Postecoglou could nonetheless make wholesale changes to his backline between the games, with key centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven likely to be kept on ice. Archie Gray could come in at right-back, giving Pedro Porro a rest, while there is little to choose between left-backs Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie.

Instead, United has regressed in the post-Alex Ferguson era — the team is in 14th place in the Premier League — and Liverpool has regained its status as an English and European giant, first under Jurgen Klopp and under his successor, Slot.