First half
The game was in just its second minute when the visitors opened the scoring with the first chance of the encounter.
A clash in midfield left Alexis Mac Allister floored, allowing United to sweep up a loose ball and advance forward via Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo.
The latter played Bryan Mbeumo in the area from the right, with the forward striking a first-time finish past Giorgi Mamardashvili to net.
The Reds attempted a swift response as the game was played at pace.
Virgil van Dijk guided a header wide of the mark from a Mohamed Salah free kick, before Liverpool’s No.11 again provided for Cody Gakpo.
The forward sprinted in on goal during a quick counter, though saw his shot cannon back off the woodwork.
United, however, were seeing opportunities of their own to double their lead.
Mamardashvili was forced into a quick reaction tackle as a tackle fell across the box and to the feet of Mbeumo in the area.
The goalkeeper then raced to his feet quickly to deny Mason Mount’s follow-up drive from outside the box down to his left.
At the other end, Gakpo saw a deflected cross hit the inside of the post, while Salah’s back-post header was well saved.
Alexander Isak also forced Senne Lammens into a good save with his feet before the interval, having burst through to meet Ibrahima Konate’s forward ball.
