for a second goal. Adekanye and Liam Millar both attempt to force openings inside the United box before they are finally snuffed out.

Dominic King at Prenton Park: Liverpool's bright start pays off with the opening goal, scored by Ben Woodburn. He could have left Anfield during the window, with Sunderland and Leeds both eager to take him on loan, but Liverpool felt his development would be better served on Merseyside. The Wales international is the key figure in this Under-19 team.

Liverpool have been exerting pressure right from the outset here and now they have a deserved advantage. 

Neco Williams had space on the right and, for a moment, looked as though he would let off a shot. Instead he swung across an inviting delivery and there was the captain Woodburn, evading the offside trap and the United defenders, to guide home a great header.

The United keeper did get a hand to it, but could only push it into the net. There is no reaction from Steven Gerrard on the sidelines whatsoever, but internally I'm sure he'll be delighted.

That's a painful one - Elijah Dixon-Bonner with a high and clumsy challenge on Angel Gomes close to the touchline. The Liverpool man concedes a free-kick but there is no further punishment.

Liverpool have certainly made the brighter start here and they win their second corner of the opening minutes.

Herbie Kane delivers and United can only semi-clear. It almost falls to Adekanye again, but he can't turn with his back to goal and Ro-Shaun Williams, the United skipper, clears.

A fairly low key opening as both teams get a feel for the ball. No chances as yet, through Bobby Adekanye almost had the ball fall nicely for him inside the United box. A follow-up by Ben Woodburn was blocked.

Dominic King at Prenton Park: The noise would be ear-splitting if this was a senior clash but it’s quite a surreal atmosphere here. There are only a couple of hundred spectators squeezed into the corner of the Main Stand and you can hear every instruction and every shout from the pitch. We’re just underway and Liverpool will be aiming to make home advantage count.

A quick handshake between the coaches Steven Gerrard and Nicky Butt and United get us started at Prenton Park with Tahith Chong kicking off.

Some readers may be wondering why England's World Cup hero Rhian Brewster isn't in the Liverpool side. He suffered a nasty knee injury last month and is currently on the treatment table.

Here they come... led by referee Tiago Martins from Portugal, the two teams walk out at a very empty Prenton Park. Just a few hundred inside the ground by the looks of things, but then it is a 3pm kick-off on a Wednesday afternoon!

Liverpool in their usual colours of all-red this afternoon, while United are in their all-whtie away strip.

Almost ready for the kick-off at Prenton Park, just 10 minutes now. The two sets of players going through their final preparations in the changing rooms and the crowd taking their seats.

Tottenham have held their nerve to win the penalty shoot-out 3-1 and become the second English club through into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Youth League. Well done to them.

Half-an-hour until we get underway at Prenton Park.

Just a reminder that we will go straight to a penalty shoot-out if we are level after 90 minutes. There is NO extra time.

That's what happened yesterday when Manchester City played Inter Milan, with City winning 3-2 in the shoot-out. The winner of the Liverpool vs Man United game will play City next.

And, as it stands, the Tottenham vs Monaco game currently ongoing at Stevenage will also go to penalties. It's 1-1 in stoppage time. 

Here's what the Liverpool coach Steven Gerrard told their official club website ahead of the game.

On coming up against Butt...
'I wasn’t aware of that until the actual draw. I know he’s their academy manager but he has taken this team. He’s a good lad is Nicky and I enjoyed being in the England squad around him. He was a good player and it’s great to see that he has stayed in the game and I’m sure he has a lot to offer.

'It will be a good battle from the dugouts but once the team is picked, it’s up to them to go and produce the goods. I’m sure whoever turns up and puts in the best display will qualify.'

On the thrill of Liverpool vs Man United matches...
'You’ve got realise it’s Manchester United and there’s a lot at stake. It’s a 50-50 game and this is one that would be tough to get over if it doesn’t go your way – that’s just the way it is.

'It is one of those fixtures that is a little bit juicier and there’s a lot more riding on it because of the rivalry. You have to deal with that, take that responsibility on the chin and manage it.

'Of course we don’t want players going in and doing anything stupid and getting sent off, like we’ve experienced in a couple of games, but at the same time we’ve got to have the players right on the edge.'

Here's what the United coach Nicky Butt had to say to the club's official website ahead of the fixture:

'I think it's a really good competition for the kids. When I was growing up, with Stevie, the biggest game you play in is the FA Youth Cup at that level. Even though that's big, the next thing the big clubs want to win is European Cups - it's the pinnacle really.

'First and foremost, you want to win your domestic league but the Champions League has a real aura and prestige about it. Like Stevie has said, I'm the same and I would love to have played in a game like this.

'I say it to my lads all the time - they should be really passionate about these games as they're so special and it's a small insight into the first team and what some of their heroes do week in and week out.

