2100: Breaking it down by gender, Europe's women lost 41-20 while the men were trounced 48-13. There were several US 1-2-3 finishes in there as well. A trouncing, although there are all sorts of explanations, from swimsuits and superpowers to the US college system and missing European stars. It'll be interesting to see what the response is on Saturday - remember, this is just the halfway mark. That's it from me but the action resumes on BBC One (and you can watch online, if you're in the UK) at 1345 GMT.

2055: One of the two days gone, and Europe are the small matter of 56 points behind their transatlantic rivals. What do you make of that? What does it say about the much-heralded improvement in British swimming? If nothing else, all three races the Europeans won were sealed by Brits - Fran Halsall twice, and Lizzie Simmonds. But that's small consolation. The US remain the clear swimming superpower - don't they?

EUROPE 33, US 89: Nothing doing for Europe as US star Peter Vanderkaay blitzes the opposition, threatening the world record of Paul Biedermann, one of the Germans not to make DUel in the Pool, until he slips back in the final 50m. How Europe have missed some strength in depth tonight. Fedrico Colbertaldo of Italy is second, with Britons David Davies and Robbie Renwick fourth and sixth respectively.

2048: Last event then, the men's 400m freestyle. One last European win? Maybe?

2047: "I'm really pleased with that, my target was to go under four minutes and it was my first time wearing the new suit." Becky Adlington

EUROPE 30, US 83: So can Adlington match her gold medal from the Beijing Olympics? The answer is no. It's not Katie Hoff, who finished second behind Adlington in Beijing, but Hoff's US team-mate Allison Schmitt who eases away from the Briton to win, with Adlington second by some distance ahead of America's Dagny Knutson.

2038: Two races left and Becky Adlington goes in the first one, the women's 400m freestyle. Come on Becky - just the 50 points to haul back. Huge reaction for her from the crowd. It'd be a good finish to Adlington's year if she can win this one.

2035: "I always like to make it close, I guess you could say." Michael Phelps

EUROPE 27, US 77: Phelps is back, wearing the slower 2010 suit, for the men's 100m butterfly. Britain's Michael Rock has the unenviable task of pegging him back. Phelps, who looks in grave danger going into the last turn, comes through with the final touch to win by five hundredths of a second. But hang on, what's this? Benjamin Starke is second for Germany with Rock third for Britain. Four points out of that race is not to be sniffed at for Europe.

EUROPE 23, US 72: A cracker to lift the crowd as Fran Halsall delivers a British record 55.71 seconds to win the women's 100m butterfly. But American swimmers in second and third restrict Europe to a gain of just one point. Halsall is having a stupendous evening though - with two wins to her name she has 10 of Europe's 23 points.

EUROPE 18, US 68: Magnificent from Italy's Edoardo Giorgetti, who so very nearly steals the men's 200m breaststroke from Mike Alexandrov. But it's Alexandrov who wins with team-mate Sean Mahoney third, adding a total of six points to that mammoth American tally.

From Jezzabythesea on 606: "This is getting embarrassing! Maybe we should have thought it through before inviting the fastest swimmers in the world to come over and demoralise our stars?"

EUROPE 15, US 62: In the women's 200m breaststroke, America's Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Soni sails home to set a new world record in a time of 2:14.57. Team-mate Katy Freeman is second and another American, Ariana Kukors, is third. No Brits in that one. Not sure there were any Europeans in that one. Hmm.

2011: "There's always possibilities," says Grevers, tongue planted in cheek, when told Europe can still catch the US. Grevers clearly reckons the existence of Santa is a better bet. This is a pasting but we've still got Becky Adlington to come. Oh, and Phelps one more time.

EUROPE 15, US 53: Matt Grevers is the surprise leader at the halfway mark of the men's 200m backstroke, despite the presence of dominant US veteran Aaron Peirsol. It's Grevers who takes the five points, Peirsol comes third, and Nick Thoman completes another US 1-2-3 in second. Europe now trail by 38 points, which I think we can safely say is now insurmountable.

2003: "I really, really enjoyed that race and that's what it's about this weekend." Lizzie Simmonds

EUROPE 15, US 44 With Gemma Spofforth and Lizzie Simmonds in the mix, the women's 200m backstroke is one of the stronger events for Europe. Simmonds leads throughout and holds on for the win, three-quarters of a second outside world record pace. US duo Margaret Hoelzer and Elizabeth Pelton are second and third.

