Amorim’s system means United are often outnumbered in the middle of the park against three-man midfields. Whatever partnership plays there needs the legs to cover space, laterally as well as up and down. Mainoo and Ugarte give United exactly that.

Liverpool made light of the conditions to create the game’s first opportunity through two superb passes, from Luis Díaz to Ryan Gravenberch and on to Cody Gakpo. The Netherlands international beat André Onana with a deft chip only for his effort to sail over the United goalkeeper and wide of the far post.