'These are big games - there's not getting away from it. Whenever you play your rivals, whether you're 12 years old, or 36 or 37 at the end of your career, it's massive.

'Certainly for me, when I was a player, it was the first game I looked for on the fixture list when I was on holiday. They know how important it is and how passionate it is going to be.

'Ultimately, Steven Gerrard and his coaching staff will be saying the same to them. They're very much like us, with a massive history in Europe, very passionate about their city and the football club, like we are.

'They're getting the same messages as us and we need to go right from the first whistle and not leave anything on the pitch."

Manchester United have taken a more circuitous route to this last-16 stage.

They finished second to the Swiss side Basle in Group A and, under the format of the Youth League, second-placed sides have to get through a play-off round to continue.

United and Basle finished on 11 points apiece, but the Swiss team had the edge on away goals in the head-to-head following their 4-3 loss in Manchester on matchday one.

In the end, it was the two draws against Benfica in the middle of the group fixtures that cost United.

However, they successfully negotiated a play-off match against Serbian side Brodarac, winning 2-0 to make it into the last-16 stage.

RESULTS
September 12 - Manchester United 4 Basle 3
September 27 - CSKA Moscow 1 Manchester United 2
October 18 - Benfica 2 Manchester United 2
October 31 - Manchester United 1 Benfica 1
November 22 - Basle 2 Manchester United 1
December 5 - Manchester United 1 CSKA Moscow 0

PLAY-OFF
February 7 - Brodarac 0 Manchester United 2

It was a pretty straightforward passage through to the knockout stages for Liverpool, who recorded five wins from six to top group E in the UEFA Youth League.

Among the highlights were home and away 4-0 wins over Sevilla which underlined the positive effect Gerrard has had on the side.

Unfortunately there were unpleasant incidents during the two matches against Spartak Moscow.

In the away match, which Liverpool lost 2-1, Bobby Adekanye was subjected to racial abuse from a section of the crowd, which led to UEFA handing down the rather pathetic punishment of 500 empty seats at Spartak's next game.

And in the return game in December, striker Rhian Brewster was racially abused by one of the Spartak players and had to be restrained at the final whistle.

RESULTS

September 13 - Liverpool 4 Sevilla 0
September 26 - Spartak Moscow 2 Liverpool 1
October 17 - Maribor 1 Liverpool 4
November 1 - Liverpool 3 Maribor 0
November 21 - Sevilla 0 Liverpool 4
December 6 - Liverpool 2 Spartak Moscow 0

Ties will be played on March 13-14

Bayern Munich/Real Madrid vs Chelsea/Feyenoord
Manchester City vs Liverpool/Manchester United
Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid/Basle
Tottenham Hotspur/Monaco vs Porto/Red Bull Salzburg

YESTERDAY
Manchester City 1-1 Inter Milan
Man City won 3-2 on penalties
Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 Barcelona

TODAY
Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Monaco (Latest)
Porto 1-0 Red Bull Salzburg (Latest)
Liverpool vs Manchester United (3pm)
Atletico Madrid vs Basle (3pm)
Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid (5pm)
Chelsea vs Feyenoord (7pm)

Alex Fojticek; Ethan Laird, Ro-Shaun Williams (c), Tyrell Warren, Lee O'Connor; Ethan Hamilton, James Garner, Tahith Chong; Angel Gomes, Joshua Bohui, Aidan Barlow

Substitutes: Matej Kovar, George Tanner, Indy Boonen, Luca Ercolani, Nishan Burkart, Brandon Willians, D'Mani Bughail-Mellor

Coach: Nicky Butt

I've included the first names of the players as well in case you're not familiar with them: 

Kamil Grabara; Neco Williams, Conor Masterson, George Johnston, Adam Lewis; Elijah Dixon-Bonner, Herbie Kane; Bobby Adekanye, Ben Woodburn (c), Curtis Jones; Liam Millar

Substitutes: Vitezslav Jaros (GK); Rhys Williams, Thomas Clayton, Morgan Boyes, Yasser Larouci, Rafael Camacho, Glen McAuley

Coach: Steven Gerrard

It's always been one of the hottest rivalries in club football. Two proud cities in England's north-west. Two football teams with formidable pedigrees on the domestic and European scene. Two famous names known the world over.

This afternoon, Liverpool and Manchester United resume their rivalry at under-19 level as they meet in the last-16 of the UEFA Youth League. 

It's just one leg in this competition, so we'll have a winner today even if it goes to penalties.

A place in the quarter-finals and the prospect of an away tie against Manchester City awaits the winner today.

And another intriguing aspect to this one is that two former club rivals - and England team-mates - will go head-to-head in the dug-outs. Steven Gerrard is the coach of Liverpool, Nicky Butt is in charge of Manchester United.

Kick-off is at 3pm at Tranmere's Prenton Park. Bring it on!