EUROPE 10, US 40 Michael Phelps is only third in his first individual event, the men's 100m freestyle. Nathan Adrian wins for the US, again outside world record time, with Marco Orsi second for Europe.

EUROPE 7, US 34:Halsall is under record time at the halfway mark and surges home to win ahead of America's Dana Vollmer - but she's just outside the world record in 51.54 seconds. Daniela Schreiber of Germany picks up another point for Europe in third. Points! Record or not, Europe will take that.

1944: Possibly some brief respite for the Europeans here - Britain's Fran Halsall could earn a new women's 100m freestyle world record next. Points for Europeans tonight are decidedly rarer than world records, mind you.

EUROPE 1, US 31:Tyler Clary of the US comes back to win the 400m medley but, in a fairly weak final, manages not to earn a world record - which has almost become a surprise. It's a US 1-2-3. My "European up" arrow is kicking its heels.

1936: The men's 400m medley has just two European athletes, including Britain's Thomas Haffield, against three Americans. This scoreline could start to look brutal.

EUROPE 1, US 22: The atmosphere is understandably a little more subdued after that initial burst from the US. Can Europe get something back in the women's 400m medley? America's Julia Smit bosses the event from the outset and bangs in a fourth world record to take the five points for the win. What are the odds on a world record in every event tonight? Remember, the ultra-fast 2009 swimsuits are illegal from January. Second goes to Dagny Knutson (US) with third, and Europe's first point of the night, to Hannah Miley.

1925: "It's cold here but it's just like it is at home. We wanted to come here and try to keep the ball rolling and it's definitely a good start, that's for sure. Everything's a stepping stone to 2012 and this is a good way to start." Michael Phelps

EUROPE 0, US 14: Tancock can't cope with American Nick Thoman's superb turns on the short 25m course, and Thoman helps himself to a world record in the process. Europe are very quickly nowhere, and Phelps launches himself into action with vigour. Not the man you want to see up against you if you're Michael Rock of Britain, trying to catch up. Rock manages not to lose much ground but unsurprisingly, the win is a comfortable one for the US - in the third world record time in two races, by more than two seconds. That's how you announce yourself away from home.

1917: Action will come thick and fast tonight. There's one more relay then a series of 12 individual events, with five points for a win, three for second and one for third, plus seven points for each relay win - which is why the US are now seven ahead. Liam Tancock is the big European hope in the men's medley relay coming up now - but the big news here is that this is Michael Phelps' first ever competitive swim in the UK.

EUROPE 0, US 7: Spofforth doesn't quite gain enough of a lead at the outset and the US build a commanding lead to win the women's 4x100m medley relay in a world record three minutes, 47.97 seconds. Not a bad start for the Americans, that, then...

1909: Women's 4x100m medley relay up first. Gemma Spofforth is Britain's big name, the US will rely on Jessica Hardy. Refresh your page, by the way, if you don't have live video from BBC Three and live audio from 5 live sports extra (video is UK only).

1906: You have never heard noise in a swimming pool like this. The place is packed. The first race is coming up in a minute or two and, unusually for this kind of thing, we kick off with the relays.

From NOSIDA on 606: "It is good swimming is attracting the media attention it deserves for this event. Get yourselves to Sheffield next spring for the National Arena League final."

1900: The roof has just lifted off for Rebecca Adlington, who strolls into the arena in her red European robes. She'll go in the penultimate event this evening, the 400m freestyle, with Katie Hoff her main US rival.

1857: If you want to know more about tonight's likely heroes and villains then read our full preview of Duel in the Pool, and check out the blog to find out why this event matters so much.

1851: By the way, it's a wee bit technologically ambitious, this one. I'm close enough to the action that a sparrow landing on the wi-fi router or a tidal wave from Phelps could knock me out. But, like Becky Adlington at the Pride of Mansfield awards, I'm quietly confident.

1848: I say should be - the atmosphere in here is amazing, Michael Phelps is in the building and the build-up has been unlike any other swimming event in Britain. But the swimmers still need to do their stuff. Received wisdom in here is that the Europeans (British, German and Italian swimmers) are in for a very tough night. What do you reckon? Let me know on 606, by text or even on Twitter.

1843: Good evening from BBC Sport's poolside perch at the Manchester Aquatics Centre. It's the United States against the cream of Europe, Phelps and company versus Adlington and friends, and it should be the most entertaining evening of swimming ever staged in Britain.