Back in York, Ronnie O'Sullivan had looked in a great position for a huge break, but it breaks down early on. He then misses a long red to give Murphy a chance, he surely needs to take. O'Sullivan 20-0 ahead in the seventh.

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at The York Barbican

There may be one or two Liverpool fans around, a cheer went up as Mohamed Salah gave the Reds the lead in the Merseyside derby against Everton.

Many will be hoping the first session of this UK Championship final between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Shaun Murphy is done by 16:30 GMT in time for the Manchester derby. United fan Ken Doherty has predicted a 2-1 victory for the hosts at Old Trafford.

The 1997 world champion added: "That is the second most important match today. I am looking forward to it. Paul Pogba is a big loss but we have enough in the team."

Follow live coverage of the Merseyside derby, which Liverpool lead 1-0, with our live page on the football index.

Image source, Getty Images

After a couple of fouls, Shaun Murphy had to make contact with a red, and he does but he looks in all sorts of trouble with options for the Rocket.

A warning for Shaun Murphy, if he fails to hit a red again he will lose the seventh frame.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is on course for his sixth UK Championship title, but how much do you remember of his first one?

Watch below as O'Sullivan became the youngest winner of a ranking event at the age of 17 years 358 days by defeating Stephen Hendry 10-6 in the 1993 final.

John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two

You know, playing against Ronnie, he will win frames with one visit. When he's nicking close frames, that is when you're in trouble.

Marmite Shaun: That was a bit of a titanic sixth frame.

J: Ronnie's an absolute genius and my sporting idol. In any other sport he'd be revered like Federer, Tiger, Ali. We're so lucky to live in a time where we can watch him play.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two

That will hurt Shaun. He dominated that frame.

It's a big frame for Ronnie. He will be at least level going into the interval.

A fine positional shot going from blue to pink is absolutely perfect from O'Sullivan.

Murphy had a big advantage in this one, but O'Sullivan takes it on the black to give himself a two-frame cushion for the first time.

That will be painful for Murphy. Two more frames to go in this session, and O'Sullivan will definitely not be behind at the end of session one.

Surely there is no pot on here?

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But O'Sullivan produces some magic to double the green into the right baulk pocket.

Peter Ebdon
2006 UK champion on BBC Two

This is a big frame. It would be a bad one to lose.

Murphy seems to be the one who cracks under the pressure of a safety battle as he leaves a red on, but that is the only one on for O'Sullivan, who then has to go safe.

Murphy still 46-32 ahead, with only the colours left. The longest frame so far of the day.

Tom Coleman: This is a fascinating battle.

Lee: A brilliant final so far, hope it goes to the wire.

We have three red balls close to the cushion and Murphy holding a 46-23 lead. Don't go anywhere, this one will not be sorted out for a while. It is getting tight and tense in York.

Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion at the York Barbican

Shaun Murphy makes long pots look so easy. You're surprised when he misses them.

It is a big frame for Shaun Murphy. He doesn't want to be going into tonight's session behind.

Fair to say we've got a long way to go in this frame.

Image source, .

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at The York Barbican

Chat in the press room is around what time this match will finish tonight.

There was some excitement from those with newspaper deadlines when O'Sullivan and Murphy whizzed through the first four frames, but it has slowed down a little now.

"A bit iffy under pressure," says Ben.

Well, Ronnie O'Sullivan may be under pressure of a different kind sometime in the future as earlier this week he said he would fancy a spell in the jungle in ITV's I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here.

TV producers, over to you.

Watch the interview again here.

Ben‏: If Murphy could just stay with Ronnie..he has a chance.. Ronnie can be a bit iffy put under pressure..

Very unfortunate for Shaun Murphy in the early stages of frame six.

He gets an early chance with a fine long red and scores nine, before he pots a blue and then the cue ball crashes into the pink and dumps a red into the pocket. Foul. And a lucky let-off for O'Sullivan. 4-9 Murphy.