The whole point of damage limitation strategies is to limit the damage. A quarter of the game gone, two goals down, Ralf Rangnick’s decision to go on the defensive had backfired long before, in a public acceptance he had got it wrong, he reversed tack.
Manchester United, who have scored two goals at Anfield in Jurgen Klopp’s reign, had conceded two in 21 minutes. By the end, United were perhaps relieved the margin of defeat was only four: one fewer than in their previous humiliation at the hands of Liverpool.
