Paulo Dybala races on to a ball through the middle of the Brighton defence, goes around the goalkeeper and slots into an empty net.

The flag has gone up but has Tariq Lamptey played him on? We go for a VAR check and it's very tight.

Nervous moments for Brighton...

A long throw-in causes Liverpool problems but they then pump a long ball up the pitch that Darwin Nunez is just short of reaching.

Not much action since the goal. Lukas Haraslin has fouled and been fouled and yeah that's about it.

Alexis Mac Allister has scored nine of his 10 penalties for English clubs (eight goals for Brighton - one for Liverpool).

Image source, Getty Images

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea and Scotland winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

We said before the game Liverpool wanted this done and dusted as early as possible, but steady on - what a start this is. They won the penalty brilliantly and they will keep closing them down. They might get a few more goals soon.

Simon Adingra twists and turns inside the Roma penalty area and his cross takes a massive deflection off of Evan N'Dicka and the ball could go anywhere. It bounces off the outside of the post and Roma survive.

Brighton are unable to do anything of note from the following corner but encouraging for Roberto de Zerbi's side.

Villa winger Moussa Diaby tries to beat his man on the right but runs it behind for a goal-kick. A rare start for him after being usurped in the regular league XI.

Sparta Prague have Liverpool a huge chance and then a penalty from eejiting round in the box in the first six minutes. Nightmare start.

Almost a dream start for Roma. Leonardo Spinazzola has so much space and surges down the left flank, he crosses and Romelu Lukaku gets the jump on Lewis Dunk, rises so well and powers a header at goal.

But Jason Steele does excellently to tip the ball over the bar to keep it goalless. It's an amazing atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico and Brighton will be wanting to just stay in the tie before the second leg in England.

Oh Asger Sorensen, what have you done?

He should deal with the ball in the box but he lets Alexis Mac Allister get a touch first and then brings him down.

Penalty to the green and whites.

Offside flag goes up against Ajax striker Brian Brobbey as he runs onto a long ball over the top. Emiliano Martinez deals with it anyway.

Not a bad bench....

Image source, Getty Images

Big chance missed by Darwin Nunez of Liverpool. Super sloppy Sparta defending gives the big man the ball in the box.

He goes round the keeper but his shot isn't the strongest and it's cleared before it reaches the goal. I don't even think it's on target.

Brighton's Facundo Buonanotte is the youngest Argentine player to start in an Europa League knockout stage game (19 years 75 days), as well as the first teenager from Argentina to do so.

Meanwhile, Brighton are the first English club to make their knockout round debut in major competition (excluding pre-group rounds) since Bolton Wanderers in the 2005-06 UEFA Cup.

We are under way in various bits of Europe in various competitions.

There are only three Europa League ties tonight not involving British sides - with some big clubs in action.

Runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen are at Qarabag, Marseille host Villarreal and AC Milan are at home to Slavia Prague.

The other game was last night, with Sporting Lisbon and Atalanta drawing 1-1.

Ajax have improved somewhat since sacking Maurice Steijn and hiring John van't Schip in October.

The Dutch giants have risen from 17th to fifth in that time - but have only won one of their last seven games in 90 minutes.

Speaking about Villa, Van't Schip said: "You only have to look at their place in the Premier League - they are fourth - to know they are very strong.

"In a lot of ways, it's just a good team. They are defensively strong and have experience. In addition, they have speed and are dangerous when play restarts.

"They can be constructive but also very direct. We will have to play very focused. If we lose the ball in places where we are vulnerable, it can become very dangerous."

Liverpool are winless in their last 11 away games in the knockout stage of the Europa League (D4 L7) since a 3-1 win at Unirea Urziceni in the 2009-10 last 32.

Sparta Prague have played English teams 16 times in Europe and only won one of them.

But that was their most recent one, 1-0 against Southampton in the 2016-17 Europa League group stage.