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 and Manchester United tied 2-2 at Anfield in a pulsating Premier League match, where the away side fought back late to earn a deserved point.

Already under the pump after the Newcastle botch job, Amorim-coached Man United produced a much-improved scoreline for the partisans at Anfield.