Liverpool boss Arne Slot seemed surprised by United's team selection from the outset as Amorim omitted Benjamin Sesko despite the striker scoring in his previous two Premier League appearances for the club and starting in each of the last four.

"We've seen Sesko play the last three, four, five or six times, but they go to Liverpool they change the line-up," Slot told Sky Sports beforehand. He was unsure what that meant. "It could be Mason Mount is playing as a No 10, so more a 5-3-2 than a 5-2-3."

In fact, it wasn't. Matheus Cunha took on the centre-forward duties, but did not give Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate such a reference point for them to mark. "If we [play] Ben I think it is easier for these type of centre-backs to control our striker," said Amorim.

Scoring THAT early goal

Amorim was also rewarded for his positive decision to keep Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo together on the right rather than opting for a more defensively-minded wing-back. It paid off in little over a minute when the pair combined for the opening goal.

Milos Kerkez, Liverpool's summer signing from Bournemouth, has been targeted by numerous teams this season